Is this actionable now?

rolling. The global application remains continuously available; dedicated India, Africa and Caribbean, and Ukraine focus routes are selected inside the same form.

A person aged at least 13 with a highly scalable zero-to-one idea capable of meaningfully improving society; applicants select the relevant geographic focus in the application.

What burden and restrictions apply?

Award and fellowship conditions are tailored to the project; the public page does not publish a universal reporting or audit schedule. Funds are restricted to the approved work plan, budget, eligible cost categories and award period; unrelated, unsupported, double-funded and noncompliant expenditure is excluded.

Emergent Ventures

Grant amount is tailored to the project; the current official program page does not publish a minimum or maximum. · Mercatus Center (Tyler Cowen) · rolling applications

Tyler Cowen's fellowship/grant program (via Mercatus Center) funding high-upside, unconventional projects and people. Non-dilutive. Current lifecycle: rolling. Real economics: Grant amount is tailored to the project; the current official program page does not publish a minimum or maximum..

Tier 1 · ranked #2non-dilutiverollingfellowshipglobal

Apply Official site Open in the live directory

Key facts

Funder	Mercatus Center (Tyler Cowen)
Amount	Grant amount is tailored to the project; the current official program page does not publish a minimum or maximum.
Deadline	Rolling — apply anytime
Decision time	The program is designed for low overhead and may ask follow-up questions; no current service-level commitment is published.
Eligibility	A person aged at least 13 with a highly scalable zero-to-one idea capable of meaningfully improving society; applicants select the relevant geographic focus in the application.
Restrictions	Award and fellowship conditions are tailored to the project; the public page does not publish a universal reporting or audit schedule. Funds are restricted to the approved work plan, budget, eligible cost categories and award period; unrelated, unsupported, double-funded and noncompliant expenditure is excluded.
Status	rolling

Always confirm on the official page before applying — dates and terms change.

Application process

Submit the online application describing your project and yourself
Short written proposal (what, why you, budget)
Optional interview with the EV team
Decision + grant disbursement

Background

Mercatus Center (Tyler Cowen) operates Emergent Ventures. This pass separates direct cash, repayable finance, credits, incentives and umbrella programs so later ranking does not compare unlike instruments. Mercatus launched Emergent Ventures in 2018 and publicly lists awardees across global and regional routes. The spin-off Fast Grants raised more than USD 50 million and made 260 COVID-19 research grants. Tyler Cowen administers the program and directly reviews proposals.

How the application really works

Submit the online application describing your project and yourself → Short written proposal (what, why you, budget) → Optional interview with the EV team → Decision + grant disbursement

Tips

Show direct fit with cross-sector social innovation.
Show direct fit with science.
Show direct fit with technology.
Show direct fit with research.
Show direct fit with writing.
Show direct fit with entrepreneurship.

Watch out for

Current lifecycle is rolling.
Award and fellowship conditions are tailored to the project; the public page does not publish a universal reporting or audit schedule.
Funds are restricted to the approved work plan, budget, eligible cost categories and award period; unrelated, unsupported, double-funded and noncompliant expenditure is excluded.

Track record

Mercatus launched Emergent Ventures in 2018 and publicly lists awardees across global and regional routes.
The spin-off Fast Grants raised more than USD 50 million and made 260 COVID-19 research grants.
Tyler Cowen administers the program and directly reviews proposals.

The reviewed official corpus does not publish a comparable applicant denominator and selection rate.

Frequently asked questions

Is this actionable now?: rolling. The global application remains continuously available; dedicated India, Africa and Caribbean, and Ukraine focus routes are selected inside the same form.
What is the real economic value?: Grant amount is tailored to the project; the current official program page does not publish a minimum or maximum.
Who is eligible?: A person aged at least 13 with a highly scalable zero-to-one idea capable of meaningfully improving society; applicants select the relevant geographic focus in the application.
How does selection work?: Submit the online application describing your project and yourself; Short written proposal (what, why you, budget); Optional interview with the EV team; Decision + grant disbursement. The program is designed for low overhead and may ask follow-up questions; no current service-level commitment is published.
What burden and restrictions apply?: Award and fellowship conditions are tailored to the project; the public page does not publish a universal reporting or audit schedule. Funds are restricted to the approved work plan, budget, eligible cost categories and award period; unrelated, unsupported, double-funded and noncompliant expenditure is excluded.
What evidence exists?: Mercatus launched Emergent Ventures in 2018 and publicly lists awardees across global and regional routes. The spin-off Fast Grants raised more than USD 50 million and made 260 COVID-19 research grants. Tyler Cowen administers the program and directly reviews proposals. The reviewed official corpus does not publish a comparable applicant denominator and selection rate.

Sources

www.mercatus.org/emergent-ventures — Official live global scope, age rule, administrator, regional routes and outcomes (checked 2026-08-10)
www.mercatus.org/bridge/commentary/application-process-opens-emergent-ventures — Official application materials and tailored fellowship model (checked 2026-08-10)
www.mercatus.org/economic-insights/expert-commentary/behind-scenes-look-emergent-ventures-so-far — Official low-overhead review and early award examples (checked 2026-08-10)