In order to support our fellows, Activate Global Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, collaborates with funders and research institutions in the United States. The idea for the entrepreneurial fellowship programme at Activate came from Cyclotron Road, a unit of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and founding partner of the organisation.
They now provide support to an expanding network of Activate Fellows and graduates around the US. By 2025, we want to add 100 new fellows annually, all around the country.
Entrepreneurs, scientists, and investors established Activate because they think science has a huge part to play in combating climate change. The team is able to assist our fellows in bridging the science-to-market gap because of its diversity of experience and seven-year track record. Over 106 mission-driven businesses that would not have existed without their help
Location:
United States
Benefits
- ESSENTIAL FUNDING
Fellows receive a yearly living stipend of $80,000 to $110,000 plus a health insurance stipend and travel allowance. This enables them to focus on their project full-time. Each project also receives $100,000 in research funding and access to at least $100,000 in additional flexible capital. - A COMMUNITY OF PEERS
Bringing technology to market can be a long and lonely road. Our fellows take this journey together as part of a dynamic community of scientists, engineers, and technologists who share what they know and celebrate each other’s victories. - AN UNRIVALED NETWORK
We facilitate connections between fellows and our broad network of industry executives, investors, entrepreneurs, philanthropists and other experts from academia, industry, government, and finance—any of whom can serve as advisors or partners. - RESEARCH FACILITIES
Fellows access vital research tools, equipment, facilities, and expertise through collaboration with a host laboratory. Activate takes no rights to fellows’ intellectual property and works to ensure that fellows retain ownership of any IP developed during their two-year fellowship term. - STARTUP CURRICULUM
Tailored for scientists and engineers and delivered weekly, our startup curriculum includes sessions on core business and product development concepts, VIP speakers, skill development workshops, and shared learning from other fellows and alumni. - INTENSIVE MENTORSHIP
Our experienced team meets with fellows one-on-one on a regular basis to help develop priorities, provide guidance, and make connections to our broader network of advisors, industry experts, and investors.
Eligibilities
- Must have a bachelor’s degree and four+ years post-baccalaureate scientific research, engineering, or technology development experience.
- Must be the leader of a technical project or company that is relevant to our target industries and is based in the physical or biological sciences, or related engineering disciplines.
- Must be leading the commercial development of a hardware-based technology innovation for the first time i.e. not a repeat hard-tech founder. You may apply as a solo applicant or with one co-applicant.
- Must not have raised more than $2,000,000 in debt or equity funding from non-governmental sources for the proposed project at the time of the application deadline.
- Project or company must still be in development and not yet ready for full-scale product sales at the time of the application deadline.
- Must be legally able to work in the U.S. for the duration of the fellowship.
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Registration vs Application
If you have already registered, you don’t need to sign up again to receive the application. The link to your application portal has already been sent to your email. - Single Applicant vs Co-applicants
There is no advantage to applying solo or with a co-applicant. If you have a co-applicant, only one of you should submit both of your contact information in the form after clicking “apply now”. If you both sign up separately, your application will not be connected. - Eligibility
The first step of the application this year is an eligibility check. Once you’ve saved your answers to the eligibility check, you will receive an email update with your eligibility status within a few hours
