The Silicon Valley Space Week Scholarship gives five young space entrepreneurs access to Silicon Valley Space Week in Mountain View, California. The event runs from 27–29 October 2026 and brings together investors, industry leaders, government representatives, customers and commercial-space teams. Each winner receives a Full Access Pass valued at USD $1,895. The award is useful for applicants who already have a venture, startup, product or commercially credible space idea they are ready to discuss.
The scholarship does not cover travel, accommodation, visa costs or expenses outside the conference registration package. Applicants must be eligible SGAC members, satisfy the age requirement and be able to attend in person. The official SGAC page currently displays 15 September 2026 at 23:59 PT as the submission deadline in its headline and schedule. An older sentence on the same page still mentions 7 September, so applicants should treat the later displayed schedule as the current update but submit as soon as possible.
Silicon Valley Space Week Scholarship Details
The Silicon Valley Space Week Scholarship is organised by the Space Generation Advisory Council in partnership with Silicon Valley Space Week. SGAC states that five winners will receive conference access covering the Satellite Innovation Symposium, the MilSat Symposium, conference sessions, breakfasts, lunches, coffee breaks and the evening reception. The scholarship is therefore a conference-access award rather than a fully funded trip to the United States.
SGAC is looking for applicants with something commercially meaningful to present, even if the company or product is still early. You do not need to have raised investment or built a fully established company, but you should be able to explain the venture clearly and show how attending the event could move it forward. The application is designed to test both motivation and pitching ability.
| Organiser | Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC) × Silicon Valley Space Week |
| Location | Mountain View, California, USA |
| Event dates | 27–29 October 2026 |
| Awards | 5 conference passes |
| Pass value | USD $1,895 each |
| Coverage | Conference registration/access only |
| Current displayed deadline | 15 September 2026, 23:59 PT |
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Scholarship Benefits and Coverage
The Silicon Valley Space Week Scholarship provides a Full Access Pass for each of the five selected applicants. According to SGAC, the pass includes full access to both major symposiums, sessions, breakfasts, lunches, coffee breaks and an evening reception. This gives winners direct access to the commercial and national-security space communities gathering at the event.
Applicants should budget carefully because the award has important limits. Travel, accommodation, US visa costs, meals outside the conference programme and other personal expenses are not reimbursed. SGAC also says winners should not incur expenses until formal confirmation of the award has been received.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for the Silicon Valley Space Week Scholarship must be registered and eligible SGAC members and be between 18 and 35 years old as of 29 October 2026. They should be founders, entrepreneurs, startup team members or people developing a commercial space-related venture or idea. The opportunity is aimed at candidates who are ready to pitch and make meaningful use of the event.
Candidates must also be able to attend Silicon Valley Space Week in person from 27–29 October. They must be able to travel to the United States or independently obtain a US visa before 26 October 2026, and proof of travel eligibility must be uploaded. SGAC cannot provide extra funding for travel or immigration expenses.
- Membership: eligible SGAC member registered on the SGAC website.
- Age: 18–35 by 29 October 2026.
- Profile: founder, entrepreneur, startup team member or developer of a commercial space venture/idea.
- Attendance: able to attend in Mountain View for the full event.
- Travel proof: evidence of US travel/visa eligibility must be uploaded.
Application Videos and Submission Rules
The application requires two separate one-minute videos. The first explains why the applicant wants to attend Silicon Valley Space Week and how the opportunity could advance the company, venture or idea. The second is an elevator pitch for the company, startup, product or commercial idea itself.
Videos must be submitted separately as accessible YouTube links, in English and at normal playback speed. Each applicant may submit only one application, and each company, venture or entrepreneurial idea may submit only one application. Multiple applications from the same venture can disqualify all associated applicants.
- Video 1: why you want to attend and what you hope to achieve.
- Video 2: a one-minute elevator pitch for the venture or idea.
- Upload required proof of eligibility to travel to the United States.
- Submit through the SGAC Scholarship Submission Form.
How to Apply
Create or confirm your SGAC membership before opening the official scholarship submission form. Prepare the two videos separately and make sure each stays within the one-minute limit. Applicants should focus on clarity, commercial potential and the specific value that Silicon Valley Space Week could provide.
The Silicon Valley Space Week Scholarship selection committee considers entrepreneurial and investment potential, clarity of the venture, expected impact of attending, communication ability, motivation and the likelihood that the applicant will use the event to build meaningful connections. Professional video production is not required; the quality of the idea matters more than studio polish.
- Register or log in as an SGAC member.
- Confirm age, venture and US travel eligibility.
- Record the motivation video and elevator-pitch video separately.
- Upload travel/visa eligibility evidence.
- Submit one application through the official SGAC form.
Deadline, Selection and Winner Responsibilities
The SGAC page currently shows 15 September 2026 at 23:59 Pacific Time in the main deadline notice and schedule, with winners expected to be notified on 25 September. The same page still contains one older submission-guideline sentence referring to 7 September. Because the page was updated after that earlier date, applicants should use the current displayed schedule but apply immediately rather than waiting for the final hours.
Winners must attend the full scholarship-covered programme, participate actively and represent SGAC professionally. They are also expected to submit a one-minute experience video and a one-page report after the event, and may be asked to support future recipients if the scholarship runs again. For another professional opportunity, see our UNIDIR Graduate Professional Programme guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
The main issue applicants should understand is that this is a conference-pass scholarship, not a travel grant. The official SGAC page should be checked again before submission because schedule details can be updated.
The questions below summarize the current official conditions and the most important limitations.
What does the scholarship pay for?
It covers a Silicon Valley Space Week Full Access Pass valued at USD $1,895, including the listed conference sessions and conference-programme meals. Travel, accommodation and visa costs are excluded.
How many winners will be selected?
SGAC states that five applicants will receive the conference pass scholarship.
What is the current deadline?
The official page currently displays 15 September 2026 at 23:59 PT in its main notice and schedule, although one older line on the page still mentions 7 September. Apply as early as possible.
Conclusion
The Silicon Valley Space Week Scholarship is a focused opportunity for young entrepreneurs who already have a commercially promising space venture or idea and want direct access to investors, customers and industry stakeholders. Its value comes from the USD $1,895 event pass and the networking environment rather than from travel funding.
Applicants to the Silicon Valley Space Week Scholarship should verify SGAC membership, age, travel eligibility and the current deadline before submitting. Prepare two distinct one-minute videos, explain the venture clearly and budget independently for all costs outside the conference pass.
