THINC FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
THINC is a 12-month fellowship program powered by Tencent and Viva la Vida. It brings together a community of selected young leaders from 30+ countries including entrepreneurs, influencers, scholars, artists, politicians, investors, and activists, etc. THINC fellows come together to have intellectual discussions on technology and humanity, initiate projects with large-scale social impact, and build up an intimate network of the brightest young minds all over the world. THINC 2023 Cohort application is now open, admission on a rolling basis.
Background
In the past few decades, our way of living has been radically transformed by technology. It has greatly improved our quality of life, enabling us to learn, work, explore and connect in a much more efficient way. However, it also comes with unpredictable risks, be it data security, be it gaming addiction, be it AI ethics, and many more. Does technology make us more human or less? What does it mean to be human in this fast-developing technological world?
How can we leverage the power of technology to create a greener and more sustainable world? How can we take better care of the underprivileged by providing equal opportunities to everyone, with the help of technology? How can we create more genuine connections and understandings among each other through technology? How can technology better serve human happiness?
What's THINC ?
THINC, stands for Technology, Humanity, Inclusion, Nurture, Changemaker, is a one-year fellowship program that brings together a community of 50 selected young leaders each year, from different fields around the world, to spark intellectual conversations about technology and humanity over virtual meetings, offline events, and marketing campaigns, and build up an intimate network of the brightest young minds all over the world.
At THINC, we aim to build a professional network of selective young leaders from different disciplines worldwide, who deeply care about humanity and technology, and have achieved great social impact in their fields. They are influencers, entrepreneurs, scholars, artists, politicians, activists, etc. In THINC 2021 Cohort, we had one of the youngest deputy mayors of the United States, serial entrepreneurs who sold his businesses, consultants of renowned institutions such as the United Nations, the World Bank, and NASA, scientists who were invited twice to Nobel Prize Award Ceremony, film executives who have distributed 100+ movies across China and Europe, and many more amazing ones.
We host monthly virtual meetings to discuss and explore different facets of how technology can transform our society positively, be it education, city, health, social inclusion, environment, mental wellbeing, entertainment, etc. Through the conversations, we accommodate the needs of a curious mind to understand diverse perspectives, spark wild imaginations, examine the status quo, and take initiatives through collaborative efforts. You will find nowhere else such a group of vibrant thinkers and courageous young leaders to work with.
With the help of Tencent, the tech company behind the largest social media network in China, the outcome of the discussions were edited as videos and spread extensively, leaving a positive impact on millions of minds across the globe.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
COMMUNITY
A one-of-a-kind global community of outstanding and vibrant young talents from all over the world, with very different professional backgrounds but having the same passion for making the world a better place. Through every piece of interaction, conversation, collaboration, even debate and disagreement throughout the year, you will find nowhere else such a group of authentic companions with whom you could build life-long connections with.
SOCIAL IMPACT
With the help of Tencent, the biggest tech company in China, last year we influenced more than 3 million people over campaigns and webinars we initiated. Join us if you want to make a positive social impact by influencing how people perceive social issues with like-minded young leaders around the world!
IMPACT INFLUENCER INCUBATION
In a world where opinions become more divided and polarized, we urgently need young leaders who care about social issues and want to make positive impact through activism. In THINC we provide such a platform for young opinion leaders to share their insights and be heard by global audience. Through the collaboration with giant social media platforms, we provide traffic to THINC fellows who produce content with a purpose of social impact, and help incubate their influence for greater good.
TOPICS
We will together explore the following ten topics related to technology and humanity throughout the year.
TECH X EDUCATION
TECH X GLOBALIZATION
TECH X SOCIAL INCLUSION
TECH X CITY
TECH X MENTAL WELLBEING & SPIRITUALITY
TECH X HUMAN CONNECTION
TECH X CREATIVITY & CULTURE
TECH X MEDIA
TECH X HEALTHCARE
TECH X ENVIRONMENT
THINC Webinar｜Videos Review
DO I NEED TO COME FROM A TECH OR TECH-RELATED FIELD?
No, fellows can be in any field from art to engineering, as we hope to build an interdisciplinary and diverse community. We do expect fellows to demonstrate an interest in exploring technology, humanity, and society. This could come from research, work experience, activism, personal learning, or anything else.
ORGANIZERS
Tencent, parent company of WeChat, is a Chinese international conglomerate holding company founded in 1998, whose subsidiaries specialize in Internet-related services and products, entertainment and artificial intelligence. Currently one of Asia's leading technology companies, Tencent believes in "Tech For Good" and is using technology to enrich the lives of Internet users and assist the digital upgrade of enterprises.
Viva la Vida is a global community with influence in 50+ countries where people share their authentic stories through art, explore the purpose of life, and form genuine connections with others. It aims at building the largest art and humanity database and has partnered with organizations including UN, APEC, G20 YEA, Bytedance, Tencent, etc.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
