Many of humanity's most pressing challenges—from AI alignment to biosecurity—require sustained effort over decades or centuries. However, current incubator programs tend to focus on near-term commercial viability, leaving a gap for initiatives prioritizing long-term impact. One way to address this could be through a specialized incubation program adapted for longtermist goals.

Program Design and Value Proposition

The program could combine elements from successful entrepreneurial incubators with specialized support for long-term thinking. Key features might include:

• Structured training in both technical longtermist topics and practical project management
• Mentorship from established figures in relevant fields
• Seed funding and operational support for selected projects
• An alumni network for ongoing collaboration

Unlike traditional programs, this approach would emphasize long time horizons in its evaluation criteria, accepting higher uncertainty in outcomes. The primary beneficiaries would be early-career professionals with technical skills seeking to apply them to longtermist causes, as well as established researchers looking to transition into more impactful work.

Implementation Strategy

A phased approach could help validate the concept while managing risk:

1. Pilot Phase (6-12 months): Start with a small fellowship program for 2-3 individuals working on a specific longtermist cause area
2. Expansion Phase (1-2 years): Run a full incubation program with 5-10 participants, providing seed funding to top projects
3. Mature Phase (3+ years): Develop specialized tracks for different cause areas and establish institutional partnerships

Differentiation from Existing Models

This approach would differ from existing programs like Charity Entrepreneurship (focused on near-term measurable impact) or Y Combinator Nonprofit (emphasizing scalability) by developing specialized methods for evaluating long-term potential. It could combine funding with comprehensive training and mentorship, filling an important niche in the ecosystem of impact-focused programs.

Key challenges would include developing meaningful evaluation metrics despite long feedback loops and maintaining diverse perspectives to avoid groupthink. However, by focusing specifically on longtermist goals, such a program could help promising ideas reach their full potential.