Turn Research Into Impact Through the Activate Fellowship

By Activate Staff

The Activate Fellowship is the premier program for scientists and engineers on a mission to turn their research into products with impact. Since 2015, Activate has supported nearly 150 hard-tech innovators who have launched 106 new companies that have raised nearly US$1 billion in follow-on funding and created more than 1,000 U.S.-based high-tech jobs.

With Activate’s support, Activate Fellows transform into entrepreneurs over the two-year fellowship, growing their teams and de-risking their technology. Many attract their first financing rounds and hit key product milestones during their fellowship. Fellows develop their hard-technology innovations across eight industries: agriculture, buildings, chemicals, computing, defense, electricity, manufacturing, and transportation.

Today, Activate supports up to 40 new Activate Fellows a year through the Berkeley, Boston, New York, and Activate Anywhere Communities. By 2025, Activate plans to support 100 new fellows each year across the U.S. 

Activate Fellows receive: 

• A yearly living stipend of US$80,000 to US$110,000 + health insurance stipend and travel allowance. Each project also receives US$100,000 of research support at a host laboratory and access to at least US$100,000 in additional flexible capital.
• Access to research facilities in Berkeley, CA, Boston, MA, New York, NY, or other qualified host laboratories anywhere across the U.S. in the Activate Anywhere Community.
• Intensive entrepreneurial training, mentorship, and networking.

Between the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the federal government has invested US$500 billion in a safer, more resilient, and sustainable economy. But in order to turn ideas into impact, hard-tech scientists and engineers need training, direct funding, tools, a community, and a powerful network. That is what the Activate Fellowship provides.

The two-year Activate Fellowship is the most immersive, supportive, and comprehensive program for early-stage hard-tech science entrepreneurs to access the funding, technical support, networking, community, and time they need at the outset of their entrepreneurial journeys. Activate does not charge any fees or equity to participate. 

Want to know more? Visit Activate’s application page to learn about eligibility requirements, sign up for upcoming webinars, access other resources, and register your interest in applying.

Know someone who should apply? You can nominate them here.

Want to see more scientists and engineers, especially from underrepresented and underserved communities, access the support they need to become founders? Help get the word out.

Applications for Cohort 2023 open on 15 September and will close on 31 October. 

The Activate Fellowship transforms scientists and engineers into entrepreneurs so they can transform the world. The possibilities are infinite. One fellowship, infinite possibilities.