Charlie Becker
AI-enabled tool to support independent used bookstores and the community that values them. Learn more
Charlie Becker was raised between the stacks of one of the largest independent used bookstores in America. Seeing what inventory came in and hearing people's stories when they bought their books and left, he learned that the pursuit of truth and productive cultural exchange requires both a sense of reverence and a small element of randomness.
Charlie has an eclectic background. He spent three years in China helping grow an education startup to sixty employees in twelve cities, before moving back to Houston for graduate studies in business and economics. Then he spent ten years as an entrepreneurship professor in the world-renowned SURE Program at the University of Houston, where he helped grow over 2,000 small businesses. He currently publishes a blog on Substack where he writes about books, philosophy, culture, and legacy. His essay "A Pilgrimage for Book People" was featured by On Substack while "Do the weirdest thing that feels right" reached over 50,000 readers and was shared by James Clear and Morning Brew, among others. In 2025, Charlie stepped back from full-time teaching to write more, take on a few consulting projects, and—most importantly—focus on the family bookstore.
Everything Charlie has learned from teaching, writing, and bookselling shapes his fellowship mission. He's building an AI-powered tool that helps independent bookstores identify and catalog rare and obscure books, while creating content that showcases the cultural value of preserving this knowledge. His two goals: demonstrate how AI can help used bookstores become even better at what they do best—preserving and sharing cultural knowledge, while encouraging serendipity and discovery—and build an audience that ensures not only beloved classics but also idiosyncratic and unpopular stories find their way to readers who need them.
Top Goal
Functional prototype of the tool and engaged audience.
Project Updates
Awardees
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Publish books that transcend trends.
Our books will be as relevant a century from now as they are today – works that transcend trends and speak to enduring human truths.
We're building something different: a publishing house that combines the quality and attention to detail of traditional publishing with the flexibility and innovation that today's literary world demands.
This collection presents 500 insights from 250 of the world's most influential minds. With quotes from Rosa Parks to Babe Ruth, Georgia O'Keeffe to Fyodor Dostoevsky, these pages capture the essence of human thought and experience.
When eleven-year-old Thyme Owens’ little brother, Val, is accepted into a new cancer drug trial, it’s just the second chance that he needs.
In a world inundated with dystopian narratives, White Mirror is a bold attempt to breathe a new air of hope and adventure into science fiction and civilization as a whole.
Make films that flip the script.
Dystopia is dead.
We tell the stories you haven’t heard. Stories that inspire, incite and expand our shared imagination.
"Flipside" documents filmmaker Chris Wilcha's tragicomic attempt to revive the record store he worked at as a teenager while revisiting other documentary projects he abandoned over the years.
Amplify the best podcasts & newsletters in an age of noise.
We curate a vibrant community of newsletter writers, podcasters, YouTubers, and beyond.
Creators can focus on what they love – and leave the rest to us.
Cost of Glory Podcast
105 - Breeding Future Statesmen: Interview w/ Kevin Dolan
A conversation w/ Kevin Dolan on Kings of Sparta, Anti-Natalist Roman Aristocrats, and whether Christianity destroyed or saved Rome. Join me at the Natal Conference, Ma...
104 - Heroic Struggles in Vietnam, w/ Doyle Glass
A conversation with Doyle Glass, author of Swift Sword, The True Story of the Marines of MIKE 3/5 in Vietnam, 4 September 1967. Intro Story featuring Blackjack Mullig...
103 - The Immortal Cato
Cato's Afterlife, Takeaways, Sources.Some Modern Sources: Rome's Last Citizen, by Goodman and Soni, Uncommon Wrath, by Osgood Cato the Younger by Drogula
The OSVerse Substack
Cost of Glory Substack
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for subscribing to Cost of Glory - especially to my paid subscribers. Your support means a LOT to me. I am working on some things just for you, in order to show my gratitude.
Meanwhile, I’m deep into the weeds researching the finer points of Julius Caesar.
To me, Cato is a great case study in how difficult it is to uphold what Plato considered the master virtue, Justice. Cato wanted to live an exemplary life of justice, but his narrow view of it, in my opinion, blinded him to the legitimate claims of Caesar—and Caesar’s potential to fix some of the problems of the Republic that Cato cared about too.
A tale of principle and paradox, Cato's resolute stand for Republican values helped precipitate its very downfall. His death at Utica - dramatic, philosophical, and on his own terms - marked not just the end of his life but symbolically, the end of the Roman Republic itself.
Unleash talent from around the globe.
Go from idea to reality, while keeping 100% ownership.
Applications re-open on 1st Jan 2026
What if you had $100k to pursue your boldest ideas?
What if the only thing standing in your way is an application form and a few calls?
No, this isn’t too good to be true.
This is the O’Shaughnessy Fellowships & Grants. A one-year program that unites the world’s most bold and undiscovered researchers, builders and creatives to find, build and spread new ideas.
In just two years, we’ve scoured over 140 countries to find and fund 55 extraordinary innovators, leading to six companies & non-profits, five documentaries, >2.2 billion views on YouTube, and the blossoming of numerous scientific, creative, and technological projects.
What will YOU do with one year and $100k?
Hear from our awardees
Our awardees are open-sourcing quantum computing, rescuing endangered languages, empowering the disabled in Zambia, researching brain simulations, filming documentaries about the future of humanity, recording viral music, building mechanical hands for amputees, researching data storage in plants, and MUCH more. Hear from them below.
Jack, is saving dying languages like Navajo.
"OSV is giving me this incredible opportunity to preserve Navajo using AI. I’m humbled and incredibly excited by this opportunity and I thank OSV and Jim personally for funding such important work."
Mariam, is building a real-time gut-microbiome tracker.
"I am beyond excited to be selected for the O'Shaughnessy Fellowship….Grateful to Jim and OSV, and excited to proudly represent and contribute to a community that embraces the idea that you can be a scientist, an athlete, an engineer, an entrepreneur —all summed up as an adventurous “creator.”
Monika, is researching digital data storage in plants to create data forests.
"I am honoured to be among all the amazing creatives, and I hope that this year will pave the way for data storage in plants and organisms research to create a positive impact on the world."
Ian, is creating a DIY mechanical hand for partial hand amputees.
"I'm thankful to Jim O’Shaughnessy for this amazing opportunity that will allow me to, at an accelerated rate, experiment with the delivery method of my project while also improving the lives of a few fellow amputees."
Mykahailo, a Ukrainian software and hardware engineer working on projects that combine technology, art, and human interaction.
“The best part is community (...) It's a lot of really smart people that give you the perspective that you haven't seen before.”
Oghenekevwe, solving the problem of period poverty in rural Nigeria by developing eco-friendly sanitary pads made from banana fiber.
“One example was that (...) with two hours of asking for help, I connected to a Stanford professor who is working on a similar project as mine. This would not have been possible or would have taken weeks if not for OSV.”
Meet our fellows and grantees
2025 application process timeline
Stage 1: Early Application Window
To apply, please complete the Fellowships & Grants application form. Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis, so the earlier you apply, the earlier your application will be reviewed.
We’ll let you know if you’re shortlisted for the next round as soon as we make a decision, usually in 30 days.
You can view the sample form here.
Extended Application Window
Missed the early application window? Don’t worry. You still have a chance to apply for the Fellowships after March 1st. Fill out the application form, and we’ll add it to our backlog and review it as soon as possible.
Stage 2: Intro Calls With the Team
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a short call with members of the OSV Team. This is your chance to share ideas, demonstrate your curiosity, and solve problems with the rest of the group.
Stage 3: Longer chats with the team
You’ll get to meet and interact with other members of the OSV team and our extended network. Each interaction is a step closer to joining the Fellowship. We’ll let you know the final decision by June 1st, 2025.
Fellowship & Grants Commencement
Buckle up for a life-changing year. We’ll kick off the Fellowships & Grants Programs for all our Fellows and Grantees.
The internet has unleashed a new wave of innovations by making knowledge freely available and allowing collaborations that were once impossible.
COVID has accelerated all of these long-term trends. The rise of remote work has opened up a new wave of opportunities. Geography has become history. Today, a teenage prodigy in rural Karnataka can collaborate with a scientist in Kansas. A researcher in Mombasa can be funded by an eccentric in Manhattan. Seven degrees of separation have collapsed into one; nearly anyone is just a mouse click away.
Credentialism is dying. You are no longer bound by the standard script. The tools are in your hands, a cornucopia of resources at your fingertips. Passion projects are the new résumés. The question is no longer, “Where did you go to university?” but “What have you made?”
Each of our fellows will follow a unique path. Some will research new ideas, some will build new ideas, and some will spread new ideas.
Getting started with something new can be daunting, especially when you have responsibilities.
Innovation requires freedom to tinker, experiment and learn. We believe in the value of original mistakes.
All fellows receive a $100,000 equity-free grant to pursue their projects for one year, post which we will help them raise equity if they choose to do so.
Extraordinary visions demand powerful networks. We connect you directly to investors, partners, and mentors, while welcoming you into our growing community of Fellows and Grantees.
We've seen first-hand how unexpected creative breakthroughs emerge when our network's diverse interests and perspectives collide.
Grants program
The Grants program helps even more people to unleash their potential.
Alongside our ten Fellowships, up to twenty individuals will each receive a $10,000 grant and access to OSV’s network of founders, investors, and experts to support them in bringing their projects to life.
There is no separate application process for the Grants program. Winners will be selected based on their Fellowship Application form.
Hear from some of our previous grant winners
Justh
(Grants 2023, Fellowships 2024)
"I was able to make the song the way it is because of the O'Shaughnessy Grants and now the fellowship has been truly transformative for me on many levels. It has broadened my vision, given me the strength to do a lot of inner development and courage to work on my art with a lot of patience. "
Eugene Duvenage
(Grants 2024)
"I just have to take a moment to reiterate what an incredible privilege it is to a part of this group. Just look at the raw "getting things done" energy JUST today! You all inspire me to greater things, and I'm pretty stoked on what I'm doing already 😬"
Julian Gough
(Grants 2024)
"This is an amazingly well-connected group… "
The Fellowships and Grants empower individuals of the highest caliber whose work positively impacts the world, from scientific breakthroughs and technological innovations to enduring artistic and cultural contributions.
If you’re working on something that can improve the world, we want to hear from you.
While our Fellows and Grantees pursue many projects across multiple domains, they all embody certain traits:
Everyone has the power and capability to actively shape their future. We seek individuals who have consistently demonstrated initiative and proactiveness in their work and actions, reflecting a strong sense of personal agency.
Past performance does not necessarily predict future performance, but it offers valuable insights into an individual’s character and capabilities. A history of exemplary work in any domain will serve as a strong indicator of your skills, ability, and potential.
The Fellowships will provide financial aid to get your project off the ground, but how creatively can you use that funding to achieve the maximum impact in the shortest amount of time? We’re looking for people who are determined, have demonstrated good judgment, and can make ingenious use of limited resources to achieve their goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
The fellowship is open to adults worldwide, regardless of their background. We only require that you have a strong portfolio of proof of work
Individuals over the age of 18 can apply.
No. The fellowships are aimed primarily at individuals.
If you’ve already started a startup or plan to raise outside investment to build a venture-scale company, please apply to Infinite Adventures - our venture capital arm.
No, you don’t have to quit your job.
About 10 fellows and 20 grantees each year.
O'Shaughnessy Grants is a sister program to O'Shaughnessy Fellowships. Grantees receive $10,000 to work on their project. We plan to award up to 20 grants in addition to the Fellowships.
Yes. The fellowship is entirely remote.
You can decide the project you want to pursue as part of the fellowship. Ideally, it would be something you are uniquely suited to do and want to make your life’s work. It can include (but is not limited to) art pieces, like Davinci or Michelangelo, music, a computer program, new products, deep scientific research, stellar pieces of journalism, documentaries, sculptures, and more.
The ideal output would be something that could eventually resemble something iconic that can stand the test of time, like the Sistine Chapel, a breakthrough scientific discovery like penicillin, and other similar results.