Climate Investment Challenge
Objective
Develop and describe creative financial solutions and innovations addressing the defining challenge of our time - climate change. There is no single right answer. In the battle against climate change and its impacts, ideas across all sectors, topics and regions are important!
Description
The Climate Investment Challenge calls on graduate students to develop and describe creative financial solutions and innovations addressing the defining challenge of our time – climate change. This could include identifying untapped climate finance opportunities or developing innovative financial structures or instruments that improve the bankability of climate investments.
There is no single right answer. In the battle against climate change and its impacts, ideas across all sectors, topics, and regions are important!
The Climate Investment Challenge goes through three stages:
In Stage 1, your team will submit a Concept Note of your idea. If your team’s submission is selected, you’ll move on to the next stage.
The Concept Note will explain the financial challenge/opportunity, the climate impact, and how you plan to capitalise it. The Concept Note template can be downloaded on the apply page.
Main Competition Deadline: March 2025
In Stage 2 (the Semi-Finals), your team will be invited to develop a detailed slide-pack of your idea. If your team’s presentation is selected, you’ll be moved on to the final stage.
If your team’s idea is selected, your team will move on to the Semi-Finals.
Semi-Finalists Announced: April 2025
You will be asked to develop a more detailed slide deck, expanding on your Concept Note and including the financial cashflows of your idea.
Deadline: May 2025
In Stage 3 (the Finals), your team will pitch your idea in front of a top-tier panel of judges from investment banking, private equity, and impact investing.
If your presentation is chosen, your team will move to the Finals.
Finalists Announced: May 2025
You will present your idea to an expert panel from industry and academia.
Finale Event: June 2025
Location: The Royal Institution London
Prizes
The Main Competition Prize is focused on financial tools that exist today (e.g., REITs, bonds) to address a specific climate problem that is currently underserved. The winning team will be awarded £10,000.
The Emerging Markets Prize is focused on financial tools that exist today (e.g., REITs, bonds) to address a specific Emerging Markets climate problem that is currently underserved. The winning team will be awarded £6,000.
The Financial Disruption Prize harnesses technology to disrupt the financial industry (e.g., banking, insurance etc.) to solve climate problems at scale. The winning entrepreneurial idea will be able to utilise the prize money to develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). The winning team will be awarded £6,000.
Eligibility
Students enrolled in any degree at the time of the submission. The challenge is open globally to students from all academic backgrounds. Undergraduate students may participate as long as the leader of the group is enrolled in a postgraduate degree. Students will have to form teams of 2 to 6 members.
June 01, 2025
March 02, 2025
Public
Business School
Finance
innovation
Imperial College Business School
Main Competition Prize: £10,000
Emerging Markets Prize: £6,000
Financial Disruption Prize: £6,000