Unearthodox is accepting applications to its Exploration Co-Lab 2027 until 16 November 2026, 11:59 pm GMT+1. Each participant receives a CHF 10,000 grant and joins a 10-month online incubation that starts in March 2027. The call targets early-stage initiatives where environmental and societal change meet, and it asks for groundwork already laid. Before you start, settle what evidence you can show: research, a pilot or community engagement.
At a glance
| Deadline | 16 November 2026, 11:59 pm GMT+1 (applications opened 15 September 2026) |
| Who can apply | Early-stage initiatives at the intersection of environmental and societal change, past the idea stage |
| Funding | CHF 10,000 grant per participant, plus access to a shared pool of up to an estimated CHF 60,000 in non-financial support |
| Program | 10-month online incubation, 1 March to 31 December 2027 |
| Selection | Shortlisting 17 November to 11 December 2026, interviews 14 to 18 December 2026, final selection 5 January to 4 February 2027 |
| Language | English; live sessions are scheduled between UTC-6 and UTC+6 |
| Cost to apply | No application fee mentioned on the official pages |
| Official pages | Unearthodox call page and the application portal |
Who can apply
Unearthodox describes the call as being for people working on an early-stage initiative at the intersection of environmental and societal change. Applicants should be past the ideation stage, with groundwork completed through research, pilots or community engagement. The organizer names five phases it welcomes: Testing, Proving, Deepening, Pivoting, or a point between them.
The call especially invites underrepresented voices from the global majority and historically excluded communities, and Unearthodox says it aims to include at least one Swiss-based initiative each year. The pages state no other geographic restriction. The organizer publishes eligibility and evaluation criteria in a separate document linked from the application page, so read it before you draft anything.
What you get
Every selected participant receives CHF 10,000 in grant funding. The incubation begins in March 2027 and runs online as a cohort focused on systemic transformation, connection and wellbeing. Unearthodox also lists a shared pool of tailored non-financial support with an estimated value of up to CHF 60,000. It includes:
- Peer learning and shared exploration
- Individual coaching and expert guidance
- Systems mapping and futures thinking
- Strategic positioning for you and your initiative
- Regenerative approaches to defining and measuring success
Participants are also showcased through Unearthodox’s communication channels and connected with its network of systems innovators, mentors and network weavers. The CHF 60,000 figure is the organizer’s own estimate of the support pool, not cash paid to you.
How to apply
- Read the call page and the linked eligibility and evaluation document.
- Check that your initiative sits at the nature and society intersection and is past the idea stage.
- Prepare your application in English and submit it through the application portal.
- Submit by 16 November 2026, 11:59 pm GMT+1.
- If shortlisted (17 November to 11 December 2026), prepare for interviews on 14 to 18 December 2026.
- Final selection runs from 5 January to 4 February 2027, and onboarding from 5 to 28 February 2027.
Advice from the Impact DOTS team
- Show your groundwork. The call says applicants should be past the idea stage, so gather the research, pilot results or community engagement you can point to.
- Name your phase. The organizer lists Testing, Proving, Deepening and Pivoting, so say which one describes your initiative today.
- Tie the environmental and societal sides together. The call is built on the link between nature and society, not on either one alone.
- Check your calendar. Live sessions fall between UTC-6 and UTC+6 and run in English across ten months.
- Convert the deadline to your own time zone. It is 11:59 pm GMT+1 on 16 November 2026.
FAQ
Is there an application fee?
The official pages mention none.
Can an initiative at the idea stage apply?
The organizer asks for initiatives past the idea stage, with groundwork laid through research, pilots or community engagement.
Do I have to be based in Switzerland?
No. Unearthodox is based in Switzerland and aims to include at least one Swiss-based initiative each year, but the pages state no other geographic restriction.
Is the incubation in person?
The page describes an online environment, with live sessions scheduled between UTC-6 and UTC+6.
Sources
- Unearthodox: Open Call, Edges of Possibility, Exploration Co-Lab 2027
- Unearthodox’s Exploration Co-Lab 2027 application portal
