June 30, 2022

Founded in 2015, Activate is a 501(c)3 nonprofit which supports promising scientists whose research has the potential to transform the world’s physical infrastructure and industries and who are driven to bring that research to market. Through a two-year fellowship program, Activate Fellows develop as leaders, mature their ideas, and learn what it takes to build a viable, scalable business. Activate Fellows receive a yearly living stipend between $80,000 and $110,000, a health insurance stipend and travel allowance which enable the Fellows to focus on their project full-time. Each Fellow also receives $100,000 in research funding and access to at least $100,000 in additional flexible capital. With Activate’s support, nearly all Fellows achieve first financing and product milestones; current Fellows and alumni have raised $302 million in 2021 alone, not including the successful exit of a cohort company Cuberg which was acquired by a Swedish battery giant Northvolt.

Since launching in 2015 as Cyclotron Road at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the organization has expanded to Boston and New York City while rebranding as Activate. In June 2022, its newest program Activate Anywhere was added to enable nationwide participation. Activate plans to support 100 new Fellows each year by 2025.

The Activate Leadership Council comprises 50 high-tech-focused and visionary leaders across government, philanthropy, venture capital, corporations, and academia and is committed to supporting the success of Activate and its fellows. Kaido started his 3-year term on the Leadership Council on June 30, 2022.

“We are always looking to connect our research community to innovative technology commercialization pathways and to expand the impact of Drexel research. Activate is a great example of an emerging commercialization pathway. I appreciate Shintaro’s leadership to keep Drexel connected to the cutting edge in this area”, says Aleister Saunders, executive vice provost for research and innovation.

Drexel faculty, postdoctoral staff, and PhD students interested in learning more about Activate can reach Shintaro at sk3434@drexel.edu.