Human-Centered Sustainability: Startups and Investment

Catalog description

This course is designed for both undergrad and graduate students eager to explore how entrepreneurship can be utilized to promote sustainability and enduring positive change. Throughout this class, students have the invaluable opportunity to learn about the human-centered approach of startup making and generating the funding thesis from a teaching team of a design-thinking researcher, seasoned venture capitalists, and accomplished entrepreneurs, gaining insights into their strategies for creating lasting impacts. Focusing on sustainability topics such as food, carbon, climate, and ocean technology, the course provides candid perspectives from investors and entrepreneurs, offering you a deep understanding of the startup and venture capital ecosystem from those at the forefront of the field. Engage in meaningful discussions, foster real-world perspectives, and refine your investment thesis based on needfinding and design thinking methodologies. Working in small teams, you will either get to present your startup business model or the investment thesis you design throughout the course, presenting your sustainability and impact criteria. The course is meticulously designed to offer a comprehensive understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship and impact investing, equipping you with the dynamic landscape of this evolving field. Lunch is provided.