Workshop 1 has now passed, but you can still register for the two upcoming workshops: Workshop 2: Building a Deep-Tech Company 101 | Workshop 3: Designing Experiments for Entrepreneurship. Scroll down to find out what they cover.
Are you an Imperial researcher interested in exploring how your science could be applied to the most urgent global challenge of all?
The accelerating climate crisis demands breakthrough science, bold ideas and a new wave of scalable technological solutions that together can help:
- Slash emissions to net zero.
- Pull down greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere.
- Build adaptation and resilience in the face of rising sea levels, drought and extreme weather events.
Join us for an inaugural how-to workshop series, designed to equip academic researchers with the tools to take their first steps into climate entrepreneurship.
Over three sessions, you will hear from experts in deep-tech venture building and investment, as well as Imperial alumni who have translated their academic passions into impactful startup and spinout companies.
What you’ll get
- A finger-on-the-pulse overview of uncharted opportunities for innovation in the climate challenge space.
- First-hand insights on the deep-tech commercialisation journey.
- Opportunities to stress test your own ideas using entrepreneurial techniques during hands-on workshops.
You’ll also discover how to connect with support programmes from Undaunted – Imperial’s hub for climate innovation – and Imperial Enterprise Lab.
Who should attend?
The series is open to all Imperial researchers, from PhD students to senior academics. No prior experience in entrepreneurship necessary.
Climate solutions can emerge from a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, from chemistry and computing to mathematics and materials – you may be surprised to learn how your research can play its part!
The series in more detail
Be part of this first-of-a-kind how-to series from Undaunted and Imperial Enterprise Lab. Spaces for in-person workshop attendees are limited. Guest speaker talks and Q&A panels will be broadcast online via Microsoft Teams.
Workshop 1: The Climate Challenge: Opportunities for Impact
Wednesday 27 August | 10am-12pm | Room 1.47, Royal School of Mines, Imperial South Kensington campus & Online
Key speaker – Oliver Booth (Senior Associate, Sightline Climate)
- Gain an investor-focused overview of the global climate challenge and under-the-radar innovation themes where academic research has huge potential.
- Learn what the journey from lab-scale to deployment-scale looks like, with a focus on the different types of project financing required for first-of-a-kind deep-tech solutions.
- Hear first-hand from Imperial alumni who have translated their research into commercial climate-tech ventures.
- Learn what climate entrepreneurship support is available to you from Undaunted and Imperial’s Grantham Institute.
- IN-PERSON WORKSHOP: Design and refine an elevator pitch that re-frames your research as a commercially focused solution to a real-world problem for a specific customer.
Workshop 2: Building a Deep-Tech Company 101
Thursday 4 September | 2-4pm | Imperial South Kensington campus (room TBC) & Online
Key speaker – Gyen Ming Angel (Director of Venture Building, Prosemino)
- Demystify the journey from academic proof-of-concept to seed-stage commercial ventures, learning the fundamentals of how to find true product-market fit.
- Gain insight into how common deep-tech commercialisation challenges can be de-risked, brought to life by lessons learned from the portfolio of ventures being spun out of the Prosemino labs in Canada Water.
- Join an open Q&A with Imperial alumni deep-tech startup and spinout founders.
- IN-PERSON WORKSHOP: Formulate a basic business concept around your own research or startup idea.
Workshop 3: Designing Experiments for Entrepreneurship
September (date to be confirmed) | South Kensington & Online
Key speaker – Ben Mumby-Croft (Director of Entrepreneurship, Imperial Enterprise Lab)
- Learn how you can apply the scientific method to developing a business concept and the tests you can run to gain real-world feedback from potential customers – before deciding to even build the technology in the lab.
- Learn what entrepreneurship support is available to you from the Imperial Enterprise Lab.
- IN-PERSON WORKSHOP: Get hands-on with business concept ideation and leave with actionable entrepreneurial experiments.