About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
The Halcyon Accelerator 2026/2027 is inviting founders of early-stage, impact-driven ventures to join a global community of entrepreneurs building innovative solutions to significant social and environmental challenges.
The accelerator is designed for founders developing scalable, commercially viable businesses in which social or environmental impact is an integral part of the business model.
Halcyon welcomes applications from founders around the world. Depending on the specific programme, additional regional or geographical eligibility requirements may apply.
Halcyon Accelerator Eligibility
The programme is intended for ventures that have reached at least the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) stage. Applicants should have a functional or saleable product or service with the essential features needed to deliver value to initial users.
Eligible ventures must be:
Impact-driven – Social or environmental impact should be central to the business model.
For-profit – The venture should operate as a commercially oriented business.
Scalable – The business should have the potential to expand its reach, revenue and impact sustainably.
MVP-stage or beyond – The venture should have a workable product or service.
User-validated – Founders are expected to have users or paying customers.
Founder-led – Applicants must be working full-time on their ventures.
Halcyon particularly focuses on ventures contributing to meaningful and measurable progress toward one or more United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
International founders may apply, although individual fellowships may introduce additional eligibility requirements.
Halcyon Selection Criteria
Halcyon evaluates ventures across four key areas:
1. Impact
Applicants should demonstrate how their venture creates meaningful and measurable social or environmental impact.
Areas of interest may include climate adaptation, health, EquityTech and challenges affecting underserved communities. Impact should be embedded within the company's core business rather than operating as a separate initiative.
2. Scalability
Founders should demonstrate the potential to grow their reach, revenue and impact without requiring a proportional increase in resources.
Applicants should be able to demonstrate a commercially viable business model and a clear pathway for sustainable growth.
3. Innovation
Halcyon looks for ventures offering novel products, processes, business models or approaches that create distinctive value.
Innovation may involve developing a new solution, significantly improving an existing solution or introducing an existing solution to a new market.
4. Talent
Founders should demonstrate the commitment, drive and capacity required to grow their ventures and achieve both their impact and financial objectives.
Successful applicants are also expected to contribute meaningfully to their cohort and the wider Halcyon alumni community.
Programme Structure
Halcyon programmes use a hybrid format, combining virtual engagement with in-person participation.
The current programme structure includes:
A virtual programme kickoff
A one-week in-person residency at the beginning of the programme
Four monthly virtual meetings
A concluding one-week in-person residency
Each programme can accept up to 10 ventures.
Selected founders also receive stipends distributed at multiple points during the fellowship, including payments before the residencies and after the programme concludes. The specific stipend amount is not provided in the source information, so applicants should check the details of the individual fellowship for current financial information.
How the Halcyon Application Process Works
Halcyon uses a year-round eligibility application, allowing founders to submit their eligibility form throughout the year rather than waiting for a single annual application deadline.
The process generally works as follows:
Step 1: Submit the Eligibility Application
Founders complete Halcyon's year-round eligibility application. According to the source information, this form only needs to be submitted once for consideration for current and future fellowships.
Step 2: Rolling Review
Halcyon's team reviews eligibility applications on a rolling basis.
When a fellowship opens that matches a founder's venture, eligible applicants may be invited to submit a more detailed application.
Step 3: Second-Round Application
Invited founders complete the more detailed application. Applicants generally have two weeks to complete this stage.
Step 4: Application Review
The second-round applications are reviewed and scored by Halcyon's Programmes and Leadership teams.
Step 5: Final Selection
Finalists may be invited to pitch to a Selections Committee made up of external subject-matter experts before the final cohort is selected.
Why Join the Halcyon Accelerator?
Selected entrepreneurs gain access to a structured accelerator environment designed to support the growth of impact-driven ventures.
Participation provides opportunities for:
Mentorship and professional guidance
Engagement with a global founder community
Connections with other impact-driven entrepreneurs
Virtual and in-person learning experiences
Support for developing commercially sustainable ventures
Participation in the wider Halcyon alumni community
The programme is particularly relevant to founders whose social or environmental impact is central to their commercial business model.
Application Deadline
There is no single annual deadline for Halcyon's year-round eligibility application. Applications can be submitted throughout the year and are reviewed on a rolling basis.
However, individual Halcyon fellowships may have their own application deadlines, programme dates and additional eligibility requirements.
Applicants should therefore check the specific fellowship they are being considered for before submitting further materials.
How to apply