Climate Innovation Accelerator

The Climate Innovation Accelerator is a first-of-its-kind Nashville initiative that engages an inclusive network of local universities, small businesses, and nonprofits to advance the city’s leadership initiatives toward a climate positive future through a 10-week, no-cost, cohort learning journey.

Check out the 2023 Presentations here!

Application Process

Applications will be opening soon.  Zoom info session will be scheduled weeks prior to the cohort kickoff for interested participants.  After an online application is submitted a brief 15-minute zoom interview will complete the application process to ensure a successful team matching.  Space is limited to 10 teams therefore it is a competitive application process.

Applications will be opening soon!

1. Cohort Application for small business owners and nonprofits (Deadline: Nov. 15th)
2. Mentor Application for mentors interested in serving as a team advisor
3. Student Application for students interested in serving on a small project team (Deadline: Jan. 14th)

Key Dates

Student classes are from 4:30 PM-6 PM on the Thursdays below:

Week 1: Kick off Feb. 8th
Week 2:  Feb. 22nd
Week 3:  Feb. 29th
Week 5: Spring break (Mar. 9th-17th)
Week 6:  Mar. 21st
Week 7: Mar. 28th
Week 8: Apr. 4th
Presentations: Apr. 18th

Learn More

The focal point of the accelerator is a project-based model that leverages subject matter expertise and corporate mentorship to help minority-owned small businesses and nonprofits ideate transformative opportunities to increase social innovation and sustainability within their mission, see full learning journey here.  This program is eligible for students seeking an immersion project, see full details here. Contact Jaclyn Mothupi, with program-specific inquiries at Jaclyn.R.Mothupi@Vanderbilt.edu