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UMARO Hooks Sharks, Closes Seed Series
We asked UMARO co-founders Amanda Stiles (Cohort 2020) and Beth Zotter to share their perspectives on purposeful work, the role of Activate in their journey as founders, and what motivates these two science entrepreneurs.
Finalists Share Visions of a Better Future
In early March, Cohort 2022 finalists made their final pitches to the Activate community. At stake for the finalists: the chance to dig in deep as they launch their startups with the financial, educational, research, technical, and network support of the Activate Fellowship.
The Activate Fellowship Team is Charged Up
Once small and always mighty, our fellowship team has grown more than threefold in the past year. It’s energized and ready to welcome Cohort 2022 this summer.
New Roles for Activate’s Aimee Rose and Randy Allen
To serve the growing Activate Fellowship community, Aimee Rose has taken a new role: executive managing director. Randy Allen, who joined Activate as executive-in-residence last year, has taken the helm in Boston as its new managing director.
SiPA: Streamlining the Path to Partnership
We spearheaded the Simple Partnership Agreement (SiPA) framework to encourage faster, more fruitful early collaborations between Activate Fellows and corporate partners.
Energy Storage Was Already Hot and Just Got Hotter: Antora Energy Raises $50M, Focusing Its Thermal Battery on Decarbonizing Industry
Antora’s three co-founders came together as Activate Fellows. Today, they are among the country’s top energy storage innovators.
2021 by the Numbers
2021 was a remarkable year for Activate. We're excited to share an overview of key wins by Activate Fellows and alumni in 2021—from awards and prototypes to total funds raised and jobs created. Dig into the data and join us in celebrating our incredible community of fellows, alumni, staff, and partners.
Graph Foundation Grants Cohort 2021 Fellows $60M to Advance Security, Efficiency of Blockchain and Web3
Semiotic AI co-founders Sam Green and Ahmet Ozcan will use the grant over eight years to developed zero-knowledge proofs and deep reinforcement learning, which enable trustless computations and autonomous decision-making in the blockchain.
For Activate Fellows, 2021 Was the Year of Pilots, Products, and Partnerships
We’ve rounded up some of the most exciting products, partnerships, and pilots that our cohort companies have launched or announced in 2021.
Meet Our Stellar Team of Managing Directors
We’ve assembled an incredible team of managing directors across four Activate communities. They’re all looking forward to guiding Cohort 2022 fellows through the crucial first two years of their startup lives.
Looking Back, and Forward, as the DEIB Committee Begins Year Two
In a wide-ranging conversation, three team members discuss Activate’s work to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across our business, including in our operations, our fellowship, our partnerships.
Introducing: Activate New York
As part of the $19.5 million Carbontech Development Initiative, announced by New York State in April 2021, the Activate New York Community will provide entrepreneurs with resources and training to build the global network needed to scale carbontech innovations.
Applications for Cohort 2022 Are Open
We’re expanding our fellowship to accelerate impact and meet growing demand.
AeroShield Offers a Clear View to Better Buildings
The United States can’t slow climate change without changing how we heat, cool, and power our buildings. Thankfully, a growing cadre of Activate Fellows is on the job. Join them by applying to Cohort 2022 with your vision for better buildings.
Stripe Climate to Purchase up to $500,000 in Carbon Removal from Fellows' Startups
We have forged a landmark partnership with Stripe, a technology company that builds economic infrastructure for the internet, in support of Activate Fellows whose technology innovations promise to permanently remove and store atmospheric CO2.
From Berkeley to Boston to Anywhere
As Activate Boston hit the one-year mark, we took stock of what we’ve learned and gained from scaling the fellowship and landed on a bold next move: Activate Anywhere.
Meet Karen Krause-Bencal, Strategic Partnerships Manager, Defense & Electronics
A powerhouse mentor to Activate Fellows, she’s also helped us tap into Boston’s vibrant startup ecosystem at the intersection of defense, fedtech, and energy innovation.
Meet Activate’s New Executive-in-Residence, Ranulfo (Randy) Allen
Since joining Activate this summer as our first Boston-based executive-in-residence, Randy Allen has been laser-focused on helping fellows—and showing them why now is a great time to be a science entrepreneur.
Matthew Alpert’s Transformation from 'Diligent Engineer' to Founder and CTO
Matthew Alpert applied for the Activate Fellowship because he viewed entrepreneurship as a new skill that was worth acquiring, even if he was not yet convinced that he’d actually fit the mold.
Activate Fellows on Hiring, Company Culture, and Open Roles
Activate helps scientists develop as leaders, mature their ideas, and learn what it takes to build a viable, scalable business.