Deadline: November 25, 2025
The Unearthodox 2026 Exploration Co-Lab: Edges of Possibility is a 12-month journey beginning in January 2026, designed for innovators working at the intersection of environmental and societal change.
The programme invites participants whose work often falls outside traditional systems—those who might be described as “edge-walkers” or radical thinkers—seeking to reimagine how nature and society can thrive together.
Key Benefits
Applicants accepted into the Unearthodox 2026 Exploration Co-Lab: Edges of Possibility will receive:
- A grant of CHF 10,000 to help move their idea into action.
- Access to a shared pool of up to CHF 60,000 in non-financial but tailored support, covering:
- Peer learning and collective exploration to uncover new pathways for radical transformation.
- Individualised coaching and guidance from expert mentors.
- Strategic positioning of both the innovator and their idea in systemic contexts.
- Support in systems and futures thinking, and assistance in defining and measuring new kinds of success.
- A cohort-based experience over 12 months, starting in January 2026, hosted online for systemic transformation, connection, and wellbeing.
- Visibility and amplification: Your work will be showcased through Unearthodox’s communication channels, giving you a platform to expand your reach and impact.
- Community and collaboration: The programme connects you with a global network of systems innovators, mentors and network-weavers.
Eligibility & Target Applicants
This call is designed for those who:
- Are innovators with an early-stage idea already in motion (ideation, research or experimentation phase) at the intersection of environmental & societal change, and likely navigating uncertainty or active shaping of their direction.
- Are seeking a space for radical experimentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a decolonised innovation ecosystem, where care (not profit) is the currency.
- Are ready to explore new ways of measuring change and success, and will benefit from customised support tailored to systemic transformation.
- Are comfortable with non-linear journeys, and perhaps have felt somewhat invisible or unsupported by traditional systems. Even if your journey has been quiet, messy or internal, this call welcomes you.
- Especially welcome are under-represented voices from the global majority and historically excluded communities. The programme is conducted in English and open globally.
Who It Is Not Designed For
- Projects that focus only on surface-level symptoms rather than systemic root causes.
- Projects that prioritise speed, growth or profit over deeper purpose.
- Individuals who seek only individual support without interest in collective learning and ecosystem building.
- Approaches that reinforce dominant or extractive systems rather than challenge or re-imagine them.
Timeline & Important Dates
- Applications open: 28 October 2025.
- Application deadline: 25 November 2025.
- Programme begins: January 2026 (12-month duration).
Why This Matters
The Unearthodox 2026 Exploration Co-Lab: Edges of Possibility offers a unique opportunity within the innovation ecosystem by:
- Addressing the gap for innovators working across systemic, relational and cross-sector challenges—those whose work doesn’t fit neatly into existing boxes.
- Offering a depth-over-scale approach: prioritising careful, relational, contextual work rather than just rapid scale.
- Helping participants build their own leadership and positionality, so that they are recognised as change-makers, and not just as implementers of an idea.
- Creating an ecosystem where care, reciprocity and intergenerational equity are central, moving beyond conventional growth models.
Relevance for Your Organisation
- If your organisation is developing a youth-oriented early-stage initiative at the intersection of societal & environmental change (for example youth leadership in climate resilience, regenerative systems, nature-society nexus) then this call is a good fit.
- If your project is still in early stage—ideation, research or experimentation—and you are open to radical, systems-thinking-driven support, then the Unearthodox 2026 Exploration Co-Lab: Edges of Possibility could provide valuable resources and networks.
- If your initiative is based in Africa (Nigeria) and you represent under-represented voices or work in historically excluded communities, this gives you a unique advantage given the programme’s emphasis on global majority voices.
- The funding of CHF 10,000 plus access to tailored support may complement your mentoring and innovation infrastructure, helping you move an idea into action with global connections.
- The 12-month commitment offers time for deeper reflection, collaboration and system-shifting work, which aligns with your role of guiding youth and innovation rather than simply executing short-term projects.
Next Steps & What You Should Do
- Review your current project pipeline: Identify if there is an initiative in early stage (ideation, research, experimentation) addressing environmental or societal challenges with systemic ambition.
- Articulate your idea clearly: Be ready to explain how your idea challenges or re-imagines existing systems (rather than just solves symptoms).
- Frame your narrative: Consider how you will show your work is relational, inclusive, and rooted in justice/regeneration rather than extraction/growth alone.
- Check capacity and commitment: The call is for a 12-month journey beginning Jan 2026—ensure you can commit the time and resources.
- Prepare your application: Leverage your youth mentoring, innovation leadership and African context as strengths. Show how your voice and community perspective fit the call’s welcome for under-represented global majority voices.
- If you’d like support, we can help you with proposal drafting, refining and review—to maximise your competitiveness.
Read more about the programme here
Contact us for proposal drafting, refining and review.
