Climate Innovation Accelerator

The Climate Innovation Accelerator is a first-of-its-kind Nashville initiative that engages an inclusive network of local universities, small businesses, and nonprofits to advance the city’s leadership initiatives toward a climate positive future through a 10-week, no-cost, cohort learning journey.

Check out the past presentations here!

View Spring 2025 Program Overview

CIA Introduction Video

Student Application for students to apply solo or be matched with a team; students can indicate who they already want to be paired with. 

  • 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.

Click here to apply. 

Climate Innovation Accelerator Collage

Program Information

  • 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.
    • Advisors: expect to spend approximately 1 hour a week of support and attending the weekly team zoom meeting.

    The Project Journey: A skilled advisor 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 mentor and instructor guidance and counsel.

  • Dates/Schedule
    Important Dates Prior to Program Launch:
    • TBD
    Client (business & nonprofit) schedule: weekly 30 minute zoom meetings with your team and in-person sessions below.
    • Kick off: February 6th 4-6pm
    • Site visit w/o February 10
    • 1st Session: February 13th, 1:30-5:30pm & February 14th 9am-1pm
    • 2nd Session: March 20th, 1:30-5:30pm & March 21st 9am-1pm
    • 3rd Session: April 10th, 1:30-5:30pm & April 11th, 9am-1pm
    • Final presentations: April 17th 4-6pm
    Student schedule: classes are from 430 PM-6 PM on the Thursdays below as well as weekly 45-minute zoom meetings with client/advisor & instructor
    • Week 1: Kick off February 6th, 4-6pm
    • Week 2: February 13, 4.30-6pm plus an additional site visit w/o Feb 12
    • Week 3: February 20, 4.30-6pm
    • Week 4: February 27, 4.30-6pm
    • Week 5: March 6, 4.30-6pm
    • Spring Break: w/o March 10-14th
    • Week 6: March 20, 4.30-6pm
    • Week 7: March 27, 4.30-6pm
    • Week 8: April 3, 4.30-6pm
    • Week 9: April 10, 4.30-6pm
    • Week 10: April 17, 4-6pm, Final Presentation
  • Inquiries

    For student inquiries please contact Sarah Saeed at sarah.saeed@vanderbilt.edu.

    For all other inquiries please contact Dan Drogosh at dan.drogosh@vanderbilt.edu.

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