Funding & Investment2026-09-01
Tiny Blue Dot Foundation Opens Fifth Research Round on the "Perception Box"
Tiny Blue Dot Foundation opened its fifth round of global research funding on September 1, 2026, offering multi-year grants of up to $900,000 for empirical research on the neural, experiential, and psychological factors related to the Perception Box, the framework developed by co-founder Elizabeth R. Koch holding that internal beliefs, cognitive schemas, and prior experiences shape how people interpret themselves and the world. The request for proposals names four focus areas: agency and independence; interoception and emotional regulation; identity and self-narrative; and values, meaning, and belonging. Letters of intent are accepted through October 5, 2026. Koch said in the release: "We are especially interested in understanding the forces that shape how people come to see themselves and their place in the world. Our sense of agency, the stories we tell ourselves about who we are, how we interpret the signals coming from our bodies, and whether we feel a sense of meaning and belonging are all aspects of the Perception Box." Prior rounds have funded work using Floatation-REST, neurofeedback, VR-based brain training, and psilocybin combined with meditation.
