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Activate Fellowship FAQ

Activate Fellowship FAQ

About the Fellowship

Do you take equity (financial stake) in fellows’ startups?

Activate does not charge any fees or take any equity (financial stake) in fellow’s companies for individuals to join and participate in the fellowship. Our fellowship program supports people, first and foremost. We have a nonprofit mission to help you find the optimal path for your project to go to market, regardless of the specific business model.

Who owns or controls the intellectual property (IP) produced during the fellowship?

Can I participate in the fellowship part-time?

When does the fellowship begin? What are the expectations of the fellowship in the first few months?

What if I ultimately decide that a startup is not right for me or my technology?

I'm looking for the Cyclotron Road program. Is this the right place?

Fellowship Eligibility

What are Activate’s eligibility requirements?

Please see our eligibility requirements and details on what we look for in a fellow at activate.org/apply.

Do you support fellows working on projects across all industries?

Are all life science applications eligible? What about innovations in healthcare?

What about software-based innovations? What about AI and ML-based innovations?

I am based in a territory or commonwealth of the U.S. Does this limit my participation in the fellowship?

I am a foreign national. Does this limit my participation in the fellowship?

I am or was a fellow in the Breakthrough Energy Fellowship and/or one of the DOE Lab-Embedded Entrepreneurship Programs (LEEPs). Am I eligible to be an Activate Fellow?

I’m still in a Ph.D. program. By what date do I need to graduate to be able to participate in the next cohort?

What projects are too early or too late for Activate’s support?

Can I apply with a co-founder? Will both of us be offered fellowships if accepted? How should we select the “Principal applicant” in the application?

What happens if I have a co-founder who is not eligible for the fellowship?

Do I/we have to be incorporated to apply?

Fellowship Application Process

Can I submit multiple applications?

We can only accept one application per applicant or applicant team (two individuals applying together, as co-founders) per application cycle. If you have multiple projects or ideas, we recommend that you apply with the project that best fits our selection criteria. If you are developing a platform technology with many potential end uses, see the “How should I write my application if I am applying with a platform technology that has many potential end uses? Am I at a disadvantage?” FAQ for more information.

How should I write my application if I am applying with a “platform technology” that has many potential end uses? Am I at a disadvantage?

Will my application materials be kept confidential? How are you using AI in the selection process?

How are fellows selected?

What are Activate’s selection criteria?

What are some of the most common reasons applications are rejected?

What information do I need to share in the application about my laboratory space arrangements? When do I need to be able to access that laboratory space?

As a fellow, could I remain at my current institution? What about my current academic laboratory?

How and when will I be notified of my application status?

Do you have a waitlist?

Do you provide feedback to applicants?

Fellowship Communities

What are Activate’s communities? Which communities are geographically connected? Which are virtual?

Activate offers five Activate communities: collectives of fellows who are either geographically or virtually connected. Our geographically-connected communities are Activate Berkeley, Activate Boston, Activate Houston, and Activate New York. Fellows in the Activate Anywhere Community are located throughout the U.S. and virtually connected.

Can I participate in multiple Activate communities?

Can I apply to multiple Activate communities?

Why are applicants who will live within 70 miles of a geographically-connected city during the fellowship ineligible for the Activate Anywhere community?

Some of my team is based outside of the geographically connected community to which I am applying. Do they also need to move?

What happens if my co-founder and I plan to participate in the fellowship from 2 different locations?

Does Activate provide access to laboratory space?

What do you mean by Activate Anywhere?

Is the application process the same for those who select Activate Anywhere as their primary community?

Will fellows in the Activate Anywhere community meet in real life?

Who should apply to Activate New York? Is my carbontech solution eligible?

Have a question not addressed above?