3 days // $10K // change the world

Where AI safety founders start

MATSBlueDot Impact

Applications due Nov 15, midnight Anywhere on Earth

Apply

The future of AI safety is founders

AI safety is one of the most pressing problems of our time. Any founder in AI safety has the ability to have immense impact and benefit the world. The field needs more agentic, talented people to found companies for good.

That’s you.

Swan Fellows is a three-day fellowship for founders in AI safety to develop community, learn from founders, ideate with researchers, and gain a better understanding of the field. Fellows should leave prepared to start, raise funding for, or join an organization in AI safety.

Talk with founders and researchers

MATSBlueDot ImpactRobocurveAnthropicOpenAIRedwood ResearchSeldon LabThinking Machines

Timeline

  1. Nov 3

    Applications open

  2. Nov 6

    4 of Spades at MATS

  3. Nov 9

    Talk at Berkeley with BASIS x Entrepreneurs@Berkeley

  4. Nov 9, afternoon

    15-minute talks

  5. Nov 15, midnight Anywhere on Earth

    Applications due

  6. Rolling

    Decisions

  7. Nov 22–24

    Swan Fellows

FAQs

Who are we looking for?

  • If you want to found a company and also care about impact.
  • If you’re a previous founder who wants to build something meaningful.
  • If you’re a biologist or lawyer or have any sort of specialized skill and want to found for good.
  • If you’re a founder interested in AI safety but don’t know where to start.
  • If you already have an idea but don’t know what to do next.
  • If you’re involved with AI safety and want to found a company.
  • If you’re already founding a company in AI safety or adjacent fields and want community and support.

A good rule of thumb for (AI safety -> founding) fellows is that this should fall after BlueDot and during or after SPAR.

A good rule of thumb for (founding -> AI safety) fellows is that you should be at most 6 months away from doing YC/raising a pre-seed. We take people of all stages, from pre-idea to already established.

Who is eligible?

If you’re 18 or older and based in the US, you’re eligible!

Do you need to be a current student?

No.

Do I need to be a CS major?

No, we’re looking for people from a variety of fields! Whether you’re majoring in philosophy, bio, pre-law, math, art, or you just make Instagram Reels or blog posts for fun, we’re looking for smart, agentic people who want to found something meaningful.

Do you need to already be involved in AI safety?

No, but it’s a plus. We welcome newcomers and recommend they check out BlueDot Impact’s courses.

Can I found a nonprofit /​ Can I found a for-profit?

Yes, we’re open to both nonprofits and for-profits.

Do I already need to have a company?

No, but it’s a plus.

Should I have skills already?

You should be skilled in at least one area; that can be AI safety, interpretability research, cybersecurity, biosecurity, comms/marketing, writing, there’s a whole host of options. You aren’t expected to know everything, but you are expected to know something.

What’s the deal with the $10K? Do you need to take it?

If you found a nonprofit, we’ll give you $10K as a grant. For for-profits, this will be an investment. You’re not required to take it.

What is AI safety? Is it just technical research? Does my cybersecurity/​biosecurity/​governance startup count?

AI safety is a very broad term!! It is more than just technical research or mechanistic interpretability. Anything that makes the world better by mitigating risks from AI counts! When in doubt, apply :) if you have a great idea that isn’t too aligned with Swan Fellows, we’ll reach out to see what we can do.

Do I need to be there for the entire time?

Yes.

Is housing and food provided?

Yes.

What is the admissions process like?

After filling out your application, you may be contacted for an interview. Admissions will be on a rolling basis.

I have another question!

Email swan@swanfellows.com