FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
“I see more than this, more than I can tell you, More than there are words for.”
— T. S. Eliot
- When does the next Sovereign Engineering Cohort start?
- Where does the Sovereign Engineering Cohort take place?
- Is this a free program?
- Do you pay for flights and accommodation?
- Do you provide accommodation?
- How do I need to prepare for the program?
- What is the cost of living in Madeira?
- How do I best contact you?
- How do I apply?
Program Information
When does the next Sovereign Engineering Cohort start?
SEC-08 (YOLO++) starts July 20, 2026 and runs for six weeks. Check the upcoming cohorts section for the latest info and application links.
Where does the Sovereign Engineering Cohort take place?
At Cowork Funchal, which is located in the capital of Madeira, an island in the Atlantic Ocean and part of Portugal.
Address: Rua das Mercês 41, 9000-224 Funchal, Portugal
Location Pin: ///teamed.wiser.cans
Is this a free program?
Yes, it is. If you are selected, the program is free for you. We'll take care of the shared coworking space and make sure you feel at home. This location will be our homebase until the final Demo Day.
That said, we are not going to work 24/7. Grant yourself some time off after our working sessions to relax and enjoy the island.
Travel & Accommodation
Do you pay for flights and accommodation?
No, we don't. If you commit yourself to the program you have to organize your flights and accommodation yourself. If you, for any reason, are not able to do this, please reach out to us.
Do you provide accommodation?
No, but you can search for a roof over your head on:
There's also madeirafriends.org which is a community that can help with many things.
How do I need to prepare for the program?
There's of course a difference if you travel to Madeira on your own, or with a family. Besides this, your preparations should be approached like a longer than normal working holiday. Pack enough clothes and hardware that you'll be needing for living out of your suitcase for a while. Check the cohort duration — it varies between three and six weeks depending on the cohort.
If you have special needs, please reach out to us and we'll see how we can help you settle in.
Cost of Living
What is the cost of living in Madeira?
If you are invited to come after you're selected, you need to take care of a personal budget for the duration of the cohort, including flight tickets, rent for accommodation, spending money for daily expenses such as breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pocket money for the weekend outings is also not a bad idea, since you'll be able to explore beautiful Madeira once you're there.
A so-called ballpark figure is hard to calculate in general, as Madeira might be cheaper for participants who come from the US or north-west Europe. If you come from southern Europe or Asia or the Americas it might be more expensive. Besides this it also depends on your personal preferences for accommodation, etc.
Be sure to check out:
Application & Contact
How do I apply?
Applications for SEC-08 are open. Apply via the upcoming cohorts section on the homepage.
How do I best contact you?
You can contact us via email info@sovereignengineering.io or via nostr. We'll do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.
Still Have Questions?
Nostr
Address
Sovereign Engineering Shipyard
Rua das Mercês 41 · Funchal, Funchal · 9000-224 Madeira · Portugal
