MCJ AMA: Cyrus Wadia - Activate
Join us in the MCJ Community Slack for our next MCJ Ask-Me-Anything with Cyrus Wadia, CEO of Activate.
Let’s meet our guest…
Meet Cyrus: Cyrus Wadia, Activate’s CEO, holds a master's degree and Ph.D. in energy and resources from UC Berkeley and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from MIT. Most recently, Cyrus was the director of worldwide product sustainability at Amazon, where he launched the company’s first sustainable shopping program, and previously vice president of sustainable business & innovation at Nike. Cyrus served in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy under President Barack Obama as assistant director of clean energy and materials R&D, responsible for a $1B initiative defining the cutting edge in materials science and innovation. He has also served as co-director and faculty member of the Haas School of Business Cleantech to Market program, senior advisor on energy and manufacturing for McKinsey & Company, and project manager at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
About Activate: Activate is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers scientists to bring their research to market. Having supported nearly nearly 250 scientists and engineers in founding almost 200 companies, including notable names like Fervo, Twelve, Sublime Systems, and Antora Energy, Activate offers selected fellows a unique blend of financial support, business capital, and access to a vast mentorship network. With hubs in Berkeley, Boston, New York, Houston, and a remote program, Activate nurtures the path from scientific discovery to entrepreneurial success. You can apply to the Activate fellowship here.
→ MCJ Podcasts: Published on 30th May 2024, Cody’s episode with Cyrus is here.
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Our AMA with Cyrus will start on Wednesday 26th June at 9am PST - 12pm EST - 5pm BST - 6pm CET and will run asynchronously in this channel for 24 hours. Can't make it, or want to ask a question anonymously? Submit your question here, and we'll ask it on your behalf!
In Cody’s conversation with Cyrus, they cover:
[03:49]: The gap Activate fills between academic research and commercialization
[05:44]: Transition challenges for scientists becoming entrepreneurs
[10:42]: The role of tech transfer offices and the gap in supporting hard tech entrepreneurship
[16:34]: Activate's unique approach in supporting fellows through licensing and entrepreneurship
[22:52]: The ideal Activate fellow: ready to jump into entrepreneurship head-first
[24:57]: Selection criteria for Activate fellows
[31:26]: Overview of Activate's program, including support and community involvement
[34:03]: Financial and strategic support provided to Activate fellows
[37:52]: Cyrus Wadia's background and journey to becoming CEO of Activate
[42:04]: Future directions and impact goals for Activate
→ You can find a transcript of the full conversation here.
You can learn more about Cyrus’ work via:
Activate was one of 5 finalists in the Department of Energy’s Direct Air Capture EPIC Prize - reach the announcement here!
In particular, Cyrus is keen to discuss; the Activate programme, hard-tech commercialization, science entrepreneurship as a catalyst and the science leadership gap!
Set your reminders, and get your questions read - you can ask Cyrus anything!
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