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Launch Announcement: The Irving Institute's Energy Ventures Program

Posted on January 16, 2026 by Cate Homicki | Photos by Beam Lertbunnaphongs '25

  • A group of students sitting at a table with laptops, talking with each other.

    Dartmouth undergraduate and graduate students and postdocs joined the Energy Ventures kick-off event on January 13, 2026.

Have you ever dreamed of becoming an entrepreneur but felt dissuaded by the thought that entrepreneurs are born, not made? Or have you been overwhelmed by the complexity of starting a venture? The Irving Institute aims to change that with the launch of its new Energy Ventures program, designed to make entrepreneurship accessible to everyone.

On Tuesday, January 13, 55 enthusiastic students gathered in the Master of Engineering Management (MEM) space to kick off the Energy Ventures program. This comprehensive initiative offers a concept-to-market venture-building experience, empowering the next generation of energy and climate entrepreneurs.

A participant shared a common sentiment, "I'm here to create something. I don't want to spend the rest of my life working on other people's dreams. I want to live and die by my own."

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Small groups of students sit at tables in a large room, talking with each other.

The program attracted a diverse group of participants, evenly split between undergraduates and graduate students plus three postdocs from all parts of campus, including Arts & Sciences, Thayer, and Tuck. We've extended the invitation to ambitious minds—Energy Ventures is open to all students, staff, and faculty interested in entrepreneurship.

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Josh Creamer stands in front of a room of seated students, raising his hand next to a large projector screen.

Led by Josh Creamer, the Irving Institute's Head of Entrepreneurship, Energy Ventures provides a systematic methodology for innovators to launch world-improving solutions and ventures. Josh emphasized that the program is not a start-up factory, but a comprehensive approach designed to imbue participants with the mindset, knowledge, and skills necessary to tackle tough problems. Through a balance of theory and real-world application, participants are equipped to build impactful businesses, non-profits, or solutions.

Joining Josh at the launch were two of the program's "Entrepreneurs in Residence" (EIRs), Amy Huchthausen from Lucea Health and Kyle Maierhofer from Georgetown Equity Partners. The EIRs will guide teams through market research, problem identification, and solution development.

Program Structure

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A student stands in front of a table and talks with the other students who are seated.

Every Monday from 5:30-7:00 PM, participants will convene in the MEM space for lectures and applied training. Teams of 2-4 people will be formed, each paired with an EIR for weekly meetings. Enrichment sessions and fireside chats with successful entrepreneurs from Dartmouth's network will further enhance the learning experience. Through iterative training and practice, teams will uncover the steps necessary to achieve entrepreneurial success.

Those who successfully complete the winter and spring terms will have the opportunity to join a summer accelerator, which includes a paid internship.

How does this relate to Thayer's new Dartmouth Innovation Accelerator for Engineering? Energy Ventures serves as a complementary program to Thayer's New Dartmouth Innovation Accelerator for Engineering by providing participants with foundational training in entrepreneurship and guidance on creating new ventures.

There's still time to join Energy Ventures!

If you are interested, please register by Monday, February 9, 2026. (Dartmouth login required)