SGAC × Silicon Valley Space Week 2026 Scholarship in USA

Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)

Scholarships
USA
September 12, 2026

The SGAC × Silicon Valley Space Week 2026 Scholarship offers five young space entrepreneurs, founders, or startup team members the opportunity to attend Silicon Valley Space Week in Mountain View, California. The scholarship provides a Silicon Valley Space Week Full Access Pass valued at USD $1,895 for each selected winner.

Silicon Valley Space Week 2026 will take place from October 27–29, 2026, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. The event brings together people working across commercial space, satellite technology, investment, government, and national-security space.

The scholarship is designed for young entrepreneurs who are developing a space-related company, startup, product, technology, or business idea and want to build connections with investors, customers, industry leaders, and other space-sector professionals.

Opportunity Overview

Detail	Information
Scholarship	SGAC × Silicon Valley Space Week 2026 Scholarship
Host Organization	Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC)
Event	Silicon Valley Space Week 2026
Host Country	United States
Location	Mountain View, California
Study Level	Not applicable; entrepreneurship and professional opportunity
Target Applicants	Young space entrepreneurs, founders and startup team members
Age Requirement	18–35 years old by October 29, 2026
Number of Winners	5
Award	Silicon Valley Space Week Full Access Pass
Award Value	USD $1,895 per winner
Event Dates	October 27–29, 2026
Application Language	English
Membership	Eligible SGAC membership required
Application Method	SGAC Scholarship Submission Form
Deadline	September 15, 2026 at 23:59 PT according to the schedule; the page also contains a conflicting September 7 deadline

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What Is the SGAC Silicon Valley Space Week 2026 Scholarship?

The scholarship is offered by the Space Generation Advisory Council in partnership with Silicon Valley Space Week.

It is aimed at young people developing commercial ideas or ventures connected to the space sector. Applicants may already have a company or startup, be preparing to launch a venture, be part of a startup team, or be developing an idea with commercial potential.

The opportunity is different from a traditional university scholarship. It does not provide funding for a degree or academic program. Instead, selected applicants receive access to a major professional space-industry event.

Silicon Valley Space Week 2026 will bring together commercial and national-security space communities at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. The official event website describes the program as a combination of Satellite Innovation and the MilSat Symposium.

Scholarship Benefits and Funding

Five successful applicants will receive a Silicon Valley Space Week Full Access Pass valued at USD $1,895 each.

The pass includes access to:

Satellite Innovation Symposium
MilSat Symposium
Conference sessions
Breakfasts
Lunches
Coffee breaks
Evening reception

The event itself takes place over three days, from October 27 to October 29, 2026. The official event website confirms that both conference programs take place at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.

What the Scholarship Does Not Cover

This is not a fully funded travel scholarship.

According to the SGAC scholarship information, the award covers the conference registration/pass only. Applicants and winners are responsible for expenses such as:

International or domestic travel
Accommodation
Visa costs
Travel documents
Meals outside the conference program
Other personal expenses

SGAC also states that it cannot provide additional funding beyond the scholarship.

This distinction is important for international applicants because receiving the conference pass does not automatically provide financial support for traveling to the United States.

Who Should Apply?

The opportunity is intended for young professionals and entrepreneurs working on space-related commercial ideas.

Potential applicants may include:

Space startup founders
Entrepreneurs developing space technologies
Startup team members
Young professionals building a space-sector venture
People preparing to launch a commercial space business
Entrepreneurs developing a space-related product or technology

You do not necessarily need to have a large established company or previous investment funding.

However, your application should demonstrate that you have a meaningful venture, product, company, or idea that you can explain clearly.

Eligibility Requirements

According to the SGAC scholarship information, applicants must meet the following conditions:

1. SGAC Membership

Applicants must be eligible SGAC members registered on the SGAC website.

Applications are available to SGAC members only.

2. Age Requirement

Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old by October 29, 2026.

3. Space Entrepreneurship

Applicants must be founders, entrepreneurs, startup team members, or people developing a commercial space-related venture or idea.

4. Attendance in the United States

Successful applicants must be able to attend Silicon Valley Space Week in person from October 27–29, 2026.

5. Ability to Travel to the United States

Applicants must be able to travel to the United States or independently obtain a U.S. visa before the event.

The SGAC page states that applicants should provide proof of their ability to travel, such as an applicable passport, residence permit, visa-exempt status, valid U.S. visa, or confirmed U.S. visa appointment.

6. English Submission

All application materials must be submitted in English.

Is This Scholarship Available to International Applicants?

The opportunity is not described as being limited to one country or nationality. However, applicants must satisfy SGAC membership requirements and must be able to attend the event in the United States.

For applicants who require a U.S. visa, the ability to obtain the necessary travel authorization is an important part of eligibility.

Applicants should therefore consider visa requirements and travel costs before applying.

Afghan applicants: The provided SGAC scholarship information does not state that Afghan nationals are specifically excluded. However, Afghan applicants would still need to satisfy all SGAC eligibility requirements and independently meet U.S. travel and visa requirements.

What Videos Are Required?

Applicants must submit two separate one-minute videos.

Video 1: Why Silicon Valley Space Week?

The first video should explain why the applicant wants to attend the event and how attending could help develop their company, venture, or idea.

Applicants can discuss:

Who they want to meet
What they want to learn
What challenge they are trying to solve
What type of industry connection they need
How investors or customers could help
Why attending this specific event matters to their venture

This video should focus on the value of attending the event rather than simply repeating the startup pitch.

Video 2: Elevator Pitch

The second video is a separate one-minute pitch about the applicant’s:

Company
Startup
Product
Technology
Business idea

Applicants should explain their venture clearly and use the limited time to demonstrate their entrepreneurship and communication skills.

The two videos should not simply repeat the same information.

Video Submission Rules

Applicants should follow the SGAC submission rules carefully.

Each applicant may submit only one application.

Each company, venture, or entrepreneurial idea may submit only one application. Multiple applications from the same venture may result in disqualification of the applicants.

Each video must:

Be no longer than one minute
Be submitted as a YouTube link
Be publicly accessible to the selection team
Play at normal 1× speed
Be understandable and clear
Be in English

Professional studio production is not required. The scholarship information states that the quality of the idea and the content of the application are more important than expensive production.

Required Documents and Application Materials

Based on the published application instructions, applicants should prepare:

SGAC membership
One application
Proof of eligibility to travel to the United States
One-minute video explaining why they want to attend
Separate one-minute elevator pitch
Public YouTube links for both videos
Information about their company, startup, product, or idea

Applicants should check the official SGAC application form for any additional information requested during submission.

How to Apply

Follow these general steps:

Step 1: Check SGAC Membership

Make sure you are an eligible SGAC member and can access the scholarship application.

Step 2: Prepare Your Venture Information

Prepare a simple explanation of your startup, company, product, technology, or commercial space idea.

Step 3: Record the First Video

Record a maximum one-minute video explaining why Silicon Valley Space Week would be valuable for your venture.

Step 4: Record the Elevator Pitch

Create a separate one-minute video explaining your company, startup, product, or idea.

Step 5: Upload the Videos to YouTube

Submit the videos as separate YouTube links. Make sure the selection committee can access them.

Step 6: Prepare Travel Eligibility Evidence

Prepare acceptable evidence showing that you can travel to the United States, as required by SGAC.

Step 7: Submit the Application

Complete the SGAC Scholarship Submission Form before the applicable deadline.

Step 8: Keep Your Application Information

Save your application details, video links, and confirmation after submitting.

Application Deadline

There is an important deadline inconsistency on the SGAC scholarship page supplied for this opportunity.

The page’s schedule states:

September 15, 2026 at 23:59 PT

However, another section titled Submission Guidelines states:

September 7, 2026 at 23:59 PT

Because these dates conflict, applicants should verify the current deadline directly with SGAC before attempting to submit.

This is especially important because the current date is September 12, 2026.

The event itself is scheduled for October 27–29, 2026, and the official Silicon Valley Space Week website currently confirms these dates and the Mountain View venue.

Selection Criteria

The scholarship committee will consider factors including:

Entrepreneurial and investment potential
Clarity of the venture or idea
Relevance of attending Silicon Valley Space Week
Communication and pitching ability
Motivation
Initiative
Potential to build meaningful connections
Potential to use the event to advance the venture

Applicants do not necessarily need to have the largest or most established company.

The application is intended to identify people with promising ideas and the motivation to develop them.

What Happens After Winning?

Winners are expected to:

Attend the scholarship-covered program for its full duration
Participate actively in conference and networking activities
Represent SGAC professionally
Submit a one-minute video about their experience
Submit a one-page report, excluding pictures
Follow the scholarship conditions
Support future scholarship recipients if the program is repeated

Winners should also understand that the scholarship does not reimburse travel, accommodation, visa, or other costs outside the conference pass.

Is This a Fully Funded Scholarship?

No.

The SGAC × Silicon Valley Space Week Scholarship should not be described as a fully funded scholarship.

The award provides a Full Access Pass valued at USD $1,895. Travel, accommodation, visa costs and other expenses are not covered by SGAC under this scholarship.

This makes the opportunity particularly suitable for entrepreneurs who already have access to the resources needed to travel to California or who can obtain additional sponsorship or funding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the SGAC Silicon Valley Space Week Scholarship fully funded?

No. It covers the Silicon Valley Space Week Full Access Pass valued at USD $1,895. Travel, accommodation, visa costs and other expenses are the applicant’s responsibility.

How many applicants will receive the scholarship?

Five winners will receive the Full Access Pass.

Who can apply?

Eligible SGAC members aged 18–35 who are founders, entrepreneurs, startup team members, or developing a commercial space-related venture or idea may apply, subject to the other eligibility conditions.

Can international applicants apply?

The provided SGAC information does not limit the scholarship to a specific nationality. International applicants must meet the SGAC requirements and be able to travel to the United States.

Can Afghan applicants apply?

The provided scholarship information does not specifically exclude Afghan applicants. However, applicants must meet SGAC requirements and independently satisfy U.S. travel and visa requirements.

Is IELTS required?

No IELTS requirement is stated on the provided SGAC scholarship page. The application itself must be submitted in English.

What videos are required?

Applicants must submit two separate videos, each no longer than one minute: one explaining why they want to attend Silicon Valley Space Week and another presenting their company, startup, product, or idea.

When is the application deadline?

The SGAC page contains conflicting information. Its schedule says September 15, 2026 at 23:59 PT, while the submission guidelines say September 7, 2026 at 23:59 PT. Applicants should verify the current deadline directly with SGAC.

When is Silicon Valley Space Week 2026?

Silicon Valley Space Week is scheduled for October 27–29, 2026, at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.

Final Thoughts

The SGAC × Silicon Valley Space Week 2026 Scholarship is a professional networking and entrepreneurship opportunity rather than a university scholarship.

Its main benefit is access to Silicon Valley Space Week, where commercial space, satellite technology, investment, government, and national-security communities come together. The official event website currently describes more than 800 decision-makers, 120+ speakers and 75+ exhibitors across the event.

For young space entrepreneurs, the opportunity could provide valuable exposure to industry professionals and potential business connections. However, applicants should carefully consider the cost of traveling to the United States because the scholarship does not cover those expenses.

Most importantly, applicants should verify the application deadline directly with SGAC because the published scholarship page contains conflicting dates.