Business opportunities in sustainability and social venturing will be the focus of Sustainable Opportunities Week, a series of events Feb. 21-25 hosted by the Robert H. and Beverly A. Deming Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Students, members of the business community and those interested in sustainability issues are expected to attend the broad range of events highlighting business trends and innovations. Events are sponsored by the Deming Center and a range of co-sponsors including CORE, Colorado's leading sustainable business trade association.
"Sustainability and social venturing are emerging as critical business opportunities pursued by small entrepreneurial firms and corporate giants alike," said Dennis Ahlburg, dean of the Leeds School of Business. "Colorado is positioned to be a leader in sustainability, and we are happy many state and national organizations have partnered with us to provide events that examine the profitable business opportunities in sustainability."
Sustainable Opportunities Week events include:
o The Sustainable Opportunities Summit will bring together entrepreneurs, investors and major corporations pursuing sustainable approaches to examine economic opportunities in sustainability Feb. 22-24 at the Millennium Hotel, 1345 28th St. in Boulder. Registration fees are required.
o The Invention to Venture Workshop will help innovators identify business opportunities, protect intellectual property and develop viable business models on Feb. 22. The workshop will be held in Discovery Learning Center room 1B70, located at the southwest corner of Regent Drive and Colorado Avenue on the CU-Boulder campus. The cost is $15 for students, staff and faculty of any educational institution and $75 for others.
o The Colorado Clean Tech Initiative is an educational and networking meeting that will examine taking innovation to the marketplace Feb. 21 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Moye White law firm, 1400 16th St. in Denver, 6th floor. The event is free and open to the public.
o The Deming Center Sustainable Venturing Business Plan Competition is an international student competition that showcases innovative new technologies and ventures to serve existing and emerging markets. The competition will be held Feb. 22-24 at the Millennium Hotel, 1345 28th Street in Boulder. The public is welcome to attend the finals at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 24.
o The Leeds/Net Impact Case Competition challenges MBA student teams to present innovative solutions that address both profitability and sustainability for a business case relating to a current company. The competition will be held Feb. 24-25 at the Millennium Hotel, 1345 28th St. in Boulder. The public is welcome to attend the final round beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25.
State and national organizations co-sponsoring or supporting events include the Deming Center and the Center for Business and Society at CU's Leeds School of Business, CORE, Net Impact, CU's College of Engineering and Applied Science, National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance and the Colorado Clean Tech Initiative.
Other organizations providing support include the National Renewable Energy Lab, the International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology and the G. Chris Andersen Family Foundation.
For further information on Sustainable Opportunities Week events visit .