{"664292":{"#nid":"664292","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Launches Sustainable-X Entrepreneurship Program","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;Georgia Tech is a beacon of innovation that aims to empower entrepreneurs to create ventures with a positive impact on society and the environment. As a hub of forward-thinking ideas, Georgia Tech is leading Atlanta, Georgia, and the United States into a more sustainable future,\u0026rdquo; said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/calmon\/index.html\u0022\u003EAndre Calmon\u003C\/a\u003E, assistant professor of operations management, at the launch event for\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustainable-x.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESustainable-X\u003C\/a\u003E. An offshoot of the successful\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECREATE-X\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;entrepreneurship initiative at Georgia Tech, Sustainable-X gives students, faculty, staff, and community members the tools and confidence to create and grow startups that address social and environmental challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESustainable-X is supported by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/sustainabilitynext-sustainability-next-task-force\u0022\u003ESustainability Next\u003C\/a\u003E, the implementation roadmap for sustainability goals within Georgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/strategicplan.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EStrategic Plan 2020-2030\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cem\u003E.\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;The\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/news\/ray-c-anderson-center-for-sustainable-business\/sustainability-next-task-force-delivers-vision-launches-implementatioin.html\u0022\u003Enew program launches in tandem\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;with a climate action plan, a living learning campus initiative, seed funding for teaching through the lens of the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sdgs.un.org\/goals\u0022\u003EUN Sustainable Development Goals\u003C\/a\u003E, and more.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECREATE-X and the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/centers-and-initiatives\/ray-c-anderson-center-for-sustainable-business\/index.html\u0022\u003ERay C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(\u0026ldquo;Center\u0026rdquo;) are partnering on Sustainable-X programming. Organizers include Scheller College of Business faculty and staff: co-directors Andre Calmon and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/ramachandran\/index.html\u0022\u003EKarthik Ramachandran\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Dunn Family Professor), advisor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/toktay\/index.html\u0022\u003EBeril Toktay\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(Brady Family Chair and Regents\u0026rsquo; Professor), and program manager\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/staff\/lukens\/index.html\u0022\u003EKjersti Lukens\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(program support coordinator for the Center).\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe program kicked off with the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/s\/ojy97sdinhafuts\/Social%20Entrepreneurs%20Bootcamp%20video%20pitch.mov?dl=0\u0022\u003ESocial and Environmental Entrepreneurs Bootcamp\u003C\/a\u003E, held at the Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design from November 5-6, 2022. Twenty participants from Georgia Tech and the community learned\u0026nbsp;how to tackle complex sustainability problems and create startup solutions. The bootcamp was facilitated by\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jstenson\/?originalSubdomain=dk\u0022\u003EJackie Stenson\u003C\/a\u003E, an expert in sustainable innovation and co-founder of multiple social enterprises. Participants progressed through problem framing and ideation exercises to design solutions inspired by the\u0026nbsp;UN Sustainable Development Goals.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe participants shared their projects in a pitch session, where judges and peers listened to an array of business solutions related to STEM education in under-resourced communities, meal preparation kits to help reduce food waste, water management for golf courses, and infrastructure and innovation to accelerate the transition to renewable energy. First prize was awarded to the group that focused on water management. Team members included\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/isha-dogra\/\u0022\u003EIsha Dogra\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(environmental engineering graduate student at Georgia Tech),\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/emma-vail-58752b236\/?trk=people-guest_people_search-card\u0022\u003EEmma Vail\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(student at University of North Georgia), and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/michelle-wong\u0022\u003EMichelle Wong\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;(assistant director of the Petit Institute at Georgia Tech ).\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/tanjuo\/\u0022\u003ETanju\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/tanjuo\/\u0022\u003E\u0026Ouml;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/tanjuo\/\u0022\u003Ezdemir\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;a first-year materials science and engineering major\u0026nbsp;who is also serving as a 2022-23 Scheller College Undergraduate Sustainability Ambassador, remarked, \u0026ldquo;I signed up for the bootcamp because it felt relevant to my future career goal of being an entrepreneur in the energy sector. The SDG innovation process was completely new to me and exposed me to how difficult and exciting it is to explore solutions to different problems.\u0026rdquo; The bootcamp revealed to \u0026Ouml;zdemir how \u0026ldquo;even the seemingly chaotic process of creativity can have structure.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENext Steps and Resources\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EParticipants in the bootcamp will be invited to take part in a series of forthcoming events and opportunities related to mentoring, transitioning from idea to prototype (through CREATE-X programming), and funding. The Sustainable-X 2022-23 program will culminate in a showcase in March in which selected participants, along with their counterparts in CREATE-X, will pitch their startups in hopes of obtaining support from investors.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EReflecting on the weekend launch event, Toktay said,\u0026nbsp;\u0026ldquo;I enjoyed seeing how teams including students, staff members, and community participants \u0026ndash; which we intentionally included in the bootcamp \u0026ndash; gelled so well. They helped each other stay grounded in real problems while exploring creative solutions.\u0026rdquo; She said that she and her fellow organizers look forward to the growth of the program. \u0026ldquo;We believe that the teams have great potential to make a positive impact.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0026ldquo;With the new Sustainable-X program, Scheller College is creating a new wave of impact at the intersection of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation,\u0026rdquo; stated\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/faculty\/alavi\/index.html\u0022\u003EDean Maryam Alavi\u003C\/a\u003E. She continued, \u0026ldquo;This program will empower a new generation of Georgia Tech community members as they address some of the most pressing sustainability challenges of our time. I look forward to seeing what results.\u0026rdquo;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECo-directors Calmon and Ramachandran have worked with student and faculty entrepreneurs at Georgia Tech, INSEAD, and MIT. They recognize Georgia Tech\u0026rsquo;s potential to produce the next generation of sustainability and climate-impact startups, and look forward to building the pathway to support these startups through Sustainable-X.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EClick\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gatech.co1.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_80QJwglfkSHrfXo\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;to sign up for updates.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EInterested in getting involved? Contact\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:kjersti.lukens@scheller.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EKjersti Lukens\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;for more information.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWritten by\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/directory\/staff\/lux\/index.html\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EJennifer Holley Lux\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":null,"format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"The new program provides support to those who want to start businesses that solve social and environmental challenges."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAn offshoot of the successful\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECREATE-X\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;entrepreneurship initiative at Georgia Tech, Sustainable-X gives students, faculty, staff, and community members the tools and confidence to create and grow startups that address social and environmental challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The new program provides support to those who want to start businesses that solve social and environmental challenges."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2023-01-03 17:36:14","changed_gmt":"2023-01-03 17:38:51","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-01-03T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2023-01-03T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"664293":{"id":"664293","type":"image","title":"Sustainable-X Group Photo","body":null,"created":"1672767473","gmt_created":"2023-01-03 17:37:53","changed":"1672767473","gmt_changed":"2023-01-03 17:37:53","alt":"Group photo of the Sustainable-X participants and facilitators.","file":{"fid":"251397","name":"2022-12-09-sustainable-x-group.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/2022-12-09-sustainable-x-group.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/images\/2022-12-09-sustainable-x-group.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":182776,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/images\/2022-12-09-sustainable-x-group.jpg?itok=V6zpEMeu"}}},"media_ids":["664293"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/sustainable-x.gatech.edu\/","title":"Sustainable-X Website"}],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"131","name":"Economic Development and Policy"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"},{"id":"191800","name":"Sustainable X"},{"id":"191801","name":"ACSB"},{"id":"191514","name":"sustainability next"},{"id":"137161","name":"CREATE-X"},{"id":"191802","name":"UN-SDGs"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure"},{"id":"39541","name":"Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jennifer.lux@scheller.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJennifer Lux\u003C\/a\u003E, Writer\/Editor, Scheller College of Business\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["jennifer.lux@scheller.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}