New Fellowship Offers $50M for Wild Science Ideas

If you're a scientist with an idea too risky for a startup or too ambitious for a university lab, there's a new opportunity. Speculative Technologies just opened applications for the Brains Fellowship—a four-month program that runs nights and weekends. It's designed for people who want to tackle big problems that don't fit traditional funding. Fellows receive training, mentorship, and networking to help them launch research programs at places like ARPAs (government research agencies) or start their own nonprofit research organizations.

The fellowship specifically welcomes ideas from any scientific field, including those addressing existential risks, biosecurity, and AI safety. So if you're worried about the future and want to work on solutions, this could be your path. The program has a proven track record: past Brains fellows have collectively raised over $70 million for their research. That means this isn't just a pie-in-the-sky idea—it's a launchpad for serious projects.

But there's a catch: it's not for everyone. You need a deep technical background and an ambitious idea. The fellowship is part-time, so you can keep your day job while developing your concept. However, it's competitive, and the application deadline is October 26, 2026. If you're interested, there are virtual Q&A sessions on October 14 and October 20 to learn more. The application is a simple form, but you'll need to articulate your vision clearly.

Why does this matter to the average person? Because the research that comes out of programs like this could lead to breakthroughs in AI safety, biosecurity, and other fields that affect us all. Even if you're not a scientist, supporting or sharing this opportunity could help bring about solutions to some of the world's biggest problems. And who knows? Maybe you know someone who should apply.