Deadline: March 16, 2026
Applications are open for the Mozilla Foundation Incubator Democracy x AI Cohort 2026. Mozilla Foundation believes that better tech futures are possible—and they are proving it by investing in projects that will make them real. They back technologists that are building alternatives that work—tools that are open, transparent, and designed to serve everyone. They support technologies that give power back to people and communities, and they plant seeds of radical change by funding projects that push forward new tech paradigms.
Mozilla Foundation’s Incubator is a catalyst for this movement. All too often, promising alternatives launch, but fail to bridge the “valley of death” between prototyping and sustainability. They help build a community around promising ideas, finding the right users, contributors, mentors, and funders to sustain the work of technologists without compromising their values. They call this “product-community fit.”
Every sustainable alternative they help build becomes proof that technology can work differently. By helping viable alternatives reach their full potential, they change what’s possible: one successful alternative at a time.
Democracy x AI Cohort
They are looking for technologists who look at the current state of democracy and see opportunities to strengthen it. How might AI contribute to the online information ecosystem in a way that is transparent and accountable? How could technology be used to advance a shared understanding of facts? What new spaces might be built to help cultivate conversation and consensus rather than polarization?
In particular, they are looking for:
- Systems that help people access quality information and that ensure diverse voices can be heard.
- Technologies that make government and institutional decision-making visible, trackable, and accountable to the people affected by those decisions.
- Technologies that protect and expand civic space where people can organize, engage, and build movements without fear of surveillance or repression.
By supporting projects that embody and promote democratic principles, they hope to demonstrate that AI can be leveraged to create a strengthened democratic ecosystem, where technology helps advance mutual understanding, enable institutional accountability, and expand civic engagement.
Benefits
They anticipate funding 10 projects at $50,000 each for 12 months of intensive support.
In addition to project funding, you’ll receive the following supports:
- Monthly cohort calls with peers facing similar challenges.
- Expert mentorship from advisors who’ve navigated the problems you’re facing—from AI accountability to sustainable business models to early-stage funding.
- Skills workshops tailored to what your cohort needs most (past topics: funding landscape navigation, impact measurement, pitch development).
- Network access to Mozilla’s global ecosystem of technologists, activists, and funders.
- Regular 1:1 check-ins with Mozilla staff to discuss milestones, obstacles, and support needs
Eligibility
You should apply if you have:
- A working technology that people can actually use — not just an idea or wireframe. You’ve built something functional, even if it’s at a very early stage, and you’re ready for what comes next.
- A committed team who can execute over 12 months. If you are selected for this grant, you should be able to hit the ground running without having to do any significant hiring.
- A commitment to openness that will expand the impact of your work. At least some of your code is open source (e.g., you use an open core model, your codebase is closed but you publish open datasets, etc.) or you have a clear roadmap for open sourcing at least part of your codebase and will commit to doing so during the grant period. You’ll share learnings publicly, make datasets available where appropriate, and document your process for others to learn from. You believe transparency and community stewardship will make your project stronger. If you’re new to working open, we’ll provide you with the resources and experts to help you navigate things like licensing and creating on-ramps for participation to outside contributors.
You must also:
- Be legally able to receive funds from Mozilla Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Please carefully review Mozilla Foundation’s grant eligibility guidelines before submitting an application.
- Submit applications in English. Translation tools are welcome. They evaluate your ideas, not your language quality.
Evaluation Criteria
Every application is assessed across six criteria:
- Technical viability: Is this a functional technology with real momentum? Does the team have the capacity to execute? Are the technical approach and scope appropriate for the problem, budget, and grant term?
- Problem/community clarity: Does the team have a clear understanding of the problem they’re solving and who they’re solving it for? Is there evidence they’re in dialogue with potential users? Are they pursuing a real need rather than a solution in search of a problem?
- Impact potential: Does this project have clear potential for charitable/public benefit? Could this create meaningful change for the communities it serves? Does it address the cohort’s theme in a compelling way?
- Values alignment: Does this project offer a technology that enables more transparency and agency for people? Is the team committed to openness—whether through public code, shared learnings, open datasets, or transparent practices?
- Sustainability potential: Has the team started thinking about long-term viability? Is there a plausible path to sustainability that aligns with their values—whether that’s revenue, community support, institutional partnerships, or something else? Is the team open to exploring different models?
- Theme fit: Is the project likely to create measurable improvements in civic participation, institutional transparency, information quality, or collective decision-making within their target communities?
Application
For more information, visit Incubator Democracy x AI Cohort.
