ClimateHaven

Climate Tech and Entrepreneurship Fellow

ClimateHaven supports climate startups as they move from lab to market, helping founders navigate the commercialization journey from early validation through growth. Over the past two years, ClimateHaven has supported over 40 companies across energy, climate resilience, and climate infrastructure who have raised over $70M in startup funding and created over 100 jobs. As we enter our third year, we are focused on strengthening our core startup development offerings and sharpening the value we provide to founders.

This Bekenstein Leaders Program fellowship offers a Yale graduate student the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to ClimateHaven’s startup development work. The Fellow will support several of ClimateHaven’s core strategic initiatives, with a particular focus on deepening and expanding the ClimateHaven Startup Playbook, an existing, dynamic, founder-facing resource that brings together practical guidance, templates, and tools across the startup lifecycle.

The Fellow will work closely with the ClimateHaven team and engage directly with founders through structured sprints and short, milestone-driven programs. This role combines research, strategy, and hands-on execution, and is well suited for a student interested in entrepreneurship, venture creation, venture capital or working closely with early-stage startups in the climate sector.

Key Responsibilities:

Startup Playbook Expansion and Refinement

• Build on ClimateHaven’s existing Startup Playbook by developing additional modules, tools, and templates that add real depth and practical value for founders.
• Refine existing content based on founder feedback, program learnings, and evolving best practices across fundraising, business fundamentals, management, narrative and branding, and product development.
• Build and maintain databases of investors, accelerators, and non-dilutive funding opportunities relevant to ClimateHaven startups.
• Develop clear guidance and resources to help founders understand funding pathways aligned with their sector and stage.

Startup Support and Sprint Execution

• Support founders participating in ClimateHaven sprints and short, four-to-six-week programs focused on advancing specific startup milestones.
• Assist with incubator roadmap program design, preparation of materials, and tracking progress against defined goals.
• Provide structured support to startups as they work through customer discovery, market definition, fundraising preparation, or early go-to-market planning.

Strategic and Cross-Cutting Projects

• Contribute to high-impact internal projects that strengthen ClimateHaven’s startup development offerings and tools.
• Develop a ‘Scale in CT’ report that highlights resources available for startups to build and scale in Connecticut. 
• Conduct sector deep dives across priority climate areas, including market landscapes, customer segments, competitive dynamics, and emerging trends.
• Translate research into practical insights that inform ClimateHaven programming and startup guidance.
• Support the development and refinement of ClimateHaven’s sector focus areas and investment theses.

Qualifications

You are a motivated, thoughtful problem solver with high standards for quality and a strong interest in climate innovation and entrepreneurship. You enjoy working closely with founders, building practical resources, and contributing to projects that support early-stage startups.

The ideal candidate demonstrates the following attributes and skills:

1. Interest in Climate Tech and Entrepreneurship: Demonstrated interest in climate technology, sustainability, and startups. Coursework or experience in business, economics, environmental studies, engineering, or related fields is a plus.
2. Analytical and Research Skills: Ability to analyze markets, industries, and startup opportunities and synthesize insights clearly. Experience reviewing startup applications or pitch decks is a plus. Comfort with Excel, PowerPoint, and Airtable preferred.
3. Strong Communication Skills: Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into concise, founder-friendly materials. Comfortable asking questions and seeking feedback.
4. Relationship-Building: Ability to build professional relationships with founders, industry experts, and partners across in-person and virtual settings.
5. Self-Directed and Reliable: Takes initiative, manages multiple projects, and follows through with minimal oversight. Works well independently and as part of a team, and adapts to changing priorities.
6. Good Judgment and Confidentiality: Handles sensitive startup and partner information with discretion.
7. Receptive and Good-Humored: Open to feedback and continuous improvement, with a sense of humor and a collaborative mindset.

Timeline

In the interview and post-interview process, based on candidate experience and skills, we will refine the Fellow’s summer focus and work out a timeline with clear deliverables.

Background

ClimateHaven is a climate tech incubator for world-class innovators and entrepreneurs. The ClimateHaven hub offers workspace and prototyping support, targeted programming, and best-in-class professional guidance to dedicated entrepreneurs tackling climate challenges through commercial ventures. Located in Connecticut’s downtown New Haven, ClimateHaven startups benefit from partnerships with some of the brightest minds from the Northeast and greater New Haven academic ecosystem, and from proximity to our deep network of investors and strategic partners in New York City and Boston.