Sequoia Open Source Fellowship
Check your eligibility
Sign up and we'll tell you whether your startup qualifies for this grant.
Quick Answer
A no-equity stipend covering 6 to 12 months of living expenses for developers working on open source projects with real-world use, from anywhere.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Fellowship
- Provider
- Sequoia Capital
- Application deadline
- Rolling
- Location
- International
About this grant
The Sequoia Open Source Fellowship is run by Sequoia Capital, the US venture capital firm, to support open source software that lives outside companies. Fellows get a stipend meant to cover reasonable living expenses for 6 to 12 months. Sequoia takes no equity and expects nothing in return. It is open on a rolling basis with no deadline, it is location agnostic so you can apply from India, and it is very selective, with about two to three fellows a year. The source does not state the stipend amount.
What the program offers
The fellowship pays a stipend sized to cover reasonable living expenses for the fellowship period, which is 6 to 12 months. The page gives no fixed rupee or dollar figure, so the amount presumably depends on the fellow's situation; the source does not say how it is set.
The terms are unusually light. Sequoia does not take equity and does not treat the stipend as an investment in any future company. You keep full ownership of what you build before, during and after the fellowship, and Sequoia does not influence your roadmap. You do not need to start a company or form a legal entity to receive the money, and you can continue an existing project or begin something new. No travel is required, although fellows are welcome at Sequoia founder events.
Who can apply
The fellowship is for open source creators and maintainers. Sequoia looks mainly at existing projects with real-world adoption, and it notes that this is not always the same as having many stars on GitHub. The goal is to help fellows make significant improvements to an existing project or to expand it. The program is location agnostic, so you can live and work anywhere, which includes India.
It suits developers who already maintain a library, tool or infrastructure project that other people and companies depend on, and who would benefit from time to work on it full time. It does not suit teams looking for venture capital for a company, early ideas with no users, or people who want guidance from Sequoia on what to build, since Sequoia does not set the roadmap.
How to apply
Fill in the short application form linked from the Apply to be a Fellow section of the fellowship page. Describe your open source project and the real-world use it has. There is no deadline, and Sequoia reviews applications on a rolling basis. A practical tip: show evidence of real use, such as who depends on your project, instead of relying on star counts, since the page says stars are not the measure.
How applications are judged and what happens next
The page does not describe formal selection criteria beyond the points above. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. If your project looks like a good fit, Sequoia gets in touch. The program expects to choose two to three fellows a year, so most applicants will not be selected. The source does not give a timeline for a decision.
About Sequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital is a US venture capital firm. It created the fellowship to support open source software outside companies, and it says it has worked with companies that have deep open source roots, including Temporal, Confluent and MongoDB. Past fellows include Sebastián Ramírez, the creator of FastAPI, who was the first fellow in 2023, and in 2024 the vLLM contributors and the Chatbot Arena team.
Things to check before you apply
- The stipend amount, how it is paid and in which currency are not stated, so ask before you rely on it for living costs.
- Check how the stipend would be treated for tax in India, with an adviser, because the source says nothing about this.
- With two to three fellows a year, treat this as a long shot and keep other funding options open.
- The source gives no formal eligibility test, so read the fellowship page for the latest wording before you apply.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Fellowship
- Equity
- Equity-free
- Repayment
- Non-repayable
What You Get
Fellows receive a stipend that aims to cover reasonable living expenses for a 6 to 12 month period, so they can focus on their open source project. Sequoia takes no equity and does not consider the stipend an investment in any future company. All code stays the fellow's, and fellows may join Sequoia founder events if they wish.
- Disbursement
- Monthly Stipend
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Applications
Rolling basis
Selection Process
Sequoia reviews applications on a rolling basis and contacts applicants whose projects look like a good fit. It focuses on existing open source projects with real-world adoption and expects to select two to three fellows a year. The source does not describe a timeline or detailed criteria.
Application Process
- 1
Apply
Fill the short questionnaire about your open source project.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply for the Sequoia Open Source Fellowship?
Open source creators and maintainers whose projects have real-world adoption can apply. Sequoia mainly looks at existing projects and wants to help fellows make significant improvements or expand them. Adoption matters more than GitHub stars.
Can Indian developers apply for the Sequoia Open Source Fellowship?
Yes, the fellowship is location agnostic, so you can live and work from anywhere, including India. No travel is required. The source does not mention any country restriction.
How much is the Sequoia Open Source Fellowship stipend?
The source gives no fixed amount. It says the stipend is meant to cover reasonable living expenses for 6 to 12 months. Ask Sequoia how the amount is set if you are selected.
How is the Sequoia Open Source Fellowship stipend paid?
The source does not say how or when the stipend is paid, or in which currency. It only says the amount covers reasonable living expenses for the fellowship period. Check this with Sequoia if you are selected, and speak to a tax adviser about Indian treatment.
Is there a deadline for the Sequoia Open Source Fellowship, and what if I missed it?
There is no deadline. Sequoia reviews applications on a rolling basis, so you can apply at any time. Because only two to three fellows are chosen each year, there may be a wait before you hear anything.
Is the Sequoia Open Source Fellowship a grant or equity?
It is a stipend with no equity. Sequoia does not take equity and does not treat the stipend as an investment in any future company. It also expects nothing in return.
What do I need to apply for the Sequoia Open Source Fellowship?
You fill in a short application form describing your open source project and its real-world use. The source does not list other documents. You do not need a company or legal entity.
Do I have to travel for the Sequoia Open Source Fellowship?
No travel is required, because the fellowship is location agnostic. Fellows are welcome at Sequoia founder events, but attending is not a requirement.
Who owns the code I write during the fellowship?
You do. You keep full ownership of what you create before, during and after the fellowship, and Sequoia does not influence your roadmap. Sequoia takes no equity and expects nothing in return.
How many people does Sequoia select for the Open Source Fellowship?
Sequoia expects to select about two to three fellows a year, so it is very selective. Past fellows include the creator of FastAPI (2023) and the vLLM contributors and the Chatbot Arena team (2024). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
