The Activate Fellowship is a two-year program run by Activate, a nonprofit organization focused on empowering scientists and engineers to transform their research into impactful hard-tech startups. Launched as the first fellowship of its kind for entrepreneurial scientists, it provides funding, mentorship, education, and community support without taking any equity in the resulting companies. The program targets “hard tech” innovations in areas like energy, sustainability, biotechnology, materials, and more, aiming to address global challenges through scalable technologies.
The fellowship’s core goal is to bridge the gap between scientific research and commercialization, helping participants (called fellows) develop the entrepreneurial skills, networks, and resources needed to launch ventures. It emphasizes collaboration, leadership development, and real-world impact.
Fellows work on their projects full-time, receiving guidance to navigate challenges like market viability, scaling, and business models. The program is supported by partners including the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Energy, the Gates Foundation and many more prestigious institutions.
They do not charge fees or claim equity, prioritizing the fellows’ success and optimal paths to market, whether through startups, licensing, or other models.
At Activate, they believe that groundbreaking science has the power to change the world—but only if it reaches the people and places that need it most. That’s why they are creating a new model for innovation: one that empowers scientists and engineers to lead, connects them with the resources to succeed, and transforms bold ideas into real-world solutions.
By fostering collaboration and reshaping systems, they are ensuring that the technologies of tomorrow address the challenges of today. Their core values are the foundation of their work culture and drive every aspect of their work. They believe in the power of community, partnership, and meaningful relationships and prioritize well-being, inclusivity, and authentic collaboration. Their purpose-driven actions are creating meaningful impact for society and the planet.
Benefits
Eligibilities
- Fellow Eligibility:
-
- Must have a bachelor’s degree and 4+ years post-baccalaureate scientific research, engineering, or technology development experience.
- Must be leading the commercial development of a hardware-based technology innovation for the first time if awarded the fellowship i.e., not a repeat hard tech founder.
- Must be committed full-time to the proposed project or company if awarded the fellowship.
- Must be legally able to work in the U.S. for the duration of the fellowship.
- Must be able to communicate proficiently in English.
- Project Eligibility:
-
- Must be based in the physical or biological sciences or related engineering disciplines.
- Must still be in development and not yet ready for full-scale product sales at the time of the application deadline.
- Must not have raised more than $2M in debt or equity funding from non-governmental sources at the time of the application deadline.
Application Process
- The applicants are required to fill out the form given in the “apply link” below and follow the link to the application portal. Then they need to register an account and begin an application for the C26 Activate Fellowship Program.
- They are to complete the requested information in the application form and submit the following materials:
- One-page resume
- 3-page PDF that provides a summary overview of the project describing its technical vision
- Short 3-4 slide deck with technical details describing the current status of the project
Application Deadline: October 28, 2025 (3 Days Remaining)
Apply nowOfficial link
