Source: DepositphotosThrowing open the doors to Web3 builders across the globe once again, TZ APAC's Fortify Labs announced that it is now inviting applications for its 2026 cohort. The program, scheduled to take place in Singapore (one of the crypto capitals of the world), rejects the conventional accelerator playbook in favor of something more deliberate. To elaborate, it spans seven months of focused development time, offering funding of up to $1.3 million while simultaneously delivering hands-on guidance for each participating project individually. The timing of the program matters because while much of the Web3 industry remains fixated on rapid deployment and quick exits, Fortify's structure reflects a different philosophy, capping each cohort at just seven projects. This isn't an arbitrary number but a calculated decision to prioritize depth over breadth, allowing the TZ APAC team to burrow into each startup's specific challenges rather than shepherding dozens of teams through identical workshops. Success beyond the day of the demo. Testimonials galore As the saying goes, “the proof is in the pudding” and the same goes for Fortify’s annual offering. To this point, Questflow, an AI automation platform that emerged from the 2024 cohort, watched its monthly active users multiply by 156 times following the program. Furthermore, the company's most recent funding round pegged its valuation at $50 million, metrics that offer a glimpse into actual market traction that survived contact with real users and real investors. The 2025 cohort tells a similar story with Sogni AI, a decentralized creativity platform, making the jump from testnet to mainnet post its participation (while seeing its customer base grow to over 90,000 users). The company also successfully completed its token generation event (TGE), a milestone that has proven treacherous for countless Web3 projects. Similarly, yield-bearing prediction market 5050 also compressed what might typically be a year-long development cycle into three months and attracted 600 users within its first two weeks of operation (post attending the program). On its impact, Mauvis Ledford, co-founder of Sogni AI, noted that the TZ APAC team proved helpful across multiple fronts, be it marketing strategy, forging legal frameworks, connecting with key opinion leaders, to even introductions to venture capital firms. He further added: “I wholeheartedly recommend any startup, whether undecided about which chain to build on or exploring expansion to additional L2s, to consider building on Etherlink and working with the TZ APAC team. The level of commitment you get at Fortify Labs is rare, and it makes all the difference,” Building on an established infrastructural base From the outside looking in, one can see that Fortify Labs’ work is grounded in two specific platforms, namely Tezos and Etherlink. The former brings proven longevity to the table, having operated as a proof-of-stake blockchain since 2018. Not only that, to date, the Tezos network has processed hundreds of millions of transactions while maintaining both energy efficiency and on-chain governance (features that matter to environmentally conscious institutions). On the other hand, Etherlink functions as an EVM-compatible layer that enables developers to deploy Ethereum codebases and move assets across interoperable chains seamlessly. That being said, it bears mentioning that the 2026 program is scheduled to run from early March through early October 2026, punctuated by two mandatory in-person gatherings in Singapore (costs for which will be covered by TZ APAC). Lastly, projects that arrive ready to begin integration or growth work ahead of the official start date can access resources early using a fast-track option. Getting ready For those interested, applications are set to close on January 30, 2026 with the application portal already being live . Also, the review process will operate on a rolling basis, meaning that early applicants may receive decisions before the deadline passes (and successful candidates being notified by mid-February). Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.