University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder Climate Ventures
Finalist, Next Generation Learning and Skills
About
Boulder Climate Ventures (BCV) is an innovative graduate program at CU Boulder’s Leeds School of Business that equips students to launch scalable climate-focused startups. Integrating education, venture development, and industry engagement, BCV enables interdisciplinary student teams to identify market opportunities, develop commercially viable solutions, and build investor-ready businesses addressing climate challenges. The program combines academic coursework with hands-on venture creation, mentorship from industry leaders, and access to a robust innovation ecosystem. Students work on real-world climate solutions spanning clean energy, circular economy, and carbon reduction technologies. Launched in 2025 and made possible by a philanthropic gift from Breakthrough Energy, CU Boulder is the first U.S. public university in Breakthrough Energy's University Climate Ventures network. BCV advances next-generation learning by embedding entrepreneurship, systems-thinking, and sustainability into the curriculum, preparing graduates with the skills to drive climate innovation and economic transformation.
Top 3 learnings
1. We learned experiential venture creation drives deeper sustainability learning than traditional classroom models.
2. We learned building community through shared events accelerates interdisciplinary team formation and venture discovery.
3. We found strong industry mentorship significantly improves student venture development and impact.
Sustainable Development Goals
Institution
| 2026 | |
| Next Generation Learning and Skills | |
| Finalist, International |
