Constellation is a nonprofit research center in Berkeley that supports AI safety work through fellowships, an incubator, and a collaborative coworking space hosting researchers and organizations across the field.
Constellation is a nonprofit research center in Berkeley that supports AI safety work through fellowships, an incubator, and a collaborative coworking space hosting researchers and organizations across the field.
People
Updated 05/18/26Co-Founder & CEO
President & Chief Operating Officer
Talent Consultant
Funding Details
Updated 05/18/26- Annual Budget
- $8,692,174
- Current Runway
- -
- Funding Goal
- -
- Funding Raised to Date
- -
Org Details
Updated 05/18/26Constellation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research center based at 2150 Shattuck Ave in downtown Berkeley, California. Founded in 2023, the organization operates an independent workspace and programming hub for people working on AI safety and security, including technical alignment researchers, policy professionals, forecasters, and operators. Constellation describes itself as home to one of the most impactful networks of AI safety researchers globally, with roughly 150 active network participants across 25 or more organizations. The organization runs three main programs. The Astra Fellowship is a fully-funded, in-person 3–6 month program that pairs emerging researchers with senior advisors to work on technical safety, governance, strategy, and field-building projects. Fellows receive competitive financial support and approximately $15,000 per month in compute resources. Over 80% of the first Astra cohort transitioned into full-time AI safety roles at organizations including Redwood Research, METR, Anthropic, OpenAI, Google DeepMind, the Center for AI Standards and Innovation, and the UK AI Security Institute. The Visiting Fellowship is a lightly-structured 3–6 month funded fellowship for full-time AI safety researchers to work from Constellation's Berkeley center and connect with the network. The Constellation Incubator is a four-month program that provides office space, operational support, and expert network access to ambitious founders launching new nonprofits or for-profits aimed at reducing risks from transformative AI. Constellation was co-founded by James Bregan, who serves as CEO. Bregan previously held senior technology roles at PayPal, scaling the organization from 100 to 10,000 people and serving as EVP Engineering through its eBay acquisition. Meghna Mann serves as President and COO. As of 2024 the organization had 23 employees. Major funders include the Silicon Valley Community Foundation ($10M) and Redwood Research Group ($250K), with additional grant support from Open Philanthropy. In FY 2024 Constellation reported total revenues of approximately $12.6M and total expenses of approximately $8.7M.
Theory of Change
Updated 05/18/26Constellation's theory of change centers on the idea that concentrating AI safety talent in a single collaborative environment produces outsized research output and career development outcomes. By operating a high-quality coworking space and running structured programs (fellowships and an incubator), Constellation accelerates the production of safety researchers, helps talented individuals find their comparative advantage in the field, and incubates new organizations addressing neglected AI safety problems. The causal chain runs from talent mobilization and incubation to more researchers and organizations working on advanced AI risks, ultimately increasing the probability that transformative AI is developed and governed safely.
Grants Received
Updated 05/18/26Projects
Updated 05/18/26
Constellation’s flagship, fully funded five-month in-person fellowship in Berkeley that pairs emerging researchers with senior mentors to advance frontier AI safety projects and help them move into high-impact roles or launch new initiatives.
An incubator that supports ambitious founders working on AI safety by providing early-stage funding, workspace, operational support, and access to Constellation’s expert network to help launch and validate new nonprofits or for-profits addressing transformative AI risks.
A lightly structured, funded 3–6 month in-person fellowship for full-time AI safety researchers to work from Constellation’s Berkeley research center, connect with its network, and collaborate with peers while continuing their own projects.
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