Investing in climate change

Finding solutions to one of the world’s biggest challenges – climate change – is the goal of the new India Impact Challenge created by the Center for Sustainable Enterprise (CSE).

India Impact Challenge is the first of its kind: a global competition focused on climate change. It is open to graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in higher education institution throughout the world – and from any department or school within their institutions.

The CSE is inviting student teams to pitch investment strategies that will help tackle climate change, while supporting economic growth in India. They will compete for a share of $15,000.

Powering the competition is Quantum Advisors. Ajit Dayal (MBA ’83) founded the company in 1990 as India’s first equity research house.

“Investment in India will help kickstart a better climate future,” says Jeff Mittelstadt (MBA ’07), CSE executive director and professor of the practice of strategy and entrepreneurship. “India is the second most populous nation and growing, along with, energy demand, urbanization, economic growth and the need to address agricultural practices could lead to major increases in emissions. We want to find a path for India to drive economic growth in a climate-friendly manner.”

“India needs both capital and solutions now,” he says, which provides enormous opportunity for investment.

Every great competition needs great judges. The CSE is seeking judges from around the world, including professional investors to provide feedback to teams and determine the most innovative solutions

“Judges will have a unique opportunity to network with other professionals around the world and meet our next generation of investment and climate leaders,” says Mittelstadt.

Judging will take place at two times. Some judging will be done at the end of March and beginning of April to determine who gets to pitch in the finals. Final judging will take place during the virtual challenge April 16-17.

The time commitment for judges is based on interest and availability. Some judges might have two hours to give and some might want to judge one day of the finals or the entirety of the competition to see more pitches and network.

Sign up to be a judge here. For more information write cse@unc.edu