<p><i>This article was originally published on August 19, 2024</i></p> <p>The Center for Global Affairs was thrilled to host our second annual Climate Entrepreneurship Academy.  The 40 participants came to NYU from across the globe to learn about how they can engage in the global startup and climate community and help contribute to sustainable solutions. The program took place as part of a two-day track of the annual AFS Youth Assembly.</p>

<p><span class="p-body">The program began with an introductory lecture by CGA Associate Dean Carolyn Kissane who spoke with the participants about the urgency of addressing climate change. Jim Aloise, who has over 20 years of both industrial and academic experience in the area of Technology Commercialization and Patent Licensing across many technologies, served as faculty lead for the program. Throughout the day, participants learned about the foundational principles of Start-Up methodology including customer discovery, value propositions, Business Model Canvas, and an overview of the funding environment. Later, the group met with a group of founders at the NYU Leslie e-Lab, one the many resources available to entrepreneurs within the NYU community.</span></p>

<p><span class="p-body">Participants spent the second day engaged in an interactive exercise with practitioner mentors from the NYC Climate Entrepreneurship community. In groups, they developed pitches for a climate solution to present at a competition to close out the program.</span></p>