Sep 20, 2023   SOURCE: BusinessWire

Activate Opens 2024 Fellowship Applications During Climate Week NYC

Activate, a leader in hard-tech entrepreneurial fellowships, today announced that applications are open for Cohort 2024, starting September 19 and closing October 17, 2023. The window to apply begins during Climate Week NYC, at the tail end of the hottest summer ever on record, where Activate Fellows and partners will be presenting hard tech solutions to our most pressing decarbonization challenges and beyond.

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(Graphic: Activate)

(Graphic: Activate)

“Climate Week is a premier showcase for innovation, and the opening of Activate applications couldn’t come at a more aligned time,” says Activate executive managing director Aimee Rose. “It’s the perfect moment for innovators to connect, plan, and gain momentum when they’re most inspired. We’re poised and ready to support the next wave of brilliant scientists driving real change.”

The impact of each cohort of Activate Fellows is ample evidence that scientists and engineers have both the talent and drive to face global challenges head on. Twelve (Cohort 2015), for instance, created fossil-free, carbon-neutral jet fuel made from electrified CO2. Fervo Energy (Cohort 2018) invented the most productive enhanced geothermal system in history. And Antora Energy (Cohorts 2017 and 2018) developed the world’s first thermal battery to deliver zero-emissions heat and power.

Activate is built to scale with the talent, resources, and infrastructure in place to help fellows and partners achieve ambitious goals that will serve society. Through recruitment efforts during Climate Week and beyond, Activate seeks to give world-changers and thought leaders the opportunity to work in cooperation, expand their innovations, and elevate what’s currently possible.

Activate also prioritizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in its fellowship, which is intentionally designed to provide personalized support and guidance to a broad range of scientists, and will be continuing to advance these DEIB initiatives in recruitment. Activate aims to increase access for people often underrepresented in science innovation and entrepreneurship, including women, Black, and Latinx communities.

“Our most recent 2023 cohort included 37 percent women and 43 percent founders of color,” says Brenna Teigler, Activate’s chief fellowship officer. “We're making a point to bring together science innovators across the United States from various backgrounds. We believe we need all views and perspectives to make a difference.”

Activate also this week announced the appointment of its new CEO, Cyrus Wadia. His extensive experience in science, corporate, and government sectors will help Activate as it continues to promote the advancement of early-stage science entrepreneurs.

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 or equity for fellows to participate. Activate’s entrepreneurial fellowship model originated at Cyclotron Road, the first U.S. Department of Energy Lab Embedded Entrepreneurship Program (LEEP) started at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the founding Activate partner. Activate supports fellows in communities across the United States: Activate Berkeley, Activate Boston, Activate New York, Activate Houston, and Activate Anywhere. Learn more at Activate.org.

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

  • Find out more information on Activate’s activities at New York Climate Week by visiting Activate’s Climate Week event page.
  • 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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