Climate Programs at Universities

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund

MIT Sandbox is the entry-point venture program for any MIT student, providing non-dilutive, milestone-based seed funding plus mentorship from experienced founders and tailored entrepreneurship education. It is open at any stage, runs across fall, spring, and summer, and is not a competition, so hundreds of teams take part. It takes no equity. Suits MIT-affiliated student founders testing an early climate idea who want non-dilutive money and coaching.

MIT delta v

MIT delta v is the Institute's capstone student accelerator, a full-time, in-person summer cohort run by the Martin Trust Center that ends in Demo Day, with equity-free milestone funding and student fellowships. It uses MIT's disciplined-entrepreneurship framework, entrepreneurs-in-residence, and mock boards, and is highly selective, admitting only a fraction of applicant teams. Founder and operator partners add hands-on mentorship. Suits MIT student teams ready to go full-time and launch by the end of summer.

MIT Energy Initiative

MITEI is MIT's member-funded energy research hub, not a dedicated accelerator, but it offers founders real routes in through its startup-member class and seed fund, which give energy startups access to MIT labs, talent, and sponsored research to clear technology hurdles. It is best used to de-risk capital-intensive energy technology alongside MIT researchers rather than as a cohort program. Founders seeking structured acceleration route to delta v, Sandbox, or The Engine. Suits capital-intensive energy startups, often MIT-linked, needing sponsored research and lab access.

Harvard

Harvard Innovation Labs - Climate Circle

Harvard Climate Circle is a selective, year-long program for Harvard-affiliated climate ventures, run with the business school and alumni climate network, offering coaching, pro bono legal counsel, negotiations advising, warm industry introductions, and a peer cohort, all free and without equity. A distinctive first-customer program lets ventures pilot and sell to Harvard operations, using the campus as a living lab. For-profit and nonprofit ventures are welcome, with a resilience and adaptation track added. Suits Harvard founders and alumni with early traction such as users, IP, or partner agreements.

Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability

Harvard's Salata Institute is a climate and sustainability research institute funding faculty-led research clusters and education, not an early-stage founder program. Its value to founders is research, expertise, and credibility rather than a cohort, grants, or lab space. Founders route to Harvard Innovation Labs and its Climate Circle for actual venture support. Suits founders wanting a Harvard research or talent partner, with the i-lab as the accelerator door.

Sustainability Science Program

The Sustainability Science Program at Harvard Kennedy School is a research and fellowship program linking science to policy for sustainable development, not a startup program. Its value is policy research, fellowships, and networks rather than venture support. Founders route to Harvard Innovation Labs and Climate Circle. Suits researchers and policy-minded founders, with the i-lab as the founder-facing vehicle.

Harvard University Center for the Environment

The Harvard University Center for the Environment coordinates environmental research and graduate fellowships across Harvard, a research center rather than a founder program. It offers expertise, talent, and research collaboration, not a cohort or capital. Founders route to Harvard Innovation Labs and Climate Circle. Suits founders wanting a Harvard environmental research partner, not acceleration.