Activate Supports the Future of Science Entrepreneurship
July 29, 2025
At New Energy New York, our mission is strengthened by a diverse group of coalition partners working together to accelerate innovation in battery and energy storage technologies. Through this new blog series, we’re highlighting the organizations helping to bring that mission to life. We begin with Activate, a national nonprofit that empowers scientists to address society’s most pressing challenges by launching deep-tech startups.
Since its founding, Activate has supported nearly 300 entrepreneurs through a fellowship program that provides full-time salary, research funding, mentorship and entrepreneurial training. But according to Activate’s team, the impact of the program goes far beyond financial support.
“Early on, the financial support — including full-time salary and benefits — gives founders the confidence and security to take the leap into entrepreneurship,” the team shared. “As fellows progress, the Activate community and network become the most valued assets. The sense of belonging, shared experience, and both peer and mentor support help founders navigate the challenges of building hard-tech companies.”
By fostering a growing national network of scientists and innovators, Activate creates opportunities for cross-learning and collaboration that continue long after the fellowship ends. Events such as Climate Week and ARPA-E connect fellows with investors, industry partners and policymakers to support commercial growth.
Recognizing the need for strong regional ecosystems, Activate joined the NENY coalition to help bridge the gap between early-stage innovation and market readiness.
“We see entrepreneurship as a continuum — different stages of a startup’s journey require different kinds of support,” they said. “Activate specializes in the earliest phase, helping scientists take the first bold steps toward commercialization. New Energy New York brings the facilities, expertise and network needed to help scale emerging battery and energy storage technologies — capabilities that perfectly complement Activate’s early-stage focus.”
Together, Activate and NENY are building a model for coordinated support that helps science move from the lab into the marketplace.
Looking ahead, Activate hopes to expand access to science entrepreneurship across the country — especially in underserved regions.
“There is incredible talent across the country, and with the right guidance, more of these breakthroughs can successfully reach industry and create real impact,” they said. “We hope to see a growing pipeline of programs — like Activate and New Energy New York — that bridge the gap from lab to market and reach more scientists and engineers nationwide.”
PLUS: Read the announcement of 47 new fellows who joined Activate’s Cohort 2025.
NENY is proud to collaborate with Activate and looks forward to continued partnership. Stay tuned for the next installment in our Coalition Partner Spotlight series.