Climate Change Entrepreneurship is an innovative and hands-on course designed for students who are eager to redefine the role of business in addressing one of humanity’s greatest challenges—climate change. This course places the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at the center of entrepreneurial thinking, emphasizing the need to prioritize environmental impact over traditional monetary metrics.

Students will work in teams to explore innovative technologies and ideas from a curated list of potential climate solutions. These could include innovations in renewable energy, carbon capture, sustainable agriculture, circular economy principles, and more. Over the course of of this class, each team will:

• Analyze the Problem: Gain a deep understanding of the environmental challenge their chosen solution addresses.
• Develop the Business Case: Construct a compelling narrative that showcases the feasibility and scalability of their solution.
• Quantify Impact: Focus on calculating the potential reduction in carbon emissions as the primary metric of success, shifting away from traditional financial projections.
• Deliver a Pitch: Present a startup plan that convincingly demonstrates both environmental impact and practical implementation.

The course will culminate in a presentation day where teams showcase their ideas and engage in critical discussions about the future of climate-focused entrepreneurship.

By the end of this course, students will:

1. Have Gain a New/Additional Perspective on Entrepreneurship: Develop a nuanced understanding of how entrepreneurial ventures can prioritize environmental sustainability while remaining innovative and actionable.
2. Quantify Environmental Impact: Learn to measure and articulate the carbon emission reductions associated with various solutions, gaining practical experience in using tools and frameworks for impact analysis.
3. Apply Strategic Thinking: Gain the ability to evaluate the problem-solution fit, competitive landscape, and scalability of an idea, with a focus on environmental rather than purely financial metrics.
4. Collaborate Effectively: Build teamwork and project management skills by working in diverse teams to address complex, interdisciplinary challenges.
5. Craft Persuasive Narratives: Hone skills in developing and delivering impactful presentations that inspire action, emphasizing both the urgency and feasibility of climate-focused solutions.

This course challenges conventional business paradigms and empowers students to envision a future where entrepreneurship drives meaningful change for the planet.

In order to successfully pass this course, your absence is limited to 20 % of our appointments.

Sessions will feature team tasks and/or team presentations as well as discussions and interactive coachings. Active participation and preparation for the in-class discussions is extremely important.

The final grade of the course will depend on:

•  Individual participation (30%)
• Group Presentation & Report (based on a template)  (60%)
• Reflection Task (10%)

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