We are thrilled to announce that the Sustainable Venture Prize, a first-of-its-kind prize and the driving force behind Startup Yale, has been renamed as the Planetary Solutions Prize and will be sponsored by Yale Planetary Solutions. This transformation reflects Yale’s renewed commitment to advancing innovative solutions to climate and sustainability challenges on a global scale.
The Planetary Solutions Prize marks a significant step forward, with funding for the prize doubling from $25,000 to $50,000. This significantly increases CBEY’s support available to the brightest minds creating solutions to protect our planet for future generations. Additionally, the award has been restructured to ensure broader recognition for impactful ideas, with $35,000 awarded to the first-place winner and $15,000 to the second-place winner.
A Partnership for Planetary Progress
The urgency of the environmental crises facing humanity has continued to intensify, and the need for Yale to serve as a model and a source of knowledge and solutions has only grown. Yale Planetary Solutions (YPS), the new sponsor of the prize, “is the north star for the university’s efforts—generating discoveries and translating them into action and impact”. By supporting the Planetary Solutions Prize, Yale Planetary Solutions not only provides crucial funding but also empowers entrepreneurs to bring their groundbreaking ideas to life. This partnership recognizes that the path to a sustainable future lies in fostering creativity, innovation, and collaboration among the next generation of leaders.
Doubling the Impact
The prize’s increased funding reflects the growing urgency of addressing planetary challenges. The $50,000 in total funding is designed to provide environmental entrepreneurs with the resources they need to develop their ventures and scale their impact. Whether it’s revolutionizing renewable energy, creating sustainable materials, or addressing climate resilience, the prize supports ventures at the intersection of sustainability and innovation.
The first-place winner, who will receive $35,000, will have the opportunity to significantly accelerate the development of their idea, while the $15,000 awarded to the second-place winner ensures that more entrepreneurs have the means to contribute to solving critical environmental challenges.
“Each year, we witness a remarkable rise in the ambition of founders and the excellence of their ventures. There simply needs to be more than one financial award to support the breadth and depth of innovation in the student community,” says Stuart DeCew, Executive Director at the Yale Center for Business and the Environment.
A Legacy of Innovation at Startup Yale
The Planetary Solutions Prize will continue to be a key feature of Startup Yale, an annual event that celebrates the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of the Yale community. Startup Yale brings together students, faculty, and alumni to showcase groundbreaking ventures and ideas that have the potential to drive meaningful change across a variety of sectors.
Since 2009, the Sustainable Venture Prize has launched numerous successful startups that are making a tangible impact on the environment. By evolving into the Planetary Solutions Prize, this legacy of innovation will grow even stronger, supporting a new generation of entrepreneurs committed to safeguarding the planet.
Join Us for the Next Chapter
The renaming and expanded funding of the Planetary Solutions Prize mark a new chapter in Yale’s leadership in environmental entrepreneurship. We are excited to see the transformative ideas that will emerge from this year’s competition, and we invite you to join us at Startup Yale on April 3-4, 2025 to celebrate the ingenuity and passion of our community.
Stay tuned for updates on the prize, application deadlines, and more by visiting the Startup Yale website.
Let’s shape the future, one solution at a time.