Mozilla Foundation is offering $300,000 in non-dilutive funding, plus up to $200,000 more for projects that show strong progress, to builders of small, purpose-built AI systems anywhere in the world. Proposals close on 20 November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the full call so the funding, conditions and review process are explained in one place.
What the Human-Scale AI Incubator Is
The Mozilla Foundation Incubator backs ambitious builders who create alternatives to today's dominant technologies. Mozilla invests significant, non-dilutive funding in their work and gives them access to a cohort of exceptional peers, expert coaching and Mozilla's global network. The goal is to give these alternatives the runway to grow, endure and reshape the technology landscape for the better.
Central to the approach is product-community fit: the belief that the strongest technologies are built in deep partnership with the people and communities they serve. That means building not only a great product, but also the community of users, contributors, partners and supporters who will shape it, sustain it and propel it forward.
What "Human-Scale AI" Means
For its next Incubator cohort, Mozilla Foundation is investing in an alternative trajectory for AI that it calls Human-Scale AI: bespoke, fit-for-purpose technology designed at the scale of the problem it is meant to solve. The call is aimed at builders of small models, intentional systems and tailored solutions.
Mozilla's aim is to prove that AI can solve real problems well without following the extractive, scale-at-all-costs model that dominates the industry today. Funding for this cohort supports a project's potential for impact, not just scale.
Not an Erasmus+ or ESC Programme
This is a grant call from Mozilla Foundation. It is not part of Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), and it is not a volunteering, exchange or mobility placement. There is no participation fee and no application fee mentioned in the call.
What Kind of Projects Mozilla Is Looking For
Mozilla Foundation is looking for working technologies that are already being used or piloted with the people they serve. Projects should combine three things:
🧠 Efficient use of models and computing resources
🎛️ Meaningful user and community control
🧩 Design tailored to a specific need
How Much Funding You Can Receive
💵 First year: Selected projects receive $300,000 USD and 12 months of intensive support, beginning in April 2027
➕ Additional funding: Projects that demonstrate strong progress may be eligible for up to $200,000 USD more and two further years of bespoke support
📈 Total potential support: Up to $500,000 USD over three years, without giving up equity
🔍 What follow-on funding considers: Progress on the core technology, evidence of product-community fit, meaningful public benefit and a clear roadmap for what another two years of support could unlock
Anchor Projects in the Cohort
To seed the cohort with ideas and give real examples of what Mozilla is looking for, three teams have been preselected as anchor projects: Tiles Privacy Technologies, Family Intelligence, Inc. and Distributed AI Research Institute.
What Founders in the Cohort Receive
🤝 An exceptional cohort: Peers building alternative technologies
🧭 Tailored coaching: Support shaped around your project
💬 Regular 1:1 support: Ongoing contact with Mozilla staff
🌐 Mozilla's global network: Connections across the wider community
🎤 A platform at the Mozilla Festival: An Incubator Showcase
🌍 Explore more opportunities on Youth Works Hub →
What Mozilla Asks of You in Return
🗓️ Active participation: Required sessions are generally one or two hour-long virtual meetings a month
📚 Learning with the cohort: Take part in the shared learning
🔓 Working in the open: Share open source code, educational resources, public workshops or something else
Who Can Apply
Mozilla Foundation funds projects that advance its charitable mission and create meaningful public benefit. The call is open to builders and projects from all over the world.
🏛️ Legal capacity: You must be legally able to receive grant funds from Mozilla Foundation
🤲 Charitable purpose: You do not need to be a nonprofit organisation, but your project must have a charitable purpose
📝 Possible extra checks: Applicants may be asked to provide additional information as part of Mozilla Foundation's eligibility review
🗣️ Language: Applications must be submitted in English. Translation tools are welcome, and Mozilla evaluates your ideas, not your language quality
In your application, Mozilla will ask you to describe the work you want to undertake, who stands to benefit and what impacts you hope your work will produce.
How Applications Are Evaluated
Applications are scored against six criteria:
🔬 Human-Scale AI
⚙️ Technical viability
🗺️ Problem-community clarity
🧶 Product-community fit
🌱 Impact and values
♻️ Sustainability potential
How the Review Process Works
Applications go through a multi-stage process. The primary review takes place at the Initial Project Proposal stage, and only a small number of shortlisted applicants are invited to submit a full application.
Rules on Using AI in Your Application
All submitted content must ultimately reflect your own original work, ideas and voice. If you want to know how far AI help can go in written applications, read our guide on using AI to write your motivation letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding does the Human-Scale AI Incubator offer?
Selected projects receive $300,000 USD for 12 months starting in April 2027. Projects with strong progress may receive up to $200,000 USD more and two further years of support, for up to $500,000 USD in total over three years.
Does Mozilla take equity in my project?
No. The funding is non-dilutive, so you do not give up equity.
Do I need to be a nonprofit to apply?
No. You do not need to be a nonprofit organisation, but you must be legally able to receive grant funds from Mozilla Foundation and your project must have a charitable purpose.
Which countries can apply?
Mozilla calls for builders and projects from all over the world, and the call lists no country restrictions.
What happens after I submit a proposal?
The main review happens at the Initial Project Proposal stage. Only a small number of shortlisted applicants are then invited to submit a full application.
Is this connected to Erasmus+ or the European Solidarity Corps?
No. It is an independent grant call from Mozilla Foundation and is not part of Erasmus+ or ESC.
Deadline
⏳ 20 November 2026
Links
🔗 Apply: https://mzl.la/humanscaleai
📄 Call for proposals: https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/what-we-do/grantmaking/incubator/human-scale-ai/call-for-proposals/
📰 Mozilla Foundation announcement: https://www.mozillafoundation.org/en/meet-mozilla/press-center/mozilla-foundation-opens-funding-call-for-ai-built-around-communities/
✉️ Contact: press@mozillafoundation.org
