Applications for Nucleate’s Activator Program are now open! This flagship program begins with a “mutual-matching” team formation phase, followed by workshops and mentor office hours, culminating in a final pitch showcase before world-renowned judges.

Are you an academic trainee (Post-doc/PhD/MBA/MD/JD/MS) eager to build a life science startup? Whether your passion lies in therapeutics, diagnostics, medtech, synthetic biology, or fields like food, energy, agriculture, or consumer products, this is your opportunity to transform your research into a groundbreaking venture!

To learn more, please register to attend:

Cornell Virtual Info Session: Friday, October 9th from 12:00pm-1:00pm (Registration Link).

The Offer:

• Completely Free: Nucleate never takes equity or charges fees for its programs

• Mentorship from Industry Leaders: Receive guidance from experienced mentors.

• Comprehensive Educational Programming: Learn from the best in workshops and seminars.

• Global Community – Join a network of peers, alumni, and leaders across 18+ cities worldwide.

• Investor Introductions: Get connected with investors ready to support your breakthrough.

• Local ecosystem access: Get connected to partners and resources across the local biotech and startup ecosystem

• No Forced Incorporation: Focus on your venture at your own pace.

If you have an idea (i.e., you’re an Inventor), you can apply for either the Bio or Eco track:

• Bio Track: For innovators in therapeutics, diagnostics, or tools.

• Eco Track: Focused on food & agriculture, chemicals & energy, or consumer products.

Don’t have an idea yet? No worries! You can still join a team as a scientific, business, or clinical contributor through our matching process.

Got a team already? Your collaborators can come on board as team affiliates, so you all get the chance to learn and build together.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis through October 20. Early submission is encouraged for early team matching.

What about IP? Nucleate Activator is an education-focused, non-dilutive program. Nucleate does not take any equity or IP, and all programming is designed to be non-confidential. The program does not involve any research and development, so no new inventive work takes place during the Activator itself. Nucleate collaborates closely with NYU’s TOV to ensure intellectual property is managed appropriately, and applicants must get approval from their PI and TOV before final acceptance into the cohort.

Can’t make this session? Sign up for other virtual info sessions:

• Nucleate Virtual Info Session: Friday, September 25th from 12:00pm-1:00pm EST (Registration Link).
• Tri-I Hybrid Info Session: Monday, October 12th from 5:30pm-7:00pm EST (Registration Link).

About Nucleate

Nucleate is a student-run nonprofit organization that facilitates the formation of new life science ventures as featured in Medium, STAT, Endpoints, and the Boston Business Journal.. Our equity-free Activator program supports companies that tackle the biggest challenges in human health (Bio Track) and sustainability (Eco Track). The program connects scientific trainees and business students with a world-class advisor network of startup founders, executives, venture investors, and renowned scientists. Over the years, the Activator has formed and supported more than 180 startup teams that have raised over $550M in funding to develop technologies such as protein sequencing (Glyphic), drug design (Manifold Bio), microbiome-based (Concerto) and self-delivering RNA therapeutics (Dub Therapeutics), and biomanufacturing (Foray Bio). You can see our full impact report here.

Apply before Oct. 20

Apply here before October 20th, 2026. 

To learn more about Nucleate, visit Linktree

About the host

Careers Beyond Academia is in Cornell’s Graduate School Office of Career and Professional Development. Serving over 5000 doctoral and research master’s students in 100 fields of study, we provide resources, skill-building workshops and 1:1 consultations to empower you, and help you explore and try on different career options so you can set yourself apart from other candidates to succeed in the role of your dreams.