We select builders by what they’ve shipped and how they reason. Your GitHub repo and deployed builds matter more than academic marks.
Selected outcomes may be documented publicly with contributor credit, helping you build visible credibility as a product builder.
You’ll ship functional AI-powered prototypes under real constraints, focusing on architecture, integration, and reliability.
Learn to kill weak ideas fast, iterate under pressure, and repeatedly ship working systems turning “projects” into proven proof-of-work.
Operate in build cycles with weekly live demos, direct feedback, and clear performance standards that mirror real product teams.
We’re looking for serious "builders" - people already shipping independently, thinking in systems, and comfortable architecting and deploying working products. If you thrive in high accountability and want visible proof-of-work, this is where you grow.
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Already building beyond coursework and excited to ship functional systems, not slides. FIL is where you turn projects into deployed proof-of-work.
You’ve built meaningful things on your own and want to move faster under constraints. Bring your builds, explain your decisions, and ship again and again.
You have strong proof-of-work and execution-first mindset, comfortable with APIs, AI integration, debugging, and ownership. FIL amplifies what you already do into repeatable, high-standard shipping.
This isn’t just about building cool things. It’s about becoming a repeatable product builder with visible proof-of-work.
Ship multiple functional AI-powered prototypes. Real builds, not mock assignments.
Selective builds may be documented publicly with contributor credit to strengthen your credibility as a builder.
Financial support during the program (this is fellowship support, not employment).
Weekly demo reviews, founder-level critique, transparent performance standards, and high accountability.
If products mature, structured continuation may be considered for contributors. No guarantees.
You’re not here to observe or shadow teams. You’ll operate as a builder inside a high-velocity product environment, working on real systems, collaborating with serious contributors, and shipping functional AI-powered products.
Share your GitHub profile and 2–5 meaningful builds (live systems preferred). Explain what you built, the problems you solved, and reflect on at least one failure or learning from your building journey.
Shortlisted applicants participate in a live build challenge, where you ship a working prototype within strict constraints. You’ll integrate AI where relevant, explain system architecture decisions, and demonstrate execution speed.
Collaborate with other fellows, developers, and mentors in tight build cycles. Review decisions together, challenge assumptions, and iterate rapidly with accountability and ownership.
Work in 2-week build sprints, present weekly demos, defend architectural trade-offs, and document outcomes clearly. Selected systems may be publicly documented and credited as proof-of-work.
Applications for the first cycle of the Product Fellowship are now open.
Through the application process, we evaluate:
Your ability to design and ship real systems beyond coursework.
How you structure products, integrate AI models, and make technical decisions.
Your ability to build working products, explain trade-offs, and iterate under real constraints.
Only 4–6 fellows are selected per cohort. Selection is strictly based on execution ability and proof-of-work.
*Applying to FIL does not imply employment at Tcules.
Share your GitHub profile and 2–5 meaningful builds (live systems preferred). Explain what you built, why you built it, and include one reflection on a failure or learning.
Shortlisted applicants complete in a build challenge where they must ship a functional prototype, integrate AI components where relevant, and explain architectural decisions.
Selected applicants present their work and reasoning. Evaluation focuses on system-level thinking, ownership mindset, and execution clarity.
We’ve got answers. If it’s not covered here, feel free to reach out.
A traditional portfolio is not required. What matters most is proof-of-work. Applicants should submit their GitHub profile and 2–5 meaningful builds, preferably live systems. We’re interested in understanding what you built, how you built it, and the decisions behind it, not polished case studies.
Yes. Selected fellows receive fixed monthly financial support during the program. This support is intended to allow contributors to fully focus on building during the fellowship. It is not an employment salary and does not imply job placement.
FIL is an in-person residency based at the Tcules Design Studio in Ahmedabad. Fellows work closely with other contributors, engineers, and mentors in the same space, participating in weekly demo reviews, build cycles, and collaborative product development.
Our team reviews all submissions carefully. If selected, we’ll reach out for a short conversation for thr Founder review. Final selections are made based on system thinking, ownership mindset, and execution clarity.
Fellows work in 2-week build cycles to ship functional AI-powered systems. This includes: AI agents and automation systems, internal tools that may evolve into products, product experiments and prototypesThe focus is on working deployments, not mockups.
Yes. All contributions are documented and credited. Select builds may be publicly showcased, allowing fellows to build visible proof-of-work and credibility as product builders.
No. FIL is not a placement program. However, in cases where projects mature or commercialization opportunities emerge, continuation opportunities may be considered for contributing fellows.
