Why is Geothermal So Hot Right Now?
Photo by Matt Palmer on Unsplash You might have noticed that a lot of excitement is building around geothermal energy. Just this past week, two Activate cohort companies — Fervo..
Interim CEO Todd Johnson On What’s Next For Activate
Interim CEO Todd Johnson Todd Johnson has always been drawn to people and the idea of a planet where people can flourish for generation upon generation. Even as a full-time..
Ilan Gur's Farewell Letter to Activate Fellows
Today is our founding CEO Ilan Gur's last day at Activate before he takes the helm of the U.K.’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA). It’s inspiring to reflect on Ilan’s..
Activate Updates: August 2022
08/15/2022 Ch-ch-changes Activate is in the transformation business. We work with partners and funders to support and guide fellows as they reinvent themselves through science..
Miguel Sierra Aznar’s Journey from Lab Rat to Climate Tech CEO
I remember hearing Miguel Sierra Aznar’s name for weeks before meeting him. The finalist event for Cohort 2018 was coming up, and my Activate coworkers mentioned him often—they..
From Fellow to Managing Director: Jill Fuss is a New Kind of Activate Success Story
Jill Fuss’s career path was built by enzymes. Her dad was an engineer, and he passed on a love of making things. “As a kid, I used to work with him in the shop, so I like..
FLO Materials Creates Infinitely Recyclable Eyewear, Commercializing Findings in Berkeley Lab Research
Manufacturing consumes two percent of U.S. energy to produce 300 million metric tons of virgin plastics annually. While packaging represents a very common application, plastics..
Activate CEO Ilan Gur to Become CEO of Top UK Innovation Agency
A Special Message from Activate Board Chair Liesl Schindler On behalf of the Activate board and team, we are proud to announce the appointment of our founder and CEO, Ilan Gur, to..
Ilan Gur to Become CEO of Top UK Innovation Agency
07/19/2022 A Special Message from Activate Board Chair Liesl Schindler Friends and colleagues, On behalf of the Activate board and team, we are proud to announce the appointment..
Transformative Startups Start with Connection, Communication, and Reflection
Sarah Morrill, Activate’s program continuum director In 2019, Sarah Morrill did something that many would consider unorthodox for a principal of an elementary/middle school..
Meet Naomi Baer, Activate’s New Chief Operating Officer
We are thrilled to introduce Naomi Baer, who joined the Activate team in June as chief operating officer—a new and vital role on our executive team. We sought a seasoned..
Activate 2020 Fellows on Cultivating and Nurturing Company Culture
Strong workplace culture is essential for teamwork and employee retention—and for Activate Fellows, unlocking great ideas and solving big problems. Following our recent Activate..