Introduction to beVisioneers Fellowship 2025

We had over 70 amazing people join our beVisioneers Uganda Info Session, and wow, what a fun, interactive, and deeply engaging experience it was! From the questions, the energy, the curiosity, to the passion in the room… Uganda showed up BIG. 🇺🇬💚

If you’ve been thinking about applying to the BeVisioneers Fellowship, this is your sign, Ugandans, the opportunity is yours. Apply!

Your idea doesn’t have to be perfect, it just needs to be real, meaningful, and rooted in impact.

I was the lead organiser for the session!

Transcript

2. To build a more sustainable future, we need innovation from young people around the world like you
 • beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship is building the largest and most financially inclusive fellowship where planet-positive ideas come to life.
 • Up to 1000 fellows per year will join this global community to learn by doing and drive effective, community-based solutions to environmental challenges.
 Intro to beVisioneers

3. About the Fellowship
 beVisioneers is a global fellowship that equips innovators aged 16 to 28 with the training, expert support and resources to bring planet-positive projects to life.
 At the start of our multi-year fellowship is a 12-month hybrid intensive that builds Fellows’ entrepreneurial skills through challenge-based learning, resulting in launched projects that tackle an environmental issue.
 
 Upon completing the intensive 12-month program, Fellows continue to strengthen local environmental efforts, scale their projects and develop their leadership skills through our long-term community.
 Intro to beVisioneers

4. Presentation name here 4 What’s in it for you?
 01

5. Part-time: Minimum of 24 hours* per month— easy to fit around work or studies! 
 1:1 mentoring and venture coaching to help your projects take shape and accelerate A hybrid learning experience, allowing you to meet with our team, experts and other Fellows at program events Apply for financial support to enable participation in the Fellowship based on a needs assessment 
 Opportunities to win scholarships to grow your projects and make impact in your local communities 
 A funded fellowship where travel, accommodation and expenses are paid for, for key program events Intro to beVisioneers
 *(note, the more time you invest, the further your project will go)
6. VENTURE COACHES
 EXPERTS
 Live sessions, Summits, Local Hubs Live group sessions (monthly) Contribute their knowledge & real-life experience to help Fellows gain new skills, mindsets & networks. Coach groups of Fellows on their project development and resilience as ecopreneurs
 FELLOWS
 Live sessions, Online Learning Community, Summits, Local Hubs Build trusted relationships to weather the ups & downs of being change-makers, as one community that thrives together.
 MENTORS
 1:1 calls (monthly), Online Learning Community Support Fellows on their growth as leaders based on real-life experiences and through insights, practices & connections & how to sustain their motivation & well–being.
 FACILITATORS & COMMUNITY TEAM
 Live sessions, Online Learning Community, Summits, Local Hubs Engage Fellows to gain new skills, mindsets & relationships in order to channel their purpose into action together.
 Intro to beVisioneers
 FELLOWS’ 
 SUPPORT ECOSYSTEM

7. 7 ARRIVING
 A multi-year fellowship
 Project Initiation
 
 
 DREAMing Projects
 FOCUSing Projects
 Project Refinement
 
 
 PLANning Projects
 Project Storyboard
 
 
 DOing Projects
 Project Launch
 
 
 JUN
 JUL
 AUG
 SEP
 OCT
 NOV
 DEC
 JAN
 FEB
 MAR
 APR
 MAY
 MAY
 YEAR 2 & 3 The learning journey is based on the award-winning DO Method: 
 ONLINE MODULE
 VENTURE COACHING
 
 1:1 MENTORING
 IN PERSON EVENTS
 MONTHLY
 MONTHLY 
 MONTHLY
 QUARTERLY
 Fellows access support most suiting their project progress & needs • Project Scholarships (Pioneers & Catalyst)
 • Masterclasses
 • Venture Coaching
 • Micromodules
 • Scaling mentors (Pioneers)
 • Showcasing Opportunities
 • Networking introductions

8. Intro to beVisioneers
 
 “What makes beVisioneers unique is how it values environmental and personal sustainability equally. I wouldn’t be where I am without the community’s support and focus on mental wellbeing alongside environmental and venture content.”
 Brandon Reynolds,
 Fellow, United Kingdom Project development
 12H
 Focus on hands-on project work and venture coaching. This includes spending real time IN YOUR community, with the people you're building the solution for and with, as well as completing all project development work through the Project Milestones you will submit
 Essential Modules
 3H
 Complete online learning modules, connected project development activities and deliverables (i.e. Project Checkpoints)
 Online Community
 3H
 Participate in challenges, peer learning, and resource sharing on the beVisioneers Learning Community platform
 Personal Development
 3H
 Dedicate time to mentorship and personal growth reflections
 Online Events
 2H
 Attend various online events to expand your knowledge
 In Person Events
 1H
 Take part in local in-person events to build connections with the beVisioneers community and the local ecosystem.
 Your Learning Experience

9. A glimpse into our face-to-face events
 beVisioneers Global Summit 2025
 Intro to beVisioneers
 

10. Presentation name here 10 The results
 02

11. Kasi-Gas converts organic waste into biogas and organic fertilizer using anaerobic digestion, where microorganisms break down waste without oxygen. This process offers sustainable energy and agricultural benefits to rural South African communities while boosting environmental health, energy access, and productivity.
 Lome Labs uses AI and computer vision to identify soil microorganisms, offering farmers a faster, more efficient way to analyze soil biology. This replaces traditional methods, boosting ecosystem regeneration and agricultural productivity.
 Shannen Henry is scientist pioneering sustainable innovation in fashion and chocolate. Drawing on her Caribbean cocoa farming roots, her project “CocoFiber” transforms cocoa waste into bio-based textiles, creating new revenue for farmers while tackling socio-metabolic risks. Her work advances equity, resilience, and systemic change in global manufacturing.
 
 Thabo Mngomezulu, South Africa, Affordable & Clean Energy
 Project: Kasi - Gas
 Ceri Flook
 Germany
 Regenerative Farming
 Project: Lome Labs
 Shannen Henry
 United States
 Sustainable Fashion
 Project: CocoFiber
 Examples of projects launched from Cohort 1
 Intro to beVisioneers
 

12. “The fellowship came at the perfect time, connecting me with a community that shares my mission for sustainability.”
 
 98%
 would recommend beVisioneers
 83%
 ready to launch prototypes by end of Year 1
 94%
 more confident around leadership roles
 €1.4million
 distributed for project scholarships
 
 The results
 “Before the fellowship I knew little about sustainability—now I have the knowledge, tools, and joy to move my project forward.” 
 Intro to beVisioneers
 
 “I cannot express the wisdom and knowledge that the modules and especially the venture coaching has brought me.
 - Bonisiwe Kumalo
 Pioneer Fellow
 - Marlene Mostert
 Catalyst Fellow
 - Priya Srinivas
 Pioneer Fellow

13. Applying
 03

14. Could you be a Visioneer?
 How we select candidates
 Selection Criteria
 • Between 16 - 28 years old at time of application
 • Sufficient command of English (minimum B1)
 • Studying, working or residing in: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Europe, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, Philippines, Rwanda, Singapore, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, USA, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe for the duration of the program. 
 • Idea for a project with environmental impact in one or more of the target countries (check out question 3 on our FAQs on the sort of projects we looks for!
 • May not work for or have a parent who works for, Mercedes-Benz
 
 Diversity Criteria
 In addition to above:
 • 50% or more identify as women or non-binary
 • 50% or more from economically disadvantaged backgrounds
 
 Intro to beVisioneers

15. How to apply
 Applications for next Cohort will open later this year!
 • Register for our application platform (check your junk mail to complete the registration
 • Log in to the platform
 • Apply for the year 2026/2027
 • Fill out the written application (questions about your idea/project, personal details etc)
 • Complete a self assessment test 
 • Record your video
 • Apply for financial support if needed
 • Submit!
 You can save your progress and return to your application anytime. We recommend submitting early. The application takes approximately 30–45 minutes to complete.
 Intro to beVisioneers

16. Thank you! 
 Questions?