勒貊勛圖 the Colorado Sustainability Challenge
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Join us泭for the statewide 2025 Colorado Sustainability Challenge (CSC)*, a two-week collaborative event designed for anyone passionate about solving problems, teaming up on an idea and having fun in the process of building a solution to impact sustainability. CSC evolved out of the Sustainability Hackathon, and is a hybrid event that takes place at CU 勒貊勛圖 and participating affiliate institutions. Participants come from all academic disciplinesranging from the Humanities to STEMand have a shot at winning a share of $25,000!
* CSC is hosted by CU 勒貊勛圖s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Initiative, Leeds School of Business and the Environmental Center
CSC is your chance to turn bold ideas into real-world impact!
Sustainability problems can be solved with or without technology, and you can jump in solo or bring your friends and form a team. Whether you have an idea or are someone eager to help those ideas become real, this is an event you won't want to miss!
泭Sign up for updates about our 2026 event!
How Does It Work?
When you register, we'll ask you:
Do you already have an idea? If yes, youll submit a short description.
Are you going solo, working with an existing team, or hoping to build one? If youre solo or already have a team, youre set for the Kickoff on September 28.泭
Looking to build a team? We'll post your idea so potential teammates can connect with you. Once your registration is complete, you'll receive a link to our posting sheets.
Dont have an idea? No problem. Youll provide a short bio, which well share with teams searching for collaborators. Once your registration is complete, you'll receive a link to our posting sheets.
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Join us for the CSC Kickoff Event泭泭
Meet other participants, refine your team and officially get started!
If youre still looking for teammates, the second half of the kickoff is dedicated to helping teams and individuals connect.
Our goal: make sure every participant is engaged and on a team by the end of kickoff.
Locations:泭
泭泭 This event will be held both in-person and virtually. At CU 勒貊勛圖, the event will be held in the泭 and broadcast via Zoom to Affiliate Schools.泭
泭泭 Affiliate School participants: You are welcome to attend the CU gathering, join (link provided upon CSC registration) or contact your school representative for local session details.
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From the Kickoff until the CSC Finals, youll have access to:
Workshops泭to sharpen your ideas
Mentorship sessions泭with experts
Pitch practices泭to prepare for the big stage
泭泭 Events are a mix of in-person at CU 勒貊勛圖 and participating Affiliate schools, hybrid or virtual. Please check the schedule for specifics.
Selected teams will pitch their solutions for the chance to win a share of $17,000 in prize fundingand the opportunity to create real, lasting change.
Location: Live at CU 勒貊勛圖, from 6-8 p.m. in the .
CSC is open to students, faculty and staff at all Colorado Front Range colleges and universities.
Additional CSC Information
- 2025 Dates & Deadlines
- Eligibility
- Competition Participation
- Registration
- Awards and Judging
- General Notices
- Helpful Resources
泭Sign up for updates about our 2026 event!
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2025 Dates & Deadlines
Aug. 1:
泭泭泭 泭Sept. 28, 6-8 p.m.: 泭泭
泭泭泭 泭Sept. 29, 9-10:30 a.m. MT: 泭泭泭
泭泭泭 泭Sept. 29, 6:30-8:30 p.m. MT: 泭
泭泭 泭 泭 泭Sept. 30, 6:30-8:30 p.m. MT:
泭泭 泭Oct. 3, 6-7 p.m. MT: 泭泭
泭泭 泭Oct. 3, 6-7 p.m. MT: 泭 (virtual only)
泭泭 泭 泭 泭Oct. 3, 7-8:30 p.m. MT: 泭 (cancelled)
泭泭泭 泭Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-noon MT: 泭 (cancelled)
泭泭泭 泭Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-noon MT: 泭泭
泭泭泭 泭Oct. 6, 6-7 p.m. MT: 泭泭
泭泭 泭Oct. 6, 7-8:30 p.m. MT: 泭
泭泭 泭Oct. 7, 6:30-8:30 p.m. MT: 泭
泭泭 泭Oct. 8, 9-10 a.m. MT: 泭 泭
泭泭 泭Oct. 11, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. MT:
Oct. 11, 5 p.m. MT:
泭泭 泭 泭Oct. 12, 6 p.m. MT: 泭
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Key:
泭泭= In person only
泭泭泭泭= In person/hybrid
泭泭= In person at Affiliate locations
泭泭= Virtual
Eligibility泭
Team Composition泭
- Teams must be entirely made up of currently enrolled student(s) or employee(s) of one (or multiple) of the affiliate colleges or universities.泭泭
- There is no maximum or minimum team size.泭
Prior Activity泭
- Team members may have worked on the idea or technology in past academic years or before attending their respective school but not for more than one (1) year as of September 28, 2025.泭泭
- Teams that have previously competed in the Colorado Sustainability Challenge or the CU New Venture Challenge may not compete again with the same idea.泭
- However, previous teams may participate again with a substantially new concept.泭
Mentorship泭
- We encourage all teams to work with a mentor.泭泭
Nature of Teams泭
This competition is intended for early-stage ideas/ventures and does not support:泭
- Buyouts or company expansions泭
- Real estate syndications泭
- Tax shelters泭
- Franchises泭
- Licensing agreements泭
- Corporate spinouts泭
Competition Participation泭
Attendance泭
- Teams must present in person at designated times to remain eligible. Failure to appear for a scheduled pitch time will result in disqualification.泭
Copyrights & Permissions泭
- Teams using copyrighted materials must obtain all necessary permissions before use in any submission or presentation.泭
Intellectual Property泭
- All presentations are open to the public and may be recorded or broadcast.泭
- Participants should assume that anything disclosed during the competition is in the public domain.泭
- Teams are responsible for their own IP protection and are encouraged to consult legal counsel if necessary.泭
- NDAs will not be used during the final round.泭泭
Registration
泭Registration for the 2025 competition is open.
CSC uses the Startup Tree platform to manage applications. To enter, each of your team members must create a user profile on the platform. Then, your main point of contact will create the venture profile on the platform and invite all team members to the venture profile.
There is no cost to apply or to compete.
Awards & Judging泭
Judging Criteria泭
Projects will be evaluated based on:泭
Sustainability impact泭
Innovation and creativity泭
Feasibility and scalability泭
Team strength and mentorship engagement泭
Overall quality of the presentation
Awards泭
Finalists will be eligible for monetary awards and other non-cash prizes.泭
To qualify for awards, teams must fulfill all competition requirements and participate in person at the final event.泭
Awards will be split evenly among all team members unless a founders agreement has been signed by all team members that instructs otherwise.泭泭
General Notices
Use of Materials泭
The 勒貊勛圖 and affiliated organizations may record, copy, and use any presentations, pitch decks, documents, or media submitted for educational and promotional purposes.泭
- Teams grant CU 勒貊勛圖 non-exclusive, worldwide rights to use submitted materials across all media platforms.泭
Decisions & Discretion泭
- All competition procedures, interpretations, and decisions are at the sole discretion of the event organizers.泭
- Organizers reserve the right to change rules or eligibility requirements at any time.泭
- Judging decisions are final.泭
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Five teams won big at the 2025 Colorado Sustainability Challenge Finals.
Learn More about CSC
The Colorado Sustainability Challenge (formerly the Sustainability Hackathon) is an annual event open to students, faculty and staff with a creative solution to a sustainability problem. Learn more:
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Helpful Resources
Read about past winners
Five teams were awarded prizes at the 2024 Sustainability Hackathon.
2023 Sustainability Hackathon winner FoodWise won $100,000 in the 2024 New Venture Challenge!
Stay up to date
Stay up-to-date on the Colorado Sustainability Challenge details!