At Activate, we know that breakthrough science alone isn’t enough to create lasting impact; it also takes a shift in mindset. For scientists and engineers considering startups as a path to scale their ideas, developing a science entrepreneur mindset is just as critical as the skills and knowledge you need.
The mindsets we cultivate at Activate and focus on in our Fellowship program help researchers step confidently into the role of founder, translating deep tech innovation into real-world solutions. We hope they’ll help you imagine what this journey could look like for you.

Decisiveness

To be decisive in the face of ambiguity, I must balance the rigorous use of data with the necessity to move with speed.

Why it matters: Individuals with this mindset strive to balance thorough data analysis with the need for swift action, using structured frameworks to strengthen and speed up their decision-making. They are skilled at weighing the trade-offs between gathering more information and maintaining business momentum, regularly assessing risks across all aspects of their venture. They are comfortable moving forward if the data is incomplete and can set achievable company milestones.