Course

Green Entrepreneurship

This course will offer a step-by-step framework for transforming a green business idea into a viable business plan. It will provide the tools needed to generate, test, and refine an idea for a green business, together with successful examples of green entrepreneurs’ paths from business ideas to value-generating, market-fit solutions.

5,125 members enrolled

Duration 18 hours

Certificates Available

Languages

Level Beginner

Introduction

Do you want to grasp new business opportunities in the field of productive, circular and sharing economies? Are you interested in addressing environmental challenges by selling a green product or service and creating green jobs in your country? Would you like to create and launch an innovative business model that creates environmental and social value?

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Convention on Biological Diversity , EcoEnterprises Fund, Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business , Lehigh University , Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production , SEED , and The GEF Small Grants Programme joined forces to offer you this self-paced course on Green Entrepreneurship.

Drawing on the training methodology developed by the Regional Activity Centre for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP/RAC) of the UNEP/Mediterranean Action Plan, within the framework of the EU-funded SwitchMed project, the Handbook for Green Entrepreneurs “Create your Green Business,” this course will guide you through your green entrepreneur journey, from defining your idea to the commercialisation of products and services.

Skills you will gain

CommunicationFinancial analysisStrategic planningSustainable business planning

What you will learn

Define your green business idea
Understand your market and define your value proposition
Outline all the tasks and resources needed to generate, innovate, and manage the value delivered to customers

Create a financial and management plan for your business
Deliver an ‘elevator’ pitch to potential investors and customers

Define your green business idea
Understand your market and define your value proposition
Outline all the tasks and resources needed to generate, innovate, and manage the value delivered to customers
Create a financial and management plan for your business
Deliver an ‘elevator’ pitch to potential investors and customers

Completion requirements

Complete all online lessons
Complete the course survey

Complete all quizzes

Complete all online lessons
Complete all quizzes
Complete the course survey

Course modules

Welcome to the course 1 activity

Orientation to the course

Module 1: Introduction to green entrepreneurship 11 activities, 1 quiz

Lesson 1: Types of economies and businesses Lesson 2: Green entrepreneurship benefits and trends Lesson 3: What it means to be a green entrepreneur Anke Salzmann “Introduction to eco-design” Oksana Aguilar “What it means to be a green entrepreneur” Sara Farley “Systems leadership” Khanjan Mehta “What it takes to build a sustainable green venture: A case study” Iana Aranda “The role of technology in advancing sustainable development” Worksheets Case studies Discussion forum Quiz 1 – Green Entrepreneurship

Module 2: Making a positive impact with your green business idea 11 activities, 1 quiz

Lesson 1: Identifying the opportunity Lesson 2: Understanding the context Lesson 3: Establishing a mission and a vision Bill Whitney “Asking the right questions” Khanjan Mehta “Opportunity recognition and validation” Khanjan Mehta “Why ventures fail” Anna Schaeffer “Understanding your context: PESTEL and SWOT” Esther Oboyo “Defining the mission and vision for your business” Worksheets Case studies Discussion forum Quiz 2 – Green Entrepreneurship

Module 3: Identifying your customers and stakeholders 8 activities, 1 quiz

Lesson 1: Analyzing stakeholders Lesson 2: Discovering customers Chris Kauzmann ”Green business canvas” Julia Santander “Stakeholder mapping” Khanjan Mehta “Customer profiling and value proposition” Worksheets Case studies Discussion forum Quiz 3 – Green Entrepreneurship

Module 4: Putting your green business model into context 11 activities, 1 quiz

Lesson 1: Value proposition Lesson 2: Life cycle analysis Lesson 3: Customer relationships and channels Lesson 4: Key activities and resources Nathalie Prado “Creating a unique value proposition” Rachel Dzombak “Lifecycle analysis” Pali Singh “Establishing a relationship with stakeholders and customers” Lorena Luna “Harnessing the power of communities to strengthen your green business” Worksheets Case studies Discussion forum Quiz 4 – Green Entrepreneurship

Module 5: Financing your green business idea 12 activities, 1 quiz

Lesson 1: Cost Sstructure and revenue streams Lesson 2: Finance plan Julia Santander “Cost analysis” Julia Santander “Cost forecasting and liquidity management” Masud Rahman “Balance sheet” Khanjan Mehta “Income statement” Mirko Zürker “Cash flow forecasting” Masud Rahman “Bringing together income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet” Masud Rahman “Choosing Funding Sources” Worksheets Case studies Discussion forum Quiz 5 – Green Entrepreneurship

Module 6: Managing, scaling up, and communicating your green business idea 11 activities, 1 quiz

Lesson 1: Managing legal aspects Lesson 2: Operations and management plan Lesson 3: Elevator pitch Oksana Aguilar “Developing a legal management plan” Masud Rahman “Developing an operations and management plan” John McKenna “Preparing an elevator pitch” Tammy Newmark “Scaling up your green business idea” Hong Durandal “Areas for continuous improvement of your green business” Worksheets Case studies Discussion forum Quiz 6 – Green Entrepreneurship

Course survey

FAQs

1. How many languages is the course be available in?

The course is available in English, Spanish and French.

2. Do I need any qualifications to enroll in this course?

No. This course is aimed at individuals who are interested in developing a green business idea, but is open to everyone.

3. What are the technical requirements to enroll in this course?

Participants should be able to access the Internet, even if only periodically, in order to access the course materials and complete the course requirements.

4. What are the requirements to receive the certificate of completion?

In order to receive the certificate of course completion, participants must complete all online lessons, all quizzes, and the course survey. These are the ONLY requirements to receive the certificate.

5. Are there any system requirements for accessing course content?

No, there are no specific system requirements to view the content of this course.

6. How can I access all the course lectures?

All the lectures are available on the Learning for Nature Youtube channel.

7. How can I get in touch with other course participants?

If you would like to send a private message to any of the course participants, click on their name and send them a connection request first by clicking the “Connect” button on their profile. You will receive an email notification once they accept your connection request. When your connection request has been accepted, select “Private message” on your contact’s profile page to send them a private message. To view the list of all the Learning for Nature users, select the Learners tab on the site homepage.

8. How do I receive my course completion certificate when I complete the course?

Once you complete the course requirements, the certificate of course completion will be generated automatically and will become available for download in PDF format directly from the course home page. To download the certificate, you will need to click the “Download my certificate” button right above the Course content section of the course home page.