Create next-generation products and business models with the world’s most disruptive startup innovators, facilitated by the University of Cambridge's Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). Draw on our real-world experience, insight, and learnings from supporting both corporates and innovators to scale up their innovations. |
What we do
CISL’s approach to scaling viable innovations and solutions is tried and tested through three main routes:
Programmes and workshops
We create, facilitate and run targeted accelerator programmes, innovation hackathons, workshops, and corporate pilots.
Evaluation and awards
Our team facilitates initiating awards programmes, expert assessment of impactful startups, and global entrepreneur scouting.
We have worked with the likes of Unilever, UNICEF, and the Earthshot Prize to nominate for and evaluate competitions.
We have also had great success in alumni achieving prestigious listings, such as the Forbes 30 Under 30.
Incubation, mentors and community
We host a central Cambridge incubation space, hold a 200+ stong mentor network, have a network of 400+ alumni startups, and convene a global community of impact investors.
We have a dedicated international development team who can help, speak to our team to learn more about our services and programme models.
Recent projects
A CISL & UNICEF programme - Climate X
This is a startup accelerator programme in partnership with UNICEF Office of Innovation, continuing our work on the impactful Innovation30 initiative.
DESAFÍA London
CISL's Canopy team were a key partner and collaborator for the Desafìa London Immersion Programme supports Spanish companies in the clean and climate tech sectors, helping them to scale faster by accelerating their internationalisation process. The programme will takes advantage of the clean and climate tech cluster of the ‘Golden Triangle’and will offers a gateway to key ecosystem players within London, Cambridge and Oxford.
Other Work
Sino-UK centre
The Sino-UK centre promotes productive engagement with China to support sustainability focused startups, preserving academic values and integrity. It draws on expertise from across CISL’s wider ecosystem to foster informed and positive collaboration with Chinese stakeholders.
Partner Feedback
"We have valued our partnership with CISL's Canopy team. They have done a great job in the design and delivery of our Trust in Sustainability Programmes, working collaboratively to achieve our shared goal of accelerating the progress of innovation solutions for sustainability.
We have also benefited from their networks in the sustainability innovation ecosystem. Their approach has facilitated connections that have helped us to create impact for a fair society and sustainable world."
Wendy Niu, BSI (British Standards Institute)
"Investing in young climate innovators is investing in the future. UNICEF is committed to building a pipeline of scientifically vetted and investor-ready solutions addressing the impact of climate change on children's lives. Our partnership with CISL's Canopy will support ventures with transformative climate innovations and help unlock their potential for global impact."
Thomas Davin, UNICEF Office of Innovation, Director
"Canopy isn't just a workspace; it's an innovative, inclusive hub where like-minded individuals connect and collaborate. Amidst a beautiful, sustainable retrofit setting, I've received endless support from the team, relevant programmes and countless networking opportunities."
Frankie Fox, Founder, FoodSquared
"CISL Canopy has been instrumental in propelling SkenarioLabs forward on our journey. Through their Trust in Sustainability programme with the BSI, we've gained invaluable insights, mentorship, and access to resources that have accelerated our growth trajectory. The connections we've made within the CISL Canopy community have been invaluable, opening doors to new opportunities and collaborations that we wouldn't have accessed otherwise."
Tom Somers, UK Director of SkenarioLabs
"CISL's programmes for startups were a game-changer. Having access to CISL's wide range of industry senior stakeholders who are committed to the net zero transition and all working to change the status quo. In short, CISL Canopy gave me the knowledge, the network, and the community to build a startup that's not just innovative, but truly sustainable."
Sushma Shankar, Co-Founder & CEO, Deep Planet
Want to know more about our experts? Check out: Our Team
