Activate Welcomes a Record 46 New Activate Fellows Whose Innovations Can Decarbonize Industries and Build a Cleaner, Safer Society
Activate introduces a new cohort of early-stage science entrepreneurs commercializing ideas into scalable solutions
BERKELEY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Activate, a nonprofit that helps scientists and engineers bring their innovations to market, is proud to introduce Cohort 2023 of Activate Fellows. These 46 science entrepreneurs are turning their breakthroughs into businesses that could help industries–including manufacturing, energy, chemicals, computing, and agriculture–meet decarbonization and resiliency goals.
Activate welcomes the largest cohort in its almost ten-year history after receiving a record number of applications: 832 individuals across 674 science fellowships.
“The Activate Fellows in Cohort 2023 represent our largest cohort so far,” says Activate’s interim CEO, Todd Johnson. “When we look at the breadth and scope of these brilliant scientific minds, engaging to find solutions in energy, sustainability, chemistry, computing, and more, we can’t help but be encouraged and optimistic about the future. And our announcement to launch Activate Houston this year continues our momentum toward helping scientists commercialize their people-positive and planet-positive science while increasing our capacity to support top science innovators in the energy transition capital of the United States.”
Founded in 2015, the two-year Activate Fellowship clears the path for promising entrepreneurial scientists to move their breakthrough technologies from ideas to scalable solutions. Activate places equal importance on the development of minds as it does on the development of products, with the goal of cultivating the high-impact scientist entrepreneurs America urgently needs and allowing them to think about global challenges in new and innovative ways. Activate provides a living stipend to fellows to enable them to participate.
“I’m proud of the breadth, depth, and diversity represented in this new cohort, which includes 37 percent women and 43 percent founders of color,” says Aimee Rose, Activate’s executive managing director. “In welcoming our largest cohort ever, I continue to be amazed at the number and quality of talented, accomplished scientists with world-changing technologies that Activate attracts. With these emerging leaders heading the charge, I am filled with optimism for the future of the climate and our country.”
Cohort 2023 joins a community of Activate Fellows who have raised nearly $1.3B in follow-on funding from leading public and private sources—a nearly 25X leverage for every dollar spent supporting a fellow.
Our dedicated, forward-thinking network of sponsors and partners makes the fellowship possible through direct funding and donations of time, equipment, and services. In addition to generous philanthropic partners, we are supported by the National Science Foundation; the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, including the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office, the Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office, and the Buildings Technologies Office; the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; the California Energy Commission; the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center; and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. Without these collaborations, Activate could not provide fellows such comprehensive financial, community, technical, and career support.
ABOUT ACTIVATE:
Founded in 2015, Activate empowers scientists to reinvent the world by launching startups to address climate change and other global challenges. Working between government, philanthropy, universities, and the private sector, Activate transforms scientists into high-impact entrepreneurs through the Activate Fellowship, a two-year immersive experience that equips science entrepreneurs with the skills, networks, infrastructure, and funding they need to quickly and effectively bring their groundbreaking research to market. Activate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and does not charge any fee nor equity for fellows to participate. Activate’s entrepreneurial fellowship model originated at Cyclotron Road, the first DOE Lab Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) started at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the founding Activate partner. Activate supports fellows in communities across the U.S.: Activate Berkeley, Activate Boston, Activate New York, Activate Houston, and Activate Anywhere. Learn more at Activate.org.
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
- For more information about Activate and details about how to apply for the fellowship, visit Activate.org
- For media requests, contact: Chris Thomas, Activate VP, Engagement and Strategic Communications, chris.thomas@activate.org
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Contacts
Chris Thomas, chris.thomas@activate.org
