Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027: A Deep Dive into Nature and Social Impact Innovation

The world faces complex challenges, from the escalating climate crisis to the persistent inequalities that affect societies globally. Addressing these issues requires more than incremental changes; it demands innovative thinking that tackles root causes and reimagines the relationship between people, society, and nature. The Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027, themed “Edges of Possibility,” offers a unique 10-month online incubation program designed to support and amplify such transformative initiatives. This program seeks out “edge-walkers”—innovators whose work pushes boundaries and aims for a thriving planet for all life.

This analysis will explore the core tenets of the Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab, examining its mission, the types of initiatives it seeks, the benefits it offers, and the eligibility criteria for potential participants. By understanding the program’s structure and philosophy, innovators can better assess its suitability for their work and prepare compelling applications. The Co-Lab represents a significant opportunity for early-stage projects focused on systemic change, providing not only financial support but also invaluable mentorship, community, and strategic guidance.

Understanding the Unearthodox Philosophy: Beyond Conventional Solutions

Unearthodox’s approach is rooted in a deep understanding that many environmental and social problems stem from interconnected systemic issues. They are not looking for projects that merely treat symptoms but for those that aim to transform the underlying structures and relationships that perpetuate these challenges. This philosophy is encapsulated in their focus on “edge-walkers”—individuals and teams who are exploring new territories of thought and action, often outside traditional frameworks.

The “Edges of Possibility” theme suggests a forward-looking perspective, encouraging participants to envision and work towards futures where human societies and natural systems can coexist and thrive. This involves a critical examination of current norms and practices, questioning how we perceive our relationship with the natural world and with each other. The program emphasizes regeneration, justice, and deep systems change as foundational principles, guiding participants to develop solutions that are not only effective but also ethical and sustainable in the long term.

Unearthodox explicitly states what kind of initiatives they are not looking for. Projects that reinforce extractive systems, prioritize profit or speed over purpose, address only surface-level symptoms, or seek individual advantage without a commitment to collective learning are not a good fit. This clear delineation helps potential applicants understand the program’s core values and focus on creating genuine, lasting positive impact.

The Scope of Innovation: Nature and Social Impact at the Intersection

The Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab specifically targets initiatives operating at the crucial intersection of environmental and societal change. This broad scope acknowledges that ecological crises and social injustices are often deeply intertwined. Projects can address a wide range of issues, including but not limited to:

• Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Innovations that go beyond carbon offsetting to fundamentally alter energy systems, consumption patterns, or community resilience strategies in the face of a changing climate.
• Biodiversity Conservation and Restoration: Initiatives that seek to protect and regenerate ecosystems, not just by preserving existing habitats but by fostering new ways for humans to interact with and support biodiversity.
• Habitat Loss and Land Use Transformation: Projects that reimagine how land is used, promoting regenerative agriculture, sustainable urban planning, or the restoration of degraded landscapes in ways that benefit both nature and human communities.
• Environmental Justice: Solutions that address the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation on marginalized communities, advocating for equitable access to resources and a healthy environment for all.
• Regenerative Systems: Innovations that aim to create closed-loop systems, circular economies, or models of living that actively restore ecological health and social well-being, rather than simply minimizing harm.
• Rethinking Human-Nature Relationships: Projects that challenge anthropocentric views and foster a deeper sense of connection and responsibility towards the more-than-human world, influencing cultural, educational, or behavioral shifts.

The program is particularly interested in initiatives that demonstrate a clear understanding of the systemic nature of the problems they address. This means applicants should be able to articulate how their work tackles root causes and contributes to a broader transformation, rather than just offering a localized or temporary fix. The emphasis is on creating a ripple effect, inspiring new ways of thinking, acting, and connecting that can lead to widespread positive change.

Who Are the “Edge-Walkers”? Defining the Ideal Applicant

Unearthodox defines its ideal participants as “edge-walkers”—innovators whose work is ambitious, transformative, and perhaps unconventional. This description is intentionally broad to welcome a diverse range of individuals and projects. The program is designed for those who are pushing the boundaries of what is currently understood or practiced in addressing nature-society challenges.

The core of the “edge-walker” identity lies in their ambition for all life on Earth to thrive. This is not a narrow focus on human progress alone but a holistic vision that includes the well-being of natural systems. Their work might not fit neatly into existing categories or funding streams, which is precisely why Unearthodox created the Exploration Co-Lab.

To be considered an “edge-walker” for this program, applicants should:

• Be Early-Stage Innovators: The program is for initiatives that have moved beyond the initial idea phase. This means there should be some tangible progress, such as initial research, testing, a pilot project, a proof of concept, or active community engagement. A concept documented on paper alone is not sufficient.
• Focus on Systemic Change: Applicants must demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to addressing the root causes of environmental and social problems, aiming for deep, systemic transformation rather than superficial fixes.
• Embrace Collaboration and Learning: The Co-Lab is a cohort-based program. Participants are expected to be open to peer learning, shared exploration, and collaborative problem-solving. A willingness to engage deeply with others and contribute to a supportive learning environment is essential.
• Be Driven by a Transformative Vision: The initiative should aim to fundamentally alter the relationship between people, society, and nature, fostering a future where all life can flourish.
• Operate at the Intersection: The work must clearly address both environmental and societal challenges, recognizing their interconnectedness.

Unearthodox also actively seeks to include underrepresented voices and diverse perspectives. They welcome applicants from the global majority, historically excluded communities, and individuals of all ages, gender identities, and backgrounds. This commitment to diversity enriches the learning experience for the entire cohort and strengthens the collective capacity for innovation.

The Incubation Journey: Benefits and Support Offered

The Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027 is a comprehensive 10-month online incubation program designed to provide selected participants with the resources, guidance, and community needed to accelerate their transformative work. The benefits offered are multifaceted, extending far beyond simple financial support.

Grant Funding

A significant benefit is the CHF 10,000 grant provided to each selected participant. This funding is intended to help move the initiative forward, whether it’s for further testing, scaling up pilot projects, community engagement, or covering essential operational costs. This financial injection can be critical for early-stage initiatives that often struggle to secure funding.

10-Month Online Incubation

The core of the program is a 10-month journey that begins in March 2027. This extended period allows for deep engagement, sustained learning, and meaningful progress. Being an online program, it offers flexibility and accessibility to innovators from around the globe. The cohort model fosters a sense of belonging and shared purpose among changemakers.

Tailored Non-Financial Support

Beyond the grant, participants gain access to a shared pool of non-financial support valued at an estimated CHF 60,000. This support is designed to be highly tailored to the needs of each initiative and includes:

• Peer Learning and Shared Exploration: Participants will engage in collaborative activities, sharing insights, challenges, and successes with fellow innovators. This peer-to-peer learning is invaluable for gaining new perspectives and uncovering innovative pathways for change.
• Individualized Coaching and Expert Guidance: Access to experienced coaches and subject matter experts provides personalized support to help participants navigate their specific challenges, refine their strategies, and overcome obstacles.
• Systems Mapping and Futures Thinking: The program offers practical tools and methodologies for understanding complex systems and envisioning future possibilities. This helps innovators to better grasp the interconnectedness of their work and its potential long-term impact.
• Strategic Positioning: Support is provided to help participants strategically position themselves and their initiatives. This can include developing compelling narratives, identifying key stakeholders, and preparing for future funding opportunities.
• Regenerative Approaches to Success: The program encourages participants to define and measure success through a regenerative lens, focusing on holistic well-being and ecological health rather than solely on traditional growth metrics.

Visibility and Amplification

Unearthodox commits to showcasing the work of its participants through its communication channels. This provides valuable visibility, helping innovators to become more discoverable by potential partners, funders, and collaborators. Increased visibility can significantly enhance an initiative’s ability to attract further support and amplify its impact.

Community and Collaboration

A strong emphasis is placed on building a global community of systems innovators. Unearthodox practices “deep allyship,” fostering an environment of mutual support, belonging, and collaboration. This network of peers, mentors, and network weavers can provide ongoing encouragement, opportunities for partnership, and a sense of shared mission.

Eligibility and Application Process: Navigating the Path to Participation

To be considered for the Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027, applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria designed to ensure they are a good fit for the program’s focus on systemic change and collaborative learning.

Key Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should:

• Be Working on an Early-Stage Initiative: As mentioned, the initiative must be beyond the idea stage. This means having some form of tangible progress, such as testing, a pilot, proof of concept, or active community engagement.
• Address Both Environmental and Societal Change: The initiative must operate at the intersection of these two critical areas, recognizing their interconnectedness.
• Focus on Root Causes and Systemic Change: The applicant should demonstrate a commitment to tackling underlying issues rather than just addressing symptoms.
• Be Willing to Participate in a Collaborative, Cohort-Based Experience: The program is conducted online in English and requires active participation in group learning and peer exchange.
• Have a Vision for Thriving Life: The initiative should contribute to a future where both human societies and natural systems can flourish.

Understanding Initiative Phases

Unearthodox provides a helpful framework to guide applicants in describing their current stage of development. While not rigid categories, these phases help clarify the level of progress:

• Testing: The initiative is likely operating with minimal resources, focusing on learning what works and what doesn’t through direct engagement with the target community or environment.
• Proving: A tangible proof of concept exists, demonstrating that the core idea can work. Funding is needed to continue testing, refining, and building momentum.
• Deepening: The initiative has begun to show its potential, and the focus is on deepening the work, adapting approaches, or exploring new pathways for greater impact.
• Pivoting: An established initiative is undergoing a significant shift in direction, approach, or model.

Applicants are encouraged to select the phase that best describes their current activity, even if their journey has been non-linear or unconventional.

Special Considerations and Inclusivity

Unearthodox actively encourages applications from individuals and groups who have historically been underrepresented. This includes:

• Global Majority and Historically Excluded Communities: Recognizing the vital perspectives and innovations emerging from these groups.
• Diversity: Embracing diversity in age, gender identity, location, and background.
• Swiss-Global Exchange: As a Swiss-founded organization, Unearthodox aims to foster exchange between Swiss and global innovators working on regeneration, with a goal of including at least one Swiss-based initiative in each cohort.

The Application Process

Prospective applicants are strongly advised to thoroughly review the information provided on the Unearthodox website before starting their application. This includes:

• Full Application Form Preview: To understand the questions and requirements in detail.
• Eligibility and Evaluation Criteria: To ensure alignment with the program’s expectations.
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): To address common queries.
• Terms and Conditions: To understand the program’s operational guidelines.
• Tips for Applicants: Insights compiled from previous application reviews to help strengthen submissions.

Applications are open from September 15 to November 16, 2026. The application itself is the primary tool for demonstrating how an initiative aligns with the Co-Lab’s mission and criteria. Applicants should be prepared to articulate their vision, their approach to systemic change, their current stage of development, and their commitment to collaboration.

Evaluating Initiatives: What Unearthodox Looks For

The selection process for the Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab is designed to identify initiatives that possess the greatest potential for transformative impact and that align with the program’s core values. While specific evaluation criteria are detailed on their website, several key areas are consistently emphasized.

Alignment with Mission and Values

A primary consideration is how well an initiative embodies Unearthodox’s mission to transform the relationship between people, society, and nature. This involves looking for:

• Systemic Thinking: The ability to articulate how the initiative addresses root causes and contributes to broader systemic change, rather than just treating symptoms.
• Regenerative and Just Principles: Evidence that the work is grounded in principles of regeneration, justice, and deep systems change. This means avoiding approaches that reinforce extractive systems or prioritize profit over purpose.
• Holistic Vision: A clear vision for a future where all life on Earth can thrive, demonstrating an understanding of the interconnectedness of environmental and social well-being.

Innovation and Edge-Walking Potential

The program seeks out novel approaches and “edge-walkers.” This means evaluating:

• Originality and Unconventionality: Initiatives that offer new perspectives, methodologies, or solutions that may not fit traditional molds.
• Ambition for Transformation: A clear drive to create significant, lasting change, pushing beyond incremental improvements.
• Exploration of Possibility: A willingness to explore new frontiers and challenge existing paradigms in addressing complex challenges.

Stage of Development and Potential for Growth

While the program is for early-stage initiatives, the level of progress and potential for future development are crucial:

• Tangible Progress: Evidence of work beyond the idea stage, such as testing, pilots, or community engagement, demonstrating a commitment and initial learning.
• Scalability and Replicability (where appropriate): While not always the primary focus, the potential for the initiative’s model or learnings to be adapted or scaled to achieve broader impact is considered.
• Capacity for Learning and Adaptation: The applicant’s openness to feedback, learning from challenges, and adapting their approach based on new insights.

Community Engagement and Collaboration

The Co-Lab is a collaborative program, so the ability and willingness to engage with others are vital:

• Community Connection: How the initiative engages with and serves its target communities, and how it fosters collaboration within those communities.
• Commitment to Collective Learning: A demonstrated interest in contributing to and benefiting from a peer learning environment.
• Allyship and Inclusivity: How the initiative embodies principles of allyship and inclusivity, particularly in its engagement with diverse stakeholders.

Clarity of Application and Articulation

The application itself is a key evaluation tool. Unearthodox looks for:

• Clear Communication: The ability to articulate the initiative’s purpose, approach, and impact clearly and concisely.
• Authenticity: A genuine passion and commitment to the work being undertaken.
• Understanding of the Program: Evidence that the applicant has thoroughly understood the Co-Lab’s goals and requirements.

By focusing on these areas, Unearthodox aims to select a cohort of innovators who are not only working on pressing issues but are also deeply committed to a collaborative, systemic, and transformative approach to creating a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

The “Edges of Possibility” Framework: A Call to Reimagine

The theme “Edges of Possibility” for the Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027 serves as a powerful framing device, inviting innovators to think beyond current limitations and envision new futures. It suggests a space of exploration, where the boundaries of what is known and accepted are being tested and expanded. This framework encourages a departure from conventional problem-solving and embraces a more fluid, adaptive, and visionary approach.

Embracing Uncertainty and Exploration

The “edges” imply a frontier, a place of both uncertainty and immense potential. For innovators, this means being comfortable with ambiguity, willing to experiment, and open to discovering unforeseen pathways. It’s about moving from a mindset of having all the answers to one of asking the right questions and embarking on a journey of discovery. This aligns with the program’s focus on early-stage initiatives that are still in the process of learning and refining their approaches.

Challenging Current Systems and Norms

Operating at the “edges of possibility” inherently involves challenging existing systems, norms, and ways of thinking. This could mean questioning established economic models, societal structures, or our fundamental relationship with the natural world. The Co-Lab seeks individuals who are not afraid to disrupt the status quo and propose alternatives that could lead to more regenerative and just outcomes. This might involve:

• Reimagining Consumption: Developing models that move away from linear, extractive consumption towards circular, regenerative practices.
• Transforming Governance: Exploring new forms of decision-making and community organization that are more inclusive and responsive to ecological and social needs.
• Shifting Cultural Narratives: Creating new stories and frameworks that foster a deeper connection with nature and promote collective well-being.
• Innovating in Technology and Design: Applying technology and design principles in ways that support ecological restoration and social equity, rather than exacerbating existing problems.

Fostering a Thriving Future for All Life

The ultimate goal of exploring these “edges of possibility” is to contribute to a future where all life on Earth can thrive. This is a holistic vision that extends beyond human-centric progress to encompass the health and vitality of ecosystems. The Co-Lab encourages participants to consider:

• Interdependence: How their work acknowledges and strengthens the interdependence between human societies and natural systems.
• Ecological Flourishing: How their initiatives contribute to the regeneration and flourishing of biodiversity and natural habitats.
• Social Equity: How their work promotes justice, inclusion, and well-being for all people.
• Long-Term Sustainability: How their solutions are designed for enduring positive impact, considering future generations and the planet’s health.

The “Edges of Possibility” theme is a call to action for innovators to step into the unknown, to experiment with bold ideas, and to co-create a future that is more resilient, equitable, and in harmony with the natural world. It is a recognition that the most profound solutions often lie at the frontiers of our current understanding and imagination.

The Role of Systems Thinking in the Co-Lab

Systems thinking is not just a buzzword for Unearthodox; it is a fundamental principle that underpins the entire Exploration Co-Lab. The program is designed for innovators who understand that complex problems like climate change and social inequality are not isolated issues but are deeply interconnected within larger systems. Applying systems thinking allows for a more profound and effective approach to change.

Understanding Interconnections

Systems thinking encourages participants to look beyond individual components and understand the relationships and feedback loops that connect them. For example, a project addressing deforestation might also need to consider its links to global supply chains, local economies, land rights, and climate patterns. By mapping these connections, innovators can identify leverage points where interventions can have the most significant impact.

Identifying Root Causes

Instead of focusing on the visible symptoms of a problem, systems thinking helps to uncover the underlying structures and dynamics that create and sustain those symptoms. For instance, poverty might be a symptom, but the root causes could lie in economic policies, historical injustices, or educational disparities. The Co-Lab’s emphasis on tackling root causes is directly informed by this systems-oriented approach.

Anticipating Unintended Consequences

Complex systems are dynamic and often unpredictable. Interventions in one part of a system can have ripple effects elsewhere, sometimes leading to unintended negative consequences. Systems thinking, particularly when combined with futures-thinking methodologies offered in the Co-Lab, helps innovators to anticipate these potential side effects and design more robust and resilient solutions.

Designing for Transformation

The Co-Lab’s focus on systemic transformation means that participants are encouraged to design initiatives that can fundamentally alter the way systems operate. This might involve changing rules, shifting mindsets, altering resource flows, or transforming relationships within a system. Systems thinking provides the framework for understanding how these deep-seated changes can be achieved.

Collaborative Problem-Solving

Systems are often too complex for any single individual or organization to fully grasp or change. The collaborative nature of the Co-Lab, facilitated by systems mapping and peer learning, allows participants to pool their collective understanding and insights. By working together, they can develop a more comprehensive view of the systems they are trying to influence and co-create more effective solutions.

The Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab equips innovators with the tools and mindset of systems thinking, enabling them to move beyond superficial fixes and engage with the deep, interconnected nature of the challenges they seek to address. This approach is essential for creating lasting, positive change at scale.

Conclusion: A Launchpad for Systemic Change

The Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027: Edges of Possibility stands out as a vital program for innovators dedicated to tackling the complex, interconnected challenges facing our planet and societies. By focusing on “edge-walkers” who dare to reimagine the relationship between people, society, and nature, Unearthodox cultivates a space for truly transformative work. The program’s commitment to systemic change, regenerative principles, and deep collaboration provides a fertile ground for early-stage initiatives to grow and flourish.

With its CHF 10,000 grant, extensive 10-month online incubation, tailored coaching, expert support, and access to a global community, the Co-Lab offers a comprehensive package designed to amplify impact. It moves beyond conventional incubator models by emphasizing holistic well-being, systems mapping, and futures thinking, preparing participants not just to solve problems but to co-create a thriving future for all life. The emphasis on underrepresented voices further strengthens its potential to drive equitable and inclusive change. For innovators working at the intersection of environmental and social issues, who are ready to move beyond symptoms and address root causes, the Unearthodox Exploration Co-Lab 2027 represents a significant opportunity to gain the support, knowledge, and network needed to push the boundaries of possibility and contribute to a more sustainable and just world.