Emergent Ventures India
by Mercatus Center at George Mason University
Grant funding, size set per project
Emergent Ventures India is a program by Mercatus Center at George Mason University for children aged 13 to 100, open to students across India. Registration closes 31 Dec 2026. It is free to take part.
Mode
Online
Fee
Free
Duration
One-time grant with no fixed programme length. Applications are reviewed year-round.
Format
Individual
Time needed
One written online application in a single sitting. Any work afterwards is set by the applicant's own project, not by a programme schedule.
Key dates
- Registration opens
- 1 Jan 2026
- Registration closes
- 31 Dec 2026
- Dates
- 1 Jan 2026 to 31 Dec 2026
Online · Emergent Ventures online application form
About this opportunity
Emergent Ventures India is a grant and fellowship programme run by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. It funds individuals with high-upside, unconventional ideas that advance prosperity, opportunity and well-being in India.
Applications are open to anyone aged 13 or older whose project has an India focus. Applicants use the standard Emergent Ventures application and select India in the field describing which region the project will affect. The form does not ask for a degree or an institutional affiliation, and school students have received grants alongside university researchers and company founders.
Grants and micro grants are awarded in US dollars. The Mercatus Center states that there is no typical grant range or average award, because funding is set for each project. Applications are reviewed year-round with no deadline, and a response is typically sent within a week.
Selected applicants are announced publicly in numbered Emergent Ventures India cohorts. Seventeen India cohorts had been announced by July 2026. The India tranche is evaluated by Shruti Rajagopalan together with Tyler Cowen, who administers the wider Emergent Ventures programme.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 13 to 100 years
- Location
- Nationwide
Prerequisites
- A specific project idea the applicant wants funded
- Ability to describe the project in written English
Open to applicants aged 13 and above whose project has an India focus. The published minimum age is 13, with no upper age limit and no grade, degree or institutional affiliation requirement. Applicants select India in the project-impact field of the standard Emergent Ventures application. School students have received grants alongside university researchers and company founders.
Know in seconds if your child qualifies.
The app checks eligibility for you.
Academic details
Difficulty: Mixed Levels
What's covered
There is no set curriculum. Each recipient pursues the project they proposed, funded by the grant.
Rewards and recognition
Award
Grant funding, size set per project
Grants and micro grants are awarded in US dollars. The Mercatus Center states that there is no typical grant range or average award amount, because funding is project specific, so no figure is published.
Recognition
Named in a public winners cohort
Languages
What your child will do
- Writing and submitting an online project proposal
- Selecting India as the region the project will affect
- Review by the Emergent Ventures India selection team
- Carrying out the funded project independently
Mentors & faculty
Applications for the India tranche are evaluated by Shruti Rajagopalan, Senior Research Fellow for India Political Economy and Emergent Ventures India at the Mercatus Center, together with Tyler Cowen, who administers Emergent Ventures.
How to apply
- 1Open the Emergent Ventures application form on the Mercatus website
- 2Select India as the region the project will affect
- 3Describe the project, its goal and the funding needed
- 4Wait for a decision, typically sent within a week
Fees & financial support
Fee details
The Emergent Ventures application form contains no payment step and Mercatus publishes no charge for applying. Grants, when awarded, are paid in US dollars.
Frequently asked questions
What is the last date to register for Emergent Ventures India?
The registration deadline is 31 Dec 2026.
Is Emergent Ventures India free?
This opportunity is free to participate in.
Who can participate in Emergent Ventures India?
Children aged 13 to 100.
What will my child gain from Emergent Ventures India?
Direct funding for the applicant's own project. Open from age 13, with no degree or affiliation needed. A decision usually within a week of applying. Public listing in an Emergent Ventures India cohort. No charge to apply.
How we verified this
WiWit checks every listing before publishing it. The details above were last checked against official sources on .
Is this the right fit for your child?
Your child is not a list entry. WiWit matches opportunities to who they already are.
Share with other parents
Categories
WiWit
Don't miss what your child actually qualifies for
WiWit checks 1,232 opportunities like this one. The app shows you only the ones that fit your child.
- Matched to your child's grade, age, and interests
- Deadline reminders so you never miss registration
- Every opportunity verified before it's listed
Related opportunities
INFINITY — Inter-School Mathematics Championship
by Aditya Birla Group
Prestigious annual inter-school math competition for grades 9-12 by Aditya Birla World Academy & BITS Pilani, fostering a love for mathematics.
What your child could gain:
National Analytical Brains (NAB) Competition - Mathematics & Logical Reasoning
by Analytical Brains Education Private Limited
The National Analytical Brains (NAB) Competition is an annual online event for students from Kindergarten to Class 12 across India, focusing on mathematics and logical reasoning skills.
What your child could gain:
Navaratri Navrang Music Competition - Instrumental
by Acharyanet
An online Carnatic music competition by Acharyanet, held during Navaratri, is open to instrumentalists across six age categories from 6 years to adults.
What your child could gain: