Climate Innovation Accelerator
The Climate Innovation Accelerator is a first-of-its-kind initiative that
engages minority-led small businesses, and nonprofits to advance
Nashville’s goals toward a climate positive future through a 10-
week, no-cost learning journey, alongside student teams and skilled
advisors.
Check out the 2023 Presentations here!
Application Process & Key Dates
Space is limited to 10 teams (40 students, 10 advisors & 10 clients) therefore it is a competitive application process–we had a wait list last year.
- Students: No climate or innovation experience is necessary, yet priority is given to students that provide a compelling reason why they want to participate and can contribute towards an inclusive representation of colleges across the campus.
- Student Team Lead: This is a dynamic paid leadership opportunity that comes with tailored onboarding training and ongoing support for the additional responsibility this position requires. Fill out the Team Lead application (link below), if you are selected to progress to the next step of the process, a Zoom interview will be scheduled.
- Advisors: This role is for seasoned sustainability and innovation professionals that have a heart for community and a head for novel solutions. This role requires working with student teams and fostering intentional conditions to support them to lead and consult the client in dynamic ways.
- Clients (small business & nonprofits): No climate or innovation experience is necessary, yet priority is given to clients that provide a compelling reason why they want to participate. Please review selection criteria in the application to ensure you qualify. If you are selected to progress to the next step of the process, a Zoom interview will be scheduled.
- Client Application for small business owners and nonprofits (Deadline: Jan. 1st) Applications are now closed.
- Advisor Application for those interested in serving as a team advisor (Deadline: Jan. 1st) Applications are now closed.
- Team Lead Application for students interested in leading a student team (Deadline: Jan. 14th) Applications are now closed.
- Student Application for students to apply solo or be matched with a team; students can indicate who they already want to be paired with (Deadline: Jan. 14th) Applications are now closed.
Important Dates Prior to Program Launch:
- Team matching: Week of January 29th
- Team Lead training: January 26th (time TBA)
Key Program Dates
Client (business & nonprofit) schedule: weekly 30 minute zoom meetings with your team and in-person sessions below.
- Kick off: February 8th 4-6pm
- Site visit w/o February 12
- 1st Session: February 15th, 1-5pm & February 16th 9am-1pm
- 2nd Session: March 21st, 1-5pm & March 22nd 9am-1pm
- 3rd Session: April 11th, 1-5pm & April 12th, 9am-1pm
- Final presentations: April 18th 4-6pm
Student schedule: classes are from 4:30 PM-6 PM on the Thursdays below as well as weekly 45-minute zoom meetings with client/advisor & instructor
- Week 1: Kick off February 8, 4-6pm
- Week 2: February 15, 4.30-6pm plus an additional site visit w/o Feb 12
- Week 3: February 22, 4.30-6pm
- Week 4: February 29, 4.30-6pm
- Week 5: March 7, 4.30-6
- Spring Break: w/o March 11-15
- Week 6: March 21, 4.30-6pm
- Week 7: March 28, 4.30-6pm
- Week 8: April 4, 4.30-6pm
- Week 9: April 11, 4.30-6pm
- Week 10: April 18, 4-6pm, Final Presentation
2023 Cohort Highlights:
- See all project presentations: click here to view
- Perfectly Cordial Project 2-minute video: click here to view
- R.E.D. Academy Project 2-minute video: click here to view
- SourceMark Medical 5-minute video: click here to view
- SourceMark Medical case study: click here to read
How it Works
The Team Journey: Students will have the opportunity to select their client via the application process once selected into the program. The team is comprised of a client (a small business or nonprofit), a student team of four, a skilled advisor on sustainability, and a Wond’ry instructor. The team will meet weekly for a 30 minute check-in to advance their project together.
The Learning Journey:
- Clients (businesses and nonprofits): receive executive education on three critical business functions—sustainability, strategic frameworks, and innovation, through two half-day sessions per month within the program. Clients can expect to dedicate approximately 40 hours over the course of 10 weeks. A stipend is provided upon successful completion of the program to reduce financial barriers.
- Students: receive a parallel learning track on Thursdays from 4:30-6pm, students expect to dedicate no less than 5 hours a week towards this program (class & work time).
- Advisors: expect to spend approximately 1 hour a week of support and attending the weekly team zoom meeting.
- See full learning journey here
The Project Journey: A skilled mentor and Wond’ry instructor will work with each client prior to the program to identify a climate innovation opportunity within their mission or business model to scope, research, and analyze during the accelerator. During the program the client will meet via zoom weekly with the student team, advisor and instructor co-collaborate on the opportunity with the advisor and instructor guidance and counsel.
Immersion: this program qualifies as an immersive experience for Immersion, for students seeking how this aligns with their Immersion journey, see full details here.
Inquiries
Students contact Sarah Saeed with inquires at Sarah.Saeed@Vanderbilt.edu.
Business and nonprofits contact Jaclyn Mothupi, with program-specific inquiries at Jaclyn.R.Mothupi@Vanderbilt.edu