Mentorship Opportunities Under $100k
Find the best tech opportunities for mentorship.
Z Fellows
One-week program offering a $10,000 stipend and mentorship from Silicon Valley's top founders for early technical builders.
Vercel Open Source Program
Seasonal cohort-based program offering impactful open source projects up to $3,600 in Vercel credits, third-party OSS starter-pack credits, and prioritized support.
Soma Capital Fellowship
Semi-annual fellowship investing $100K SAFE (<1% equity) in founders.
Emergent Ventures Fellowship
Two-year flexible research grant and community designed to support high-impact thinkers tackling big, unconventional problems.
Afore Grants
100% non‐dilutive microgrants of $1,000 for high‐agency builders aged 21 or younger in North America, paired with mentorship and program support.
The Exponential Fellowship
A paid fellowship that places exceptional young Spanish builders at fast-growing U.S. startups — visa, flights and insurance handled, with full U.S. pay and access to mentorship and community.
Startup Wise Guys
Europe-wide accelerator (HQ Tallinn) providing up to €65K seed funding plus follow-on up to €300K.
Z Fellows
One-week program offering a $10,000 stipend and mentorship from Silicon Valley's top founders for early technical builders.
Vercel Open Source Program
Seasonal cohort-based program offering impactful open source projects up to $3,600 in Vercel credits, third-party OSS starter-pack credits, and prioritized support.
Soma Capital Fellowship
Semi-annual fellowship investing $100K SAFE (<1% equity) in founders.
Emergent Ventures Fellowship
Two-year flexible research grant and community designed to support high-impact thinkers tackling big, unconventional problems.
Afore Grants
100% non‐dilutive microgrants of $1,000 for high‐agency builders aged 21 or younger in North America, paired with mentorship and program support.
The Exponential Fellowship
A paid fellowship that places exceptional young Spanish builders at fast-growing U.S. startups — visa, flights and insurance handled, with full U.S. pay and access to mentorship and community.
Startup Wise Guys
Europe-wide accelerator (HQ Tallinn) providing up to €65K seed funding plus follow-on up to €300K.
What You'll Find
- Average funding: $51k per opportunity
- Average duration: 6 months
- Mentorship: Programs emphasizing mentorship offer one-on-one access to successful entrepreneurs and industry experts who can accelerate your learning curve.
Benefits
- J-1 US visa assistance (visa, typically insurance and flights covered)
- Paid U.S. placements — fellows typically earn U.S. salaries (reported range: $80,000–$150,000)
- 12–18 month placement (depending on experience / visa type)
- Access to mentorship, founders, investors, and exclusive community events
- Network of host startups in Silicon Valley and New York
Application Tips
- Start preparing your application materials well in advance of deadlines to ensure quality submissions
- Research each program thoroughly to understand their specific requirements and what they're looking for
- Tailor your application to highlight how your project aligns with the program's goals and values
- Keep track of application deadlines using a calendar system to avoid missing opportunities
- Understand the difference between equity-based and equity-free funding to make informed decisions
- Consider how much funding you actually need versus what's available to avoid over-dilution
The Exponential Fellowship
A paid fellowship that places exceptional young Spanish builders at fast-growing U.S. startups — visa, flights and insurance handled, with full U.S. pay and access to mentorship and community.
Soma Capital Fellowship
Semi-annual fellowship investing $100K SAFE (<1% equity) in founders.
Startup Wise Guys
Europe-wide accelerator (HQ Tallinn) providing up to €65K seed funding plus follow-on up to €300K.
Vercel Open Source Program
Seasonal cohort-based program offering impactful open source projects up to $3,600 in Vercel credits, third-party OSS starter-pack credits, and prioritized support.
Afore Grants
100% non‐dilutive microgrants of $1,000 for high‐agency builders aged 21 or younger in North America, paired with mentorship and program support.
Emergent Ventures Fellowship
Two-year flexible research grant and community designed to support high-impact thinkers tackling big, unconventional problems.
Z Fellows
One-week program offering a $10,000 stipend and mentorship from Silicon Valley's top founders for early technical builders.