“Our dream is to spark off disruptive ideas, activities and technologies through our entrepreneurs and have a massive impact on problems in the developing world.”
The Fellowship
- Up to $3,500 USD in reimbursable grant per founder to fully cover round-trip flights, Silicon Valley accommodation, sustenance, and any entry tickets during the Tech Week.
- Curated attendance and RSVP support for high-signal SF Tech Week events matched to each fellow’s sector and stage
- Visits to technology company headquarters and Bay Area startup organizations.
- Introductions to the investor community: VCs, angels, and cross-border funds active in India-origin companies
- Access to special SF Tech Week events and community gatherings within the Rajeev Circle network
Priority Sectors
The 2026 Fellowship is open to technology founders from India. Priority will be given to founders working in sectors of strategic and global significance:
- Artificial Intelligence and Agentic Systems
- Defence Technology
- Deep Tech and Advanced Materials
- Cybersecurity
- Drones and Autonomous Systems
- Space Technology
- Robotics and Automation
- Other critical and frontier technology domains
Founders should be actively building – not at ideation stage – and demonstrate readiness to engage meaningfully with the US market, investor ecosystem, or technology community.
FAQs
The Rajeev Circle Fellowship (RCF) is a flagship initiative of the Motwani Jadeja Foundation. Founded by Asha Jadeja in memory of her late husband, Professor Rajeev Motwani (Stanford computer scientist and early Google advisor). The fellowship recognizes and accelerates India’s most ambitious tech founders by immersing them in the global technology and venture capital ecosystem, timed in 2026 to coincide with SF Tech Week in San Francisco.
Professor Rajeev Motwani was a distinguished Stanford computer scientist, a foundational advisor to Google, and one of Silicon Valley’s most respected mentor-investors. He believed deeply that the most transformative thing you can do for a founder is place them in the right room, with the right people, at the right moment. The Rajeev Circle Fellowship carries forward that philosophy as its founding principle.
The program features two main phases:
This includes:
- August – September 2026: 3 to 4 online orientation and strategy sessions.
- October 7 – October 15, 2026: An intensive, in-person residency in San Francisco, California, timed to coincide with SF Tech Week.
The fellowship is open to technology founders based in India. You must be actively building a product or company and demonstrate a clear readiness to engage with the US market, investor ecosystem, or global technology community.
While any frontier technology founder can apply, priority is given to those working in:
- Artificial Intelligence and Agentic Systems
- Defence Technology
- Deep Tech and Advanced Materials
- Cybersecurity
- Drones and Autonomous Systems
- Space Technology
- Robotics and Automation
Preference will be given to founders who are actively building and have progressed beyond the basic ideation phase.
All selected fellows will need a valid US visa to enter United States for the fellowship. Applicants with existing US visas will be given a preference.
Selected fellows receive a $3,500 USD equity-free grant. This stipend is designed to fully cover:
- Round-trip flights from India to San Francisco
- Bay Area accommodation and sustenance during the residency
- Any event tickets or passes during SF tech week
The week is highly curated to maximize global exposure. It includes:
- Curated attendance and RSVP support for high-signal SF Tech Week events.
- Visits to major technology company headquarters and prominent Bay Area startup hubs.
- Direct introductions to leading VCs, angel investors, and cross-border funds.
- Access to exclusive networking events within the established Rajeev Circle network.
Yes. The fellowship provides strategic RSVP support and matches you with specific events, builders, and investors tailored directly to your startup’s sector and stage.
- June 6 – July 12, 2026: Application window.
- Mid July: Application review and shortlisting.
- End of July / Early August: Final announcement of the 2026 Cohort.
- August – September 2026: Virtual orientation sessions.
- Second week of October: In-person San Francisco Fellowship.
