Each day is different. Generally, though, the fellowship is a mix of academic work, venture development, mentor and coach meetings, and social events. Fellows typically have two classes per day. Afterward, fellows work with their teams to develop their ventures. The evenings hold both planned and impromptu social events. It’s very busy — be prepared!

The Academic Seminar is not academically accredited. It is rigorous and tailor-made for the OGS Fellowship program, designed to give fellows the tools to start new ventures and refine their leadership skills. Workshops and keynote lectures by successful entrepreneurs complement the academic curriculum.

OGS Fellows are each assigned a personal mentor/s, matched while fellows are in the region. first weeks of the fellowship. After a few weeks, during the venture development stage, each venture/team is assigned to a venture coach. OGS mentors and coaches come from our network of highly accomplished community leaders, business executives, and serial entrepreneurs from the US and the region.

The OGS Fellowship is fully funded for all participants. For the in-person component in Boston, OGS covers round-trip airfare, tuition, meals, and accommodation. OGS also provides local transportation passes and a modest stipend for living expenses. By design, the funding and resources provided are sufficient to fully complete the fellowship.

While together in the Boston area, fellows participate in social gatherings with the wider OGS Network, such as group dinners and ticketed events. We also allow time for OGS Fellows to enjoy the vibrant Boston summertime, which often includes sports events, concerts, outings, etc. During pre-summer and post-summer components, there may also be options for in-person social activities.

Yes! Our Generation Speaks exists to build an infrastructure of hope for a peaceful and just future for Palestinians and Israelis, and your experience in the Fellowship is the first step in your lifelong journey with the OGS community. This requires honest, meaningful, respectful, and solutions-oriented conversations about the conflict and barriers to working together for the good of the region. While fellows come with varying perspectives on what brought us to the current reality and on paths forward. 

The Fellowship aims to provide a safe and productive environment in which to explore how this shared community can build a peaceful and just future. Because we know it takes practice and tools to hold constructive conversations and build trust, in 2025, we expanded the trust-building and political component of the Fellowship to include dedicated dialogue sessions, and this work is evolving and deepening with the 2026 fellowship. Dialogue sessions not only provide space for constructive discussion and gain insights into the perspectives of your peers, but they also build your leadership capacity with critical communication skills and boost your ability to engage in difficult conversations.

The OGS fellowship is also open to those who have an established startup with 2-3 team members. We admit teams in this category that are looking to take their startup to the next level.

The fellowship is seeking Israelis and Palestinians ages 24-32, who have demonstrated leadership and/or have at least 3 years of meaningful working experience.

Up to 28 participants will take part in the 2026 OGS Fellowship.

No — having a venture idea is not a requirement for admission. We’re looking for individuals with a strong vision, a sense of purpose, and a clear direction for what they hope to build or achieve during their time in the fellowship. Applicants who already have a small team or an early-stage startup are also encouraged to apply.

Generally, yes. However, we have admitted amazing fellows who have never gone to university! If you don’t have a degree but have meaningful work experience and entrepreneurial spirit, please send an introductory email to admissions@ogspeaks.com.

No — working in any capacity during the summer fellowship is not possible. The fellowship is extremely intensive and demanding. Fellows may continue working during the pre-summer program stage, yet it’s mandatory to join all required sessions.

Unfortunately, no. OGS is unable to accommodate long-term guests, including spouses, children, relatives, friends, etc. Please contact OGS staff with any questions or concerns about this policy at admssions@ogspeaks.com.

OGS probably isn’t the program for you. Commitment to return to the region is a key factor in our selection process, as ventures that receive pre-seed investments from OGS are expected to initiate their activity in Israel/Palestine after the fellowship.

Admitted OGS applicants were issued a B1/B2 Visa or J-1 Visa. OGS team will contact the finalists and provide instructions to start their visa process around March 2026.

An in-person interview is mandatory. Exceptions may occur, but these are infrequent. Applicants in or from Gaza are automatically offered an online interview.

Yes! We encourage you to re-apply, as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria. We have examples of fellows who were admitted on their third application process, during the year when the Fellowship was right for them. You will need to you submit a new application and go through the full interview process. You can reach out to admssions@ogspeaks.com. and ask for your previous application. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide feedback on previously submitted applications.

At OGS, we invest in teams that show strong potential for success and contribute positive impacts rooted in the region. . 

OGS startups fit broadly into the following categories:

1. Impact ventures that are mission-driven, whether for- or non-profit. They deliver a product or service that has a beneficial social or environmental impact.
2. Global for-profit ventures that have significant potential to compete in international markets.
3. Regional for-profits that tackle a specific challenge within the region (Palestine and/or Israel) in an innovative way.

No — OGS no longer takes equity in the ventures it funds. Our investment is, and has always been, in you — the people behind the ideas. We believe real change begins with leaders who dare to imagine a better future and take action to build it. The OGS award, worth up to $50,000, is not an investment in ownership, but a vote of confidence in your vision, your courage, and your potential to make great dreams come to life

It’s NOT mandatory for a team to be mixed. OGS invests in Palestinian, Israeli and mixed companies. OGS encourages joint Palestinian-Israeli ventures when it makes sense business-wise. This means that OGS will strongly support a mixed team where operating in Israel and Palestine is an advantageous business strategy. OGS usually encourages fellows to start mixed ventures in team sizes of four (two on each side). Mixed ventures can also be built as two separate companies/entities with exclusive partnerships agreements. Therefore, OGS might even provide extra funding to increase the venture’s opportunity for success.

The Startups Growth Committee is the body of advisors that guides and advises the venture teams regarding strategy, execution, and barriers to success during the Fellowship. The Committee also takes part in the evaluation process of pitches and advises on the allocation of pre-seed funding. Post-Fellowship, the Startups Growth Committee meets with each OGS Venture on a quarterly basis to analyze its business plan and progress report, and provide ongoing guidance. The Committee is composed of individuals with decades of combined experience in business development, finance, law, and management.

1. Business viability (a must!) is determined through a rigorous evaluation process that answers such questions as: (1) Is there a real problem the venture is trying to solve? (2) Can the venture ‘win,’ e.g., does it have the ability to differentiate itself amongst competitors? (3) Can the venture make or raise investments independently (outside of the initial award from OGS)?
2. Full-time Commitment Post-summer Fellowship (a must!) – The commitment of at least two co-founders to the venture in a full-time capacity.
3. Strong founding team – Co-founders bring complementary skills, shared values, and a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively toward a common vision.
4. Social impact (a plus!) is demonstrated through the amount of positive change the venture aims to create, ranging from environmental conservation to job creation. While in some cases, ventures will be funded purely on the strength of business viability, the OGS seeks to ensure funding to a critical mass of ventures that have the promise of meaningful social impact.
5. Team diversity within a venture (a plus!) is determined by the profiles of the founders. OGS will encourage joint Israeli-Palestinian ventures when it positively impact the business model and also support ventures that are better off when their team is only Palestinian or only Israeli.

OGS Next is our dynamic, cross-border alumni network. More than 200 young leaders have graduated from the OGS fellowship since 2016. As you graduate from the fellowship, you enter OGS Next, where you access peer support, leadership, and professional training workshops, facilitated conversations, and social events. Our alumni, as agents of change, continue to build trust, create new opportunities, and support each other’s success.

Each year, a group of OGS alumni flies in during the Summer Fellowship to offer guidance and support to the Fellows in the final stretch before Pitch Day. These alumni bring a diverse set of skills and experiences, providing valuable insights to help Fellows refine their ventures. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for networking and connecting across different OGS cohorts