Future Builders Academy Application

About the Program

See OSE Curriculum for a description of our 4 year immersion program, and the Global Village Construction Set TED Talk for a brief introduction to open sourcing blueprints for civilization.

OSE Future Builders Academy - Application Process

We’re excited that you’re considering joining the first cohort of 24 future builders. Admission is selective because the program is intensive, collaborative, and designed to stretch you across many domains of learning. The steps below are meant both to evaluate you and to give you an authentic taste of what the program is about. Applications are taken on a rolling basis. The program is starting Sep 1, 2025 - with 3 people currently enrolled.

Step 1 – Video of Interest (VOI)

Create a 5-minute introduction video and publish it on a video-sharing platform. This is your chance to show us who you are.

In your video, please:

1. Introduce yourself – name and location (city/state).
2. Share what resonates with you – What is the most compelling aspect of our program for you, in your own words?
3. Tell us why you’re a fit – What qualities, experiences, or mindset make you a strong candidate for our first 24-person collaborative design-build cohort?
4. Your proudest achievement – What accomplishment are you most proud of so far?
5. Your learning curve – How long do you think it would take you to become functionally proficient in 20 trades (enough to help build a Seed Eco-Home in 5 days with your cohort)? Share your reasoning — or if you don’t know, what information would you need to make an informed estimate?
6. Commitment – How much time can you commit on site? Which program track are you interested in? Can you afford tuition, or would you need resources in addition to the work-study earnings offered in the program?

When your VOI is ready, submit the link using our Future Builders Academy - Video of Interest Submission Form.

Step 2 – Written Application

This written portion takes about one hour. We’ll send you instructions once we receive your video of interest. This starts you on documenting your goals and beginning to find out more about collaborative literacy.

Step 3 – Interview

You’ll join a 30-minute remote video interview. No prep needed — we want to see you think on your feet. A follow-up may be scheduled if more clarity is needed.

Step 4 – Build Test

You’ll construct a 4×9 ft wall panel or module using the same framing system as our Seed Eco-Home. We’ll send you blueprints after your written application.

Your task:

• Source the correct lumber and OSB or plywood.
• Build the panel (hand tools or power tools are both acceptable).
• Record a time-lapse video of your process, so it takes about 2 minutes of playback time. At a 3 second time lapse interval, a 1 minute video corresponds to 1 hour of actual time.

We’ll evaluate:

• Build effectiveness & quality.
• Documentation skills (video, photos, notes, data).
• Ability to follow instructions and source materials.
• Attention to detail.

This isn’t just a test — it mirrors the type of documentation and learning-through-building you’ll do in the program.

Step 5 – On-Site Interview (Swarm Build)

You’ll bring your panel to our campus and join a 24-person crew build day. If you’re flying, you can ship your panel — OSE will cover half your travel expenses and refund the full cost of the panel once it arrives. If you have issue transporting your panel, please coordinate with us to problemsolve. This is an important part of the overall application process.

On site, you will:

• Work alongside the cohort on a small but meaningful facility build.
• Participate in collaborative problem-solving around logistics — a key part of our large-scale builds.
• Experience swarm build dynamics firsthand.
• We will meet with you to discuss the tracks offered, special conditions for participation, earning and payment terms - so that we can prepare to make you an offer.

We practice what we teach: meaningful work from day one, full immersion, and collaborative performance.

Step 6 - Offer Letter and Contract

We will send you an offer (acceptance or other) within 2 days of the On-Site Interview - including your initial program schedule and payment (earning and tuition) terms. You will have 5 days to accept or deny the offer. Upon your response, we will send you a participation contract, which is the final step towards joining the program. Your acceptance is marked by you signing the contract and making a tuition payment according to the payment terms offered.

Our Evaluation

We’ll be looking at your ability to:

• Communicate clearly.
• Document your process.
• Build effectively.
• Collaborate and problem-solve

We’re investing heavily in your learning environment — in return, we expect full effort, openness, and a drive to expand what’s possible.

Our philosophy is competency-based pay: as you learn, document, and take on more responsibility, you will rise in both responsibility and earnings. Everyone, including instructors, participates in this open, experimental approach to building knowledge and practice together.

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That’s it. If you make it through the process, you’ll know you’re ready for the intensity of the program — and we’ll know we’ve found someone who can contribute to building a new civilization model with us.

Links

• When you apply - take a look at the Future Builders Academy Contract - terms of participation for the Future Builders Academy