Two members of Cornell’s business incubators have been accepted to Cohort 2025 of the Activate Fellowship, a two-year program that supports scientists and engineers in their entrepreneurial ventures.
Jonathon McCandless, Ph.D. ’23, co-founder and CEO of Gallox Semiconductors, has joined Activate’ s Boston hub community, and Chris Thomas, founder and CEO of RETRN Bio, has joined Activate New York. While Gallox is a member of Cornell’s Praxis Center for Venture Development, RETRN Bio incubates at the university’s Center for Life Science Ventures (CLSV).
The Activate Fellowship and Cornell’s incubators share a mission to transform STEM researchers into successful startup founders, expanding the real-world impact of technology innovation developed in academic labs.
As they build their companies, Activate Fellows receive a $100,000 yearly living stipend, plus travel allowance and health insurance, in addition to $100,000 in funding for research and development. They also benefit from one-on-one mentorship and opportunities to network with other Fellows, program alumni, advisors, industry experts and potential investors.
The Praxis Center and CLSV complement this support by providing members with office space, access to research facilities and equipment, and a connection to Cornell’s research and innovation resources.