Design Climate is part of a dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem at Duke University and the North Carolina Research Triangle that attracts top academic and professional talent from around the world. Serving as a bridge between industry and academia, our program recruits experts who are leaders in their fields to instruct and mentor students, advise faculty, and steer commercialization efforts toward success.
Experienced professionals who bring decades of real-world experience to the classroom, Design Climate instructors have secured tens of millions of dollars in non-dilutive funding and shepherded dozens of climate tech startups through raises and successful exits to Google, S&P Global, and more. Meet our team!
The Design Climate program recruits entrepreneurs, community leaders, and professors to guide our student teams, steer financial modeling and prototype development, facilitate stakeholder introductions, and more. Together with our instructors, these seasoned professionals share their expertise and guidance with the students, collaborate in regularly scheduled meetings (usually monthly), and help to shepherd students through the entrepreneurial experience. Examples of our current and previous program mentors are below, to inquire about becoming a mentor, fill out this application. We would love to hear from you!
The Design Climate Program accelerates technology development that advances global sustainability by providing hands-on courses, startup and business-building opportunities, ecosystem connections, and innovation support for faculty and founders.
Whether you’re exploring a new idea, working on a climate-tech project, or just curious about what’s possible—we’d love to hear from you!
