Aspiring entrepreneurs flock to Cambridge Climate Challenge 2026
Would-be entrepreneurs packed into a King's College auditorium on Thursday evening to attend the launch of the 2026 Cambridge Climate Challenge for postgraduate students and early career postdoctoral researchers at the University.
The 29 February evening event launched a programme of workshops, talks, panels and other events designed to help contestants build teams, refine ideas and attract investors for start-up ventures that address the climate and biodiversity crises.
Shortlisted teams of two-four people will compete with their peers at a grand final on 1 May for prizes up to £5,000.
Created by Cambridge Zero and supported by venture capital firm Carbon13, the Cambridge Climate Challenge is designed to help postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers explore climate and biodiversity problems, propose high‑impact solutions, and take their first steps as founders—or move early‑stage ventures closer to real‑world deployment.
Last year's winner, Neela Biotech went on to win the EU ClimateLaunchPad challenge, receive funding from UKRI for its novel method of producing fuel from waste using AI and synthetic biology, and was selected by International Airlines Group (IAG) to join its 2025 IAGi Accelerator programme.
Cambridge Climate Challenge is run by Cambridge Zero and kindly sponsored by Carbon13
In partnership with:
"Cambridge is bursting with talented early career researchers determined to create real-world solutions aimed at helping us all tackle the climate and biodiversity crises head on"
Cambridge Zero Head of Education Dr Amy Munro-Faure
The evening kicked off with a welcome from David Gill, a Director of Carbon13, who talked about the value of diversity in building effective teams and seeking roles where your unique talents will complement others in your organisation rather than overlap.
"If you're joining a team, it's always wisest to join a team of people who like doing the things you don't," he said.
The centre-piece of the 2026 launch was a panel discussion featuring a cohort of innovators already shaping the net‑zero future.
Panel Chair Dr Munro-Faure was joined by Biozeroc CEO and Founder Liv Andersson, Domna CEO and Co‑founder Anna Moore, Solar Americas Co‑founder and Commercial Director Tiago Alves, and Auralytica Co‑founder and CEO Anna Winter.
Together, they shared candid insights about the realities of founding climate‑focused ventures, from navigating early hurdles to forming resilient teams, connecting with the real buyers of your products and being able to ask yourself the tough questions when things are looking dire.
"Is this going well enough for me to keep going?" Moore said, offering the audience an insight into a typical scenario that many company founders have faced when things are going pear-shaped.
"I've fired 20 people this week and I've broken up with my partner. It can be a real grind."
The entrepreneurs on the panel stressed that while climate entrepreneurship may demand scientific rigour and technological ambition, it also requires persistence, creativity and a willingness to engage meaningfully with end‑users and communities.
Their message to new participants was clear: transformative solutions rarely emerge fully formed, but grow through experimentation, support networks, and access to the kind of rich ecosystems that exist in innovation centres like Cambridge.
In spite of a current geopolitical climate that may appear to support policies for rowing back on climate commitments, the panellists agreed that global business and industry have irretrievably turned the corner towards a sustainable future and pointed out that investments in renewables are already outstripping fossil fuels.
"It's not a debate anymore," said Tiago Alves, commercial director and co-founder Solar Americas Capital.
Attendees at the busy reception after the panel gathered in friendly circles to talk about whether they could form a team and work up an idea.
Aleksandra Ryltseva, who's doing an MPhil in sociology at St Edmund's College said she was keen to put together a team amongst the people gathered around her, but needed a bit more time to refine her ideas.
"Honestly, the whole time I was sitting in there, I was trying to come up with an idea," she said.
It's not too late to sign up to get involved in the Climate Challenge.
The last deadline to submit an entry is Sunday 22 February 11:59 pm. Signing up only takes a moment - the entry form is quick and easy to complete.
The next event will be a workshop focused on meeting people and building your team on Wednesday 4 February at 5:30–6:30pm in the Main Seminar Room of the David Attenborough Building.
Sign up here
