Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027

Unearthodox's Exploration Co-Lab is a 10-month online incubation programme for early-stage initiatives that seek to transform the systems, assumptions and relationships behind environmental and social challenges. It is intended for innovators whose work reimagines humanity's relationship with nature and goes beyond incremental or surface-level fixes. Selected participants receive CHF 10,000 in grant funding. They also join a cohort-based learning journey with individual coaching, expert guidance, systems mapping, futures thinking, strategic positioning, regenerative approaches to measuring success, visibility support and access to a global community of systems innovators. The shared pool of tailored non-financial support is estimated at up to CHF 60,000 in value. The programme runs from 1 March to 31 December 2027. Applications opened on 15 September 2026 and close on 16 November 2026 at 23:59 GMT+1. Shortlisting is scheduled for 17 November to 11 December, interviews for 14 to 18 December, final selection for 5 January to 4 February, and onboarding for 5 to 28 February 2027. Applicants should read the official information and submit through the organiser's online application route. The programme is conducted in English, and regular group calls are generally scheduled within UTC-6 to UTC+6.

Applicants must be working on an early-stage initiative at the intersection of environmental and societal change. The initiative must be beyond the idea stage, with evidence such as initial research and testing, a pilot, proof of concept or active community engagement. Initiatives may be testing, proving, deepening or meaningfully pivoting their approach. The programme welcomes applicants globally and particularly encourages underrepresented voices from the global majority and historically excluded communities. Applicants should be willing to participate in an interdisciplinary cohort built around trust, empathy, shared learning and collective problem-solving. The call does not seek initiatives that reinforce extractive or dominant systems, prioritise profit, speed or growth above purpose, address only surface-level symptoms, or pursue individual advantage without genuine interest in collective learning and allyship.