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VC programs that are unpaid

109 VC programs that are unpaid. 6 are taking applications now.

109 programs6 open now42 fully remote95 hosts

Every program on this list

109 programs

Quantum Landing Pad (Munich) logoIncubator

Quantum Landing Pad (Munich)

Open

TUM Venture Labs

A free soft-landing program helping international quantum companies set up in Munich and Bavaria.

Location
Munich, Germany
Terms
Unpaid
Foresight Fellowship logoFellowship

Foresight Fellowship

Open

Foresight Institute

A year-long fellowship for early-career scientists and builders in secure AI, longevity, nanotech, neurotech and Existential Hope.

Location
Global (remote with in-person events)
Terms
Unpaid
OpenAir Carbon Removal Challenge logoCompetition

OpenAir Carbon Removal Challenge

Open

OpenAir Collective

An annual global student competition to design new approaches for removing greenhouse gases, with finalists pitching in New York City.

Location
Global (virtual)
Terms
Unpaid
a16z College Talent Network logoTalent Network

a16z College Talent Network

Open

Andreessen Horowitz

a16z's network connecting CS and engineering students with mentorship and a16z portfolio companies.

Location
United States
Terms
Unpaid
a16z Build Ops Engineering Fellowship logoFellowship

a16z Build Ops Engineering Fellowship

Open

Andreessen Horowitz

A six-week cohort for operations leaders deploying AI into scalable organizational systems.

Location
San Francisco, California, United States
Terms
Unpaid
a16z Build logoCommunity

a16z Build

Open

Andreessen Horowitz

a16z's dinner series and community for founders and operators figuring out their next company, collaborator or chapter.

Location
San Francisco and New York, United States
Terms
Unpaid
The Longevity Show Pitch Competition logoCompetition

The Longevity Show Pitch Competition

Exceptional Ventures

A pitch competition for consumer-facing longevity startups at The Longevity Show in London, run with Exceptional Ventures.

Location
London, UK
Terms
Unpaid
CDL Neuro Stream logoAccelerator

CDL Neuro Stream

Creative Destruction Lab

Creative Destruction Lab's neuroscience stream in Toronto: nine months of objective-setting with mentors, no fees and no equity.

Location
Toronto, Canada
Terms
Unpaid
Africa Carbon Removal Accelerator (ACRA) logoAccelerator

Africa Carbon Removal Accelerator (ACRA)

remove

A virtual accelerator for carbon removal startups based in Sub-Saharan Africa, run by remove, ETH Zurich's sus.lab and partners.

Location
Sub-Saharan Africa (virtual)
Terms
Unpaid
The Horowitz Andreessen Academy logoAcademic

The Horowitz Andreessen Academy

Andreessen Horowitz

A tuition-free, full-time school in San Francisco for builders coming out of high school, incubated by a16z.

Location
San Francisco, California, United States
Terms
Unpaid
a16z Build Growth Engineering Fellowship logoFellowship

a16z Build Growth Engineering Fellowship

Andreessen Horowitz

An eight-week cohort for growth engineers, AI-native GTM leaders and agent builders inventing the next distribution playbook.

Location
San Francisco, California, United States
Terms
Unpaid

At a glance

How they run

Based on the 102 of 109 programs that say.

  • Remote42
  • In person32
  • Hybrid28

Where they run

Based on the 98 of 109 programs that say. A program can list more than one region.

  • The US47
  • Global33
  • North America8
  • Europe7
  • Canada6

What it looks like

Programs are how most people get into the startup world: fellowships, accelerators, scout programs, internships and more. Each one sets its own terms for who gets in, how long it runs and what it pays.

The programs here say they do not pay participants. What you get is access, training, and a network rather than money.

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By program type

Questions people ask

Which unpaid VC programs are open now?

6 of the 109 are taking applications now, including Quantum Landing Pad (Munich), Foresight Fellowship, and OpenAir Carbon Removal Challenge. Open programs are listed first above.

Can I join unpaid VC programs remotely?

42 of the 109 run fully remotely, 28 mix remote and in-person time, and 32 run in person. 7 do not say.

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