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Applications for Cohort 2026 are now open

Complete the form below to receive access to the 2026 Application

Applicant Interest Form

Fill out the form to receive the application link and be added to our applicant interest list.

 

Questions?
Read on for further details about applying to the Activate fellowship

Cohort 2026 Selection Timeline

C26 Application & Selection Timeline for Website

Fellowship Fit

What we look for in Activate fellows

Are you deeply knowledgeable in the field of your proposed project to independently and safely lead the technical work involved? Can you communicate complicated, technical concepts to a general audience?

 

Are you motivated to grow professionally and focus on business leadership, in addition to scientific expertise? Can you manage conflict and act with integrity through ambiguity to mobilize the resources needed to advance your proposed project?
Is your proposed project rooted in sound scientific principles? Does it present a credible path to scale, including viable entry markets or the potential to pivot? Is it reasonably differentiated from existing solutions and commercial efforts?

Is your project aligned with Activate’s mission of hard tech for good? Will the fellowship meaningfully alter the trajectory of your professional development and your proposed project?

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.

Driving Innovation Across Sectors

Activate supports 16 verticals, aligned with our broader mission to meet the urgency of global challenges

  • 1-4

    Integrating robotics,

    advanced materials

    processing,

    real-time sensing

    and controls,

    production automation,

    and next-generation

    supply chains.

  • 2-3

    Advancing the

    design, materials,

    and efficiency of

    the infrastructure

    we live and work in.

  • 3-3

    Developing tools

    for capture,

    utilization, storage,

    and verification of

    carbon and other

    radiative-forcing gases.

  • 4-2

    Redefining chemistry

    and materials through

    advanced processes,

    sustainable technologies,

    and novel compounds.

  • 5-2

    Developing better and

    longer-lasting alternatives,

    efficient substitutes,

    sustainable upgrades,

    and adaptions to

    a changing world.

  • 6-1

    Pioneering computer

    technologies, including

    semiconductors,

    quantum computing,

    AI, advanced storage,

    and high-throughput

    systems.

  • 7-1

    Advancing technologies

    for sustainable extraction,

    energy, and management

    of Earth’s resources.

  • 8-1

    Transforming electronics

    through advances

    in MEMS, RF, IoT,

    hardware, sensors,

    and interfaces.

  • 9-1

    Reimagining power

    generation, grids, and

    energy delivery across

    renewables, combustion,

    storage, and efficiency.

  • 10-1

    Enhancing batteries and

    storage technologies to

    capture and deploy

    power effectively.

  • 11-1

    Improving yields,

    resilience, and

    sustainability across

    agriculture and

    food systems.

  • 12-1

    Innovating industrial

    biotechnology through

    microbes, fermentation,

    enzymes, and

    bio-derived chemicals.

  • 13-1

    Advancing genetics,

    genomics, metabolomics,

    and precision health

    technologies.

  • 14-1

    The next generation

    of satellites, rockets,

    planes, drones, UAVs,

    orbital/landing tech,

    engine dynamics, and

    remote sensing

  • 15-1

    Connecting our world

    across the land and sea

    through autonomy,

    electric motors,

    EV batteries,

    trains, boats, drones,

    logistics, and

    supply chains.

  • 16-1

    Designing technologies

    to improve the quality,

    availability, and use

    of water.

*If you are a potential applicant, see our FAQ titled, “Are all life science applications eligible? What about innovations in healthcare?” before deciding to apply. 

Key steps to completing your application

Applications for Cohort 2026 must be submitted by October 28 at 8:00PM ET
There will be no extensions this year

Decide Applicant

Follow the link to the application portal (received after filling out the above form), register an account, and begin an application for the C26 Activate Fellowship Program.

 

Fill out Application

Complete the requested information in the different Tasks of the application, including adding a co-applicant as a collaborator (if desired).

Prepare Application Materials

Generate the required application materials detailed below and upload as prompted as you complete the application

Submit Application!

Confirm all required information and materials are completed, and click the “Submit” button by 8:00 PM ET on 10/28

Preparing your application

Please note any page limits - submitting materials outside of the limits will cause an application to be disqualified

Every applicant needs to submit a one-page resume.

We are blinding the initial phases of the application review, and require all applicants to remove key personal information from their resumes. In particular:

  • All instances of your name
  • Photos or headshots

If you wish to keep the formatting, we recommend replacing your name with APPLICANT. For example:

APPLICANT, "Electric-Lamp." U.S. Patent 223,898, issued Jan. 27, 1880.

We provide a template within the application.

You will be required to provide a 3 page PDF that provides a summary overview of your project. Avoid jargon and acronyms that are used only in your specific field.

What do you want to do with your technology? (2 pages) When describing your technical vision, please include information on the following:

  • Vision: Describe the new science or engineering behind the core innovation. 
  • You vs state of the art: How is it done today and what is new in your approach?
  • Market Viability: Will you create value in a marketplace? How much will it cost and who will be the customer?
  • Milestones and Risks: What are the mid-term and final “exams” to check for success? What are the technology and market risks?  How will you mitigate the risks?
  • Social Impact: How does your technology contribute to a better world? Who will be impacted and at what scale?

What is your technology? (1 page) When describing your technology, please include the following: 

  • Describe the technical details of the concept you want to pursue. 
  • Include the information that will best convey your technical innovation: text, diagrams, equations, photos, analysis, references, you name it. 
  • Include pictures/diagrams showing the broader systems or process in which your innovation will be used, if applicable. We understand you still have more science to prove out. You can reference publications and include them in the “Supporting Documentation” document.

A short 3-4 slide deck with technical details describing the current status of your project

We're looking for concrete, detailed information on your project to complement the higher level vision provided in the previous written answers. Feel free to use technical jargon and other shorthand to help you meet the slide limits, if needed.

Technical details (1-2 slides)
    • Present the technical details of your proposed project that convey the current status of the technology. We want to know what you have actually accomplished.
    • Include the information that will best convey the current status of your technical innovation, such as diagrams, equations, graphs, photos, analyses, references, text, etc.
Progress on first product and potential business model (1 slide)
    • Describe what you have learned pertinent to your first product(s) and potential business model(s) to monetize your technology.
Two year work plan (1 slide)
    • Present your proposed two year work plan during the fellowship to progress from your current status (provided in the earlier slides) toward the technical vision you shared in the previous document.

Upcoming Recruitment Events

Join our recruitment and community teams to learn more about the Activate Fellowship

Activate Application 101 #2

Activate Application 101 #2

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This workshop, hosted by the Activate Recruitment & Selection team, will give you valuable tips to help strengthen your fellowship application.

Register
Activate Office Hours

Office Hours #2

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Sign up to attend virtual office hours with the Activate recruitment team! We’ll answer your questions about the application process, fellowship expectations, and how to prepare a strong application.
Register
Activate Office Hours

Office Hours #3

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Sign up to attend virtual office hours with the Activate recruitment team! We’ll answer your questions about the application process, fellowship expectations, and how to prepare a strong application.
Register
Activate Office Hours

Office Hours #4

—
Sign up to attend virtual office hours with the Activate recruitment team! We’ll answer your questions about the application process, fellowship expectations, and how to prepare a strong application.
Register
Activate Office Hours

Office Hours #5

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Please join the Activate Recruitment team for a unique office hours session, as we open this hour to Foreign National prospective applicants to network with others, ask questions about the application process, what to expect as an Activate Fellow and more.

Register

Bridging science with entrepreneurship

Where hard tech is transformed into real world impact