Activate AI Fellows is an 8-week intensive program designed for “cracked builders”—students and researchers who ship fast, think fast, and possess genuine founder energy. The program embeds 15 elite fellows inside India’s leading AI startups in Bangalore, where they work on real product and engineering problems alongside the founders and teams building the frontier of AI in India. This is not a traditional curriculum-based internship; it is a high-stakes, hands-on experience in foundation models, infrastructure, and agentic systems. Fellows are paired with senior operators and founders as mentors, providing direct exposure to the leadership of consequential AI companies like Sarvam AI, Neysa, and Composio. Beyond the daily work, fellows gain access to Activate’s exclusive ecosystem events, including community dinners, technical meetups, and visiting founder talks. The goal is to build a tight-knit cohort of peers who will become long-term collaborators and friends within the Indian AI frontier. The application process is straightforward but rigorous: candidates must fill out a short form, record a 90-second intro video, and “vibe code” something that impresses the selection committee. Activate doesn’t filter by school or pedigree; they care about what you have built. Whether you are an undergrad at an IIT, a PhD researcher, or a self-taught builder with a standout GitHub, if you can ship working code in a few hours, you are encouraged to apply. Target Audience: “Cracked builders” who ship fast and have founder energy. Open to undergrads, Master’s, PhD researchers, or self-taught builders. Geographic Eligibility: Based in Bangalore for the full 8 weeks (open to students in India or abroad). Tangible Benefits: Standard intern stipend paid by the host startup, direct mentorship from senior operators, access to Activate’s ecosystem events, and long-term membership in the Activate network. Application Deadline: May 15, 2026. Program Timeline: June 1 – July 24, 2026.