General information, finding and selecting an elevation challenge, partners and FAQ for the elevation phase across programs
Introduction
In the elevation phase, you'll utilize the Orientation and Calibration phase learnings to take on real-world industry challenges in sustainability, innovation, transformation, entrepreneurship, or technology. Over six weeks, you will work in small groups either on your own problem, or in collaboration with an industry partner, to analyze complex problems and develop actionable solutions. Whether working on brand repositioning, low-carbon transformation, or impact measurement, you will apply your skills in critical evaluation, strategy, and development. This hands-on experience will strengthen your ability to drive meaningful change, foster innovation, and create real impact within existing organizations.
What are the elevation challenge options?
The below elevation challenge options run across all programs:
Sustainability
- Emissions reduction strategies: Design strategic frameworks for large emitters to transition from high-carbon to low-carbon business models, balancing financial growth, stakeholder trust, and sustainability through comprehensive analyses, actionable initiatives, and a 2030 low-carbon strategic framework. - Partner challenge
- Reimagining Business Models for a Sustainable Tomorrow: Develop a sustainable business case to transform an existing business model into a more responsible version, balancing environmental impact, stakeholder needs, and market competitiveness through analysis, planning, and actionable recommendations. - Partner challenge
- Impact Measurement: Design an impact strategy that assesses and enhances a partner organization’s societal and environmental contributions through stakeholder analysis, a theory of change, SMART objectives, and an actionable measurement roadmap. - Partner challenge
Entrepreneurship/intrapreneurship & Innovation
- Brand strategy & repositioning: Create a strategic brand repositioning plan to enhance visibility, strengthen identity, and align with evolving consumer needs. - Partner challenge
- From Prototype to Market: Develop and Validate a User-Centered Product Develop a user-tested product prototype aligned with customer needs, supported by market research, iterative design, and a comprehensive go-to-market strategy. - Partner challenge
- Tech/Resource-based market opportunities for good: Discover and implement novel technologies or resources to address consumer needs by exploring applications, conducting market feasibility analyses, and developing commercialization strategies that drive sustainable solutions. - Partner challenge
- Starting an impact business with a prototype: Assess global progress toward SDGs, prototype and develop an innovative business solution that drives both sustainability and financial success.
Technology
- Design an Impactful Tech product: Design and prototype a tech solution that addresses complex sustainability issues, supported by AI and data science research, and iterative prototyping.
- Data Science Solutions for Sustainable Development Goals: Harness the power of data science to address real-world sustainability issues aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From problem definition to model building and final insights, you will collect and analyze data, develop machine learning models, and propose actionable solutions that contribute to global sustainability efforts.
* Please note that for some programs, certain elevation challenges are mandatory, namely:
- BA Responsible Entrepreneurship and Management: Starting an impact business with a prototype
- BSc AI and Sustainable Technologies: Data Science Solutions for Sustainable Development Goals:
Which elevation options can I take and how do I sign up?
- Check the Master Tomorrow University Schedule to see which elevation challenges coincide with your program and intake schedule. Bare in mind you will only be able to take elevation challenges which run alongside your program & intake's elevation phase.
Note: If there is a particular challenge you'd be especially interested in which runs outside your program/intake elevation phase please contact your program director. - Once you've identified which elevation challenges run alongside your elevation phase, head over to the elevation phase in the app for more details on your options.
- Once you've identified your preferred elevation challenge, simply join your option within the app. Make sure to join the cohort start date which matches up with your program & intake elevation phase dates.
See the loom video attached to guide you through this process.
Can my organization become an elevation challenge partner?
We're always on the lookout for interesting partners to collaborate with on our elevation challenges. For further information on elevation challenge partnerships, an overview of our partner challenges, and details on applying to become an elevation challenge partner, please see our dedicated elevation partnership page.