Introduction
The Global Talent Fund is an international nonprofit organization that discovers, nurtures and supports exceptionally talented young people, particularly those with outstanding abilities in mathematics, science and technology who face barriers to reaching their full potential.
History and Background
The Global Talent Fund was founded in 2023 by Ruchir Agarwal and Patrick Gaule. It was originally known as the Global Talent Network.
The organization is legally registered in the United States as the Global Talent & Innovation Fund, a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with Employer Identification Number 92-3389695.
Although registered in the United States, the Global Talent Fund operates internationally, including in the United Kingdom and other countries. Its programmes support students, educators, Olympiad coaches, competition organizers and researchers from diverse geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The organization was created in response to evidence that many young people with extraordinary scientific and mathematical ability are never identified or lack access to the education, mentoring and financial resources needed to develop their talents.
Its programmes connect exceptional students with universities, advanced training, mentors, academic networks, research opportunities and international competitions.
Mission and Purpose
The mission of the Global Talent Fund is to discover, nurture and empower talented young people worldwide.
The organization believes exceptional talent can drive scientific breakthroughs, technological innovation, economic growth and solutions to major global challenges.
Its work is based on the principle that intellectual ability is distributed globally, while access to high-quality education and professional opportunities remains unequal.
The Global Talent Fund therefore seeks to identify promising young people early and provide them with opportunities appropriate to their abilities, regardless of nationality, location or economic background.
Its principal focus areas are mathematics, informatics, physics, chemistry, biology, STEM education, gifted education, international Olympiads, university scholarships, talent economics, scientific innovation and professional development for Olympiad coaches.
The organization states that it is independent and is not aligned with the interests of any particular country, economic sector or academic discipline. It supports talented individuals while respecting their freedom to determine their academic and professional paths.
Governance and Structure
The Global Talent Fund is led by an international team of economists, programme managers, researchers, mathematicians, data scientists, communications professionals and administrative personnel.
Co-founder Ruchir Agarwal serves as president, while co-founder Patrick Gaule serves as chief operating officer. They provide leadership across the organization’s scholarship, Olympiad and research activities.
The wider operational structure includes programme managers, research analysts, economics specialists, STEM talent fellows, mathematics fellows, data scientists and communications staff.
The Global Talent Lab serves as the organization’s research and policy division. It conducts studies on talent identification, scientific achievement, innovation, education and economic development.
As a United States 501(c)(3) organization, the Global Talent Fund must operate for charitable and educational purposes and comply with applicable nonprofit reporting and governance requirements.
The organization works with institutional partners including XTX Markets, Founders Pledge, Schmidt Futures, the United Kingdom Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the University of Bristol, Carina Fund, Art of Problem Solving, Behring Foundation and Agency Fund.
Funding and Grants
The Global Talent Fund finances its programmes through philanthropic donations, institutional grants, government partnerships and collaborations with universities and education organizations.
Funding is used to provide university scholarships, strengthen national and regional Olympiad programmes, train coaches, support talented students directly, conduct research and organize academic conferences.
XTX Markets has been an important founding supporter of the GTF BIG Talent Scholars programme.
In April 2026, XTX Markets announced a US$40 million multi-year commitment to the Global Talent Fund. The funding is intended to provide scholarships for 150 highly talented young mathematicians and scientists attending leading universities.
The commitment also supports the development of STEM Olympiad ecosystems and the research activities of the Global Talent Lab.
The Global Talent Fund also provides direct sponsorship to organizations operating national and regional mathematics and science Olympiads.
Initial GTF Olympiad sponsorships typically begin at US$10,000 per year. Established organizations with a strong delivery record may be invited to become lead sponsorship partners, generally receiving between US$20,000 and US$30,000 annually.
Lead sponsorships may include optional three-year plans. Funding decisions consider programme implementation and progress over time rather than relying exclusively on competition results.
Major Programs and Initiatives
GTF BIG Talent Scholars
GTF BIG Talent Scholars is the Global Talent Fund’s flagship undergraduate scholarship programme.
Previously known as BIG Scholars, or Backing Ingenuity for Growth Scholars, the programme enables exceptional mathematics and science students to attend leading universities.
Eligible applicants can come from any country. They must have earned qualifying medals in recognized international academic competitions.
These competitions include the International Mathematical Olympiad, International Olympiad in Informatics, International Physics Olympiad and Romanian Master of Mathematics. Medalists from the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad, International Chemistry Olympiad and International Biology Olympiad may also qualify under the programme’s published criteria.
Scholarship support can cover university tuition, living expenses and academic activities outside the classroom. Scholars may also receive access to social events, professional networks, internships and research placements.
The programme works with institutions including the University of Cambridge, University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University of Bristol, University of Edinburgh, University of Warwick, École Polytechnique and École Normale Supérieure.
The programme has supported 77 scholars from 30 countries across eight universities.
GTF Olympiad Grants
GTF Olympiad Grants support organizations responsible for national and regional mathematics and science Olympiads.
The programme currently concentrates primarily on pathways leading to the International Mathematical Olympiad and International Olympiad in Informatics.
Organizations may apply when their country has participated in the relevant international Olympiad in at least two of the previous three years or when they operate a regional competition serving eligible countries.
Funding can be used to strengthen competitions, training programmes, student selection, educational resources and organizational systems.
The programme also maintains a smaller portfolio for other STEM Olympiads, talented and gifted education initiatives, and activities connected to the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad.
Alongside financial support, sponsored organizations may receive practical assistance involving trainers, staff coaching, communications and public visibility.
GTF Coaches
GTF Coaches provides free professional training for mathematics Olympiad coaches, educators and programme administrators.
The programme addresses Olympiad teaching methods and organizational management while connecting participants with an international community of experienced trainers and emerging education leaders.
Admission is competitive. More than 2,100 people have applied, while over 530 participants from 47 countries have completed the programme across its different seasons.
By improving the skills of coaches, the programme seeks to strengthen the institutions that identify and develop talented students, particularly in countries where advanced mathematics education opportunities remain limited.
GTF STAR
GTF STAR provides direct support to talented young people through advanced mathematics training and access to educational opportunities.
The programme complements GTF Coaches and GTF Olympiad Grants by focusing directly on students rather than only supporting the institutions and educators around them.
Its activities contribute to a global pipeline through which promising students can access challenging academic content, expert instruction, peers with similar interests and pathways to advanced competitions or higher education.
Global Talent Leaders
Global Talent Leaders is the broader programme area encompassing the organization’s initiatives for strengthening mathematics and science Olympiad systems.
Through Olympiad grants, coach development and direct student support, it helps countries establish and improve the structures needed to identify exceptional talent.
The approach recognises that finding gifted students is only the first step. Students also require instruction, advanced learning materials, mentors, suitable peer groups and opportunities to continue their academic development.
Global Talent Lab
The Global Talent Lab is the research arm of the Global Talent Fund.
It conducts research on the economics of talent, including how exceptional abilities develop, how young people with high potential can be identified and how talented individuals influence science, innovation, productivity and economic growth.
Its work examines barriers that prevent talented students—particularly those from lower-income countries—from contributing to the global knowledge frontier.
Research topics include academic Olympiads, gifted education, migration, access to universities, innovation, human capital, scientific careers and the long-term effects of talent-development programmes.
The Lab publishes working papers, policy insights and other research materials intended to inform governments, universities, funders and education organizations.
Research Conferences and Fellowships
The Global Talent Fund organizes conferences, workshops, fellowships and grant opportunities connected to the economics of talent.
These initiatives bring together economists and researchers examining talent identification, educational access, scientific achievement and innovation.
The 2026 Talent Economics Conference, organized with the Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance, is designed to examine how exceptional STEM talent develops and influences scientific discovery, productivity and economic growth.
The associated workshop gives doctoral and postdoctoral researchers opportunities to learn about important questions, data sources and research methods within the emerging economics-of-talent field.
Impact and Examples of Work Funded
The Global Talent Fund’s impact includes scholarships for exceptional students, grants for Olympiad organizations, free professional development for coaches and research that informs talent-development policy.
Its BIG Talent Scholars programme currently reports supporting 77 students from 30 countries at eight universities.
The programme’s second cohort consisted of 47 students from 28 countries, representing a 57 percent increase over the inaugural cohort. The expansion also introduced university partners in France and broadened the range of institutions available to scholars.
The US$40 million commitment from XTX Markets is expected to support an additional 150 highly promising mathematics and science students at leading universities.
GTF Coaches has trained more than 530 educators and Olympiad leaders from 47 countries. Participants have used their training and professional networks to strengthen national programmes and create new opportunities for students.
One example is the development of the Pan-African Informatics Olympiad. Its inaugural competition involved 66 secondary-school students from 14 countries across Africa and other locations, demonstrating how collaboration among trained coaches can produce new regional talent-development infrastructure.
GTF Olympiad Grants provide renewable sponsorships to organizations operating competitions and training programmes. These grants help countries improve student identification, expand participation and build stronger pathways toward international Olympiads.
The Global Talent Lab contributes to the evidence base behind these programmes. Its research indicates that high performance in mathematics and science Olympiads can serve as an early signal of future contributions to scientific research and innovation.
The organization’s combination of direct student support, educator training, institutional grants and policy research allows it to address several stages of the global STEM talent pipeline.
Conclusion
The Global Talent Fund is developing an international support system for exceptional young mathematicians, scientists and problem-solvers who might otherwise lack access to suitable educational opportunities.
Through university scholarships, Olympiad sponsorships, coach development, direct student training and talent-economics research, the organization connects early academic ability with opportunities for long-term development.
Its partnerships with philanthropic institutions, governments and leading universities strengthen its capacity to identify talented students globally and help them contribute to science, technology, innovation and human progress.
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