WWF and the Indian School of Business (ISB) DLabs launched the 2nd cohort of Climate Solver Accelerator Program in June 2019 after the successful graduation of the 1st cohort of entrepreneurs.

Climate Solver is a global climate innovations platform by WWF to strengthen the development and widespread use of low carbon technologies, which radically or transformatively reduce greenhouse gas emissions or provide alternate energy access. The goal is to support early and growth stage SMEs/startups through customized series of interventions in order to scale up their technology solutions and maximize impact creation.

Post rigorous evaluation of the first cohort, DLabs team has involved diverse ISB faculty, industry mentors, entrepreneur engagement and connects with their customers for greater traction and outcomes of the program. As a way forward a two-pronged program- Business Accelerator (BA) and Capacity Development Program (CDP) was designed to support the startups.

Under Business Accelerator (BA):

Climate Solver Business Accelerator targeted 5 early stage SMEs/startups developing disruptive technologies focusing on creating large scale impact in clean energy domain in India (such as providing alternate form of energy through Solar power, Waste management, Electric vehicle, etc).

The six month acceleration program supported entrepreneurs in:

• Business model validation: through highly customized workshops and sessions run by functional and domain experts and ISB Faculty members
• Intensive engagement: with domain specific mentors to understand the right product market fit
• Providing networking and industry connects: leveraging the expertise of ISB faculty and industry wide networks
• Facilitating investments: by refining their investment pitch decks and providing access to investors during demo day
• Establishing a core set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that can be tracked over time
• Developing strategies for measuring and assessing the social impact created by their ventures

Under Capacity Development Program (CDP):

Climate Solver Capacity Development Accelerator targeted 14 growth stage startups scaling up innovative technologies. The program supported the entrepreneurs in: 

• Business model validation: through highly customized workshops and sessions run by functional and domain experts and ISB Faculty members
• Intensive engagement: with domain specific mentors to understand the right product market fit
• Facilitating investments: by refining their investment pitch decks (for a select group) and providing access to investors during demo day