Activate Updates: February 2025

Activate Updates

Feb 19

This month, we’re celebrating groundbreaking work from our fellows—including innovations in everything from mining to battery-assisted induction cooktop ranges—while gearing up for two major industry events: ARPA-E and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Industry Growth Forum. Plus, we're honored to be named a finalist for the East Bay Innovation Awards (a.k.a. the “Academy Awards of the East Bay”)!

The momentum doesn’t stop there. In a recent blog post, we shine a spotlight on the future of critical minerals, highlighting how Activate Fellows are tackling the challenges of sustainable resource extraction and mine waste recovery.

For those thinking about making the leap from academia to entrepreneurship, Nature Chemical Engineering just published expert advice, featuring several voices from the Activate community.

Here’s a deeper dive into all of this month’s news.

Advice for Aspiring Science Entrepreneurs

When it comes to navigating the unique challenges of building chemical technology companies, it’s best to consult the experts! A new article in Nature Chemical Engineering outlines tips for each stage of the journey, featuring expert advice from Activate Executive Managing Director Aimee Rose, former Activate Managing Director Hannah Murnen, and Activate Fellow alum Richard Wang (Cohort 2016).

NREL Industry Growth Forum in Denver

Now in its 30th year, the NREL Industry Growth Forum is the premier event for entrepreneurs, investors, and experts from industry and the public sector to build relationships, showcase innovative technologies, and identify disruptive business solutions. We hope to see you there!

What’s Next for Earth Resources Innovation?

Some say mining is the backbone of modern civilization. Yet it doesn’t always make headlines. Earlier this month, Activate shined a spotlight on the mining and critical minerals industry, interviewing Activate Fellow Gus Marquez (Cohort 2023) on the future of innovation in this crucial area. We also highlighted fellows who are developing a range of new approaches that can transform mine waste into valuable resources and establish new methods for extracting critical minerals. Additionally, we shared how companies like ICL Group, an Activate partner, offer significant opportunities to accelerate innovation through industry-startup collaboration.

Activate Up for East Bay Innovation Award

We’re thrilled to be named a finalist for the 2025 East Bay Innovation Awards (known as the “Academy Awards of the East Bay”). This recognition is a testament to the groundbreaking work of Activate Fellows and the incredible community supporting deep-tech innovation. Register to attend the awards ceremony on March 27 in Oakland, CA, to be hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist and news anchor Gia Vang.

Join Us at ARPA-E in Washington, D.C.

The ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit is coming up on March 17-19 in Washington, D.C. This is the preeminent event of the year for professionals addressing America’s top energy challenges and supporting the latest energy technologies as they build a path to the marketplace. Every year, we look forward to this vibrant gathering of energy community leaders, innovators, and visionaries.

In Our Ecosystem

Upcoming events, relevant opportunities, and what we're reading.

Fellow News

Wirecutter, The New York Times’ product review column, featured a battery-assisted induction cooktop range by Copper (Sam Calisch, Cohort 2020). “All in all, I was seriously impressed by this stove,” the reviewer wrote, calling Copper’s product the “Tesla of Induction Stoves.”
Brimstone (Cody Finke, Cohort 2019) announced that it will begin co-producing the critical mineral alumina alongside its Portland cement, bolstered by federal investment from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. This development represents a milestone for securing the U.S. aluminum supply chain.
Advanced Charging Technologies (ACT) announced that it has integrated Resonant Link’s (Grayson Zulauf, Cohort 2020) wireless charging technology to advance its industry-leading charging solutions for applications such as electric vehicle fleet charging. According to ACT, “Resonant Link's wireless charging sets a new benchmark for fast, reliable, and hassle-free charging.”
Zanskar (Joel Edwards and Carl Hoiland, Cohort 2020) shared exciting results from a new production well at the Lighting Dock geothermal field in New Mexico. The well’s high productivity index validates Zanskar’s thesis of untapped geothermal power potential for the site. “It is positioned to become the most productive pumped geothermal well in operation in the USA,” according to Think Geoenergy.