The CSA invests in leaders and ideas that fill gaps and break new ground. We seek out climate change mitigation strategies in areas where NGO or philanthropic efforts are not yet focused, or areas that may require new, breakthrough approaches. Our past and current program leaders are pursuing strategies that change consumer and corporate behavior and build new networks and movements –– all with the end goal of dramatically cutting carbon emissions over the next decade.
Application Timeline:
Deadline: 31st January, 2017
February 2017:
- CSA team reviews applications and selects semi-finalists
- Semi-finalists receive written feedback and questions about their concepts
- Finalists are selected (based on responses) and continue to round of video interview
March 3, 2017: Final selections are made
Breakthrough Lab Timeline
May 2017:
- Breakthrough Lab kicks off with bootcamp
- Fellows receive $5,000 USD participation honorariums
May-August 2017:
- 90-day acceleration sprint
- Each Fellow works with CSA’s network of experts, mentors, and coaches to develop a polished proposal and pitch deck
September 2017:
- Breakthrough Lab concludes at an in-person event in Asia, where Fellows will pitch their ideas to the CSA funder network
- CSA Fund evaluates each Fellow’s proposal to see if any qualify for prototype grants, or to become Program Leaders
January 2018: Program Leader announcements are made
Eligible Countries: All
About the Award: The CSA is both a fund –– with $20 million and counting ready to invest in new climate solutions –– and an accelerator, staffed with experts who know how to get big, audacious ideas off the ground. In 2017, we’re looking for 8-10 leaders with imaginative solutions for ending oil dependence.
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It’s not enough to rely on the institutions and individuals who are already tackling the problem (though many are making incredible strides). The CSA is on the hunt for new ideas from new places, solutions that will unravel our addiction to oil and set the stage for game-changing shifts in how we do business –– ideas that reimagine our transit systems, urban planning, water use, land rights, manufacturing, consumer behavior, and more. We don’t believe any one person or organization can achieve the scale of change we seek; we want collaborative innovators who are ready to work with an entire ecosystem of players –– from government and NGOs to private enterprise.
Once selected, leaders will join the Oil Breakthrough Lab, a week-long boot camp and intensive 90-day accelerator designed to refine and strengthen their visions. Over the course of the lab, leaders will receive mentorship from experts; exposure to a global network of funders, luminaries, and seasoned innovators; and (most importantly) dedicated working time. Participants will come out of the lab with a polished proposal and pitch, which they’ll present to the CSA network of funders at a collaborative, in-person event. The CSA Fund will then decide if any of the candidates will move on to become Program Leaders, receiving grants of up to $1-2 million per year over a three-year period to further pursue their ideas.
Type: Entrepreneurship
Eligibility: Breakthrough Lab candidates should have:
- A history of creating real, meaningful change in their fields
- Strong and diverse networks
- Drive, tenacity, and imagination
- Willingness to work full-time on their project for three years
- Systems thinking and collaborative approach
- The right ratio of talent to arrogance
Selection Criteria: The CSA is looking for high-potential concepts for far-reaching social or political change. The CSA does not invest in for-profit enterprises or innovations (though these are also essential to carbon reduction). Instead, we seek new ideas that leverage political, cultural, social, or behavioral change to reimagine transit systems, urban planning, water use, land rights, technology, consumer habits, and more.
We expect that participants’ ideas will evolve –– we want them to. The solutions that innovators pitch to funders at the end of the Breakthrough Lab may look very different from their original proposals. We are more interested in finding the right people for the accelerator than the perfect ideas.
Selections will be based on:
- The anticipated impact of the project (i.e., tons of carbon or disruptive political change)
- The strength of the leader’s strategy and theory of change
- Leader’s demonstrated ability to work with a large network to achieve the goal
- English proficiency (this Breakthrough Lab will be conducted only in English, though future Labs may be conducted in additional languages)
Value of Program: At the end of the Breakthrough Lab, the CSA Fund may choose to invest in one or more candidates, who would then become Program Leaders, receiving $1-2 million USD per year for a three-year grant period to pursue their ideas. There is no guarantee that any of the Fellows will become Program Leaders.
How to Apply: We don’t believe any one person or organization can achieve the scale of change we seek; we’re looking for innovators who are ready to work with an entire ecosystem of players –– from government and NGOs to private enterprise. We seek leaders who can serve as a hub within a network, partnering with and resourcing other groups and individuals (including redistributing grant funds) in order to achieve their goals.
Visit Program Webpage for details
Award Provider: CSA Fund
