About this opportunity
Activate exists for a specific moment in a scientist's career: the transition from deep technical work to leading a company. The fellowship backs people developing hard tech, meaning technologies that need substantial scientific and engineering effort, research, development and commercialisation work before they reach the market. Applicants are expected to know their technology intimately and to be capable of leading the technical work that reduces the risk of bringing it to market.
The financial package is built to let you commit full time. Fellows receive a $100,000 living stipend per year, $100,000 in research and development support, $12,000 per year for travel and professional development, a health insurance stipend and a relocation allowance. Around that, the programme adds community and coaching: fortnightly community programming with workshops, fellow talks and networking, a weekly Elements of Entrepreneurship course in the first quarter, regular one-on-one mentorship with the community's Managing Director, quarterly advisory meetings that work like board meetings, and annual retreats and reunions.
Eligibility
is narrow on purpose. You need a bachelor's degree and at least four years of post-baccalaureate experience in scientific research, engineering or technology development. You must be leading the commercial development of a hardware-based technology for the first time, so this is not for repeat hard-tech founders. You must be able to commit full time to the project, be legally able to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship, and communicate proficiently in English. A PhD or postdoctoral training is common among successful applicants but is not an absolute requirement, and industry R&D experience counts.
Your project has to meet its own tests. It must be based in the physical sciences, biological sciences or related engineering disciplines, still be in development at the
Application timeline
and not yet ready for full-scale product sales, and must not have raised more than $2 million in debt or equity funding from non-governmental sources by the
Application timeline
Many successful applicants already have an early proof of concept or prototype supported by experimental data. Applications close 30 October 2026 at 12:00 p.
m. Pacific Time, and you begin by completing the interest form on Activate's apply page to receive your application link.
What you receive
- A $100,000 living stipend per year, intended to let you work on the project full time
- $100,000 in research and development support for experimentation, prototyping, testing and technical development
- $12,000 per year for travel and professional development
- A health insurance stipend
- A relocation allowance
- A weekly Elements of Entrepreneurship course during the first quarter, built for the scientist turned founder
- Regular one-on-one mentorship with the community's Managing Director
- Quarterly advisory meetings that function like board meetings to focus on the most important issues
- Community-based programming every two weeks, including workshops, fellow talks, networking and collaborative activities
- Annual retreats and reunions, plus opportunities for personal development and continued connection within the Activate community
Who can apply
- A bachelor's degree
- At least four years of post-baccalaureate experience in scientific research, engineering or technology development
- Leading the commercial development of a hardware-based technology innovation for the first time if awarded the fellowship
- Able to commit full time to the proposed project or company, though you do not have to have left your job or incorporated yet
- Legally able to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship
- Able to communicate proficiently in English
- A project based in the physical sciences, biological sciences or related engineering disciplines
- A technology that is still in development and not yet ready for full-scale product sales at the application deadline
- A project that has not raised more than $2 million in debt or equity funding from non-governmental sources at the time of the application deadline
Who should not apply
- Repeat hard-tech founders, since the programme is for people commercially developing a hardware-based technology for the first time
- Technologies already ready for full-scale product sales at the application deadline
- Projects that have raised more than $2 million in debt or equity funding from non-governmental sources at the deadline
- Applicants who cannot work legally in the United States for the duration of the fellowship
- Applicants without a bachelor's degree or without at least four years of post-baccalaureate technical experience
- Projects outside the physical sciences, biological sciences or related engineering disciplines
- Candidates unwilling to take a leadership role in the proposed company or project, or to commit full time
Documents to prepare
- Details of your scientific or engineering basis and the technology you are developing
- An explanation of the problem the technology addresses and its potential impact
- Your current development stage, with evidence that the technology works where applicable, such as an early proof of concept or prototype supported by experimental data
- Your technical expertise, experience and your leadership role in the project
- Your plans for commercial development
- An explanation of why the Activate Fellowship would significantly accelerate the project
- Confirmation of your ability to commit to the fellowship full time if selected
- Complete the application interest form to receive the link to start your application
How to apply
- Review the fellowship details on the official apply page at https://activate.org/apply and the main site at https://activate.org
- Check both your own eligibility and your project's eligibility, especially the four years of technical experience, U.S. work authorisation, the development stage and the $2 million non-governmental funding limit
- Click the Apply for US Cohort 2027 button on https://activate.org/apply and complete the application interest form to receive the link to begin your application
- Use the application link sent to you to start the full application
- Describe the scientific or engineering basis of the technology and the problem it addresses, with evidence that it works where you can show it
- Explain your technical expertise, your leadership role and your plans for commercial development
- Set out why the fellowship would meaningfully accelerate both the technology and your development as a leader, and how you will commit full time
- Attend an upcoming Cohort 2027 recruitment webinar on https://activate.org/apply if you want guidance before submitting
- Submit your application before 30 October 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time rather than waiting until the final hours
Selection process
- Activate looks for hard-tech leadership, meaning applicants who understand their technology deeply and can independently lead the technical work
- Technical expertise is assessed through your ability to understand technical challenges, lead development, conduct or oversee research and development, reduce technical risk and explain complex concepts to non-technical audiences
- Applicants are evaluated on evidence of progress, with many successful applicants having an early proof of concept or prototype supported by experimental data
- Transformative potential matters, so applicants should be able to describe what the world could look like if the technology were developed and implemented at scale
- Leadership readiness is considered, including the ability to lead a company, manage conflict, operate in uncertain situations, act with integrity, mobilise resources, make important decisions and work toward commercialisation
- Activate emphasises additionality, meaning it assesses whether the fellowship would meaningfully accelerate your development and the progress of your project
- The first step in the process is the interest form on the apply page, which sends the link to begin the application
Sources and verification
Questions applicants ask
Do I need to be an experienced entrepreneur?
No. The fellowship is designed for people moving from technical expertise into company leadership, and Activate states that fellows should be commercially developing a hardware-based technology for the first time rather than repeat hard-tech founders.
What does the fellowship provide financially?
A $100,000 living stipend per year, $100,000 in research and development support, $12,000 per year for travel and professional development, a health insurance stipend and a relocation allowance.
Do I need a PhD?
No. Many successful applicants have completed PhDs or postdoctoral training, but Activate does not present that as an absolute requirement and welcomes people with technical or R&D experience in industry or equivalent backgrounds.
Are there already incorporated companies?
You do not necessarily have to have left your current job or incorporated your company when applying, since the fellowship is designed in part to enable that transition. You must be able to commit full time if selected.
Is there a funding cap for my project?
Yes. At the application deadline your project must not have raised more than $2 million in debt or equity funding from non-governmental sources.
Do I need U.S. work authorisation?
Yes. Applicants must be legally able to work in the United States for the duration of the fellowship.
When does the application close?
Applications for the U.S. Fellowship Cohort 2027 close on 30 October 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Pacific Time. You start by completing the interest form at https://activate.org/apply to receive your application link.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
