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illuminem x HEC Paris Greentech University course: developing the next generation of sustainability leaders

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By illuminem , Andrea Gori, Pierre-François Thaler, Hala Fadel, Alexis Normand, Elena Morettini, Benjamin Schulz, Bastian Larsen, Thomas Derambure, Olivier Mougenot, Vincent Ruinet, Jochen Wermuth, Elena Harumi Stark, Helmy Abouleish, Taavi Rõivas, Angelo Bonelli, Francesco Corvaro, Clara Cornu, Gianluca Dettori, Belinda Saunders, Briseida Gjoza, Arnaud Houlés, Arthur Chabot , Julien Tchernia, Rebecca Ravenni, Dexter Galvin, Martina Schwarz

· 12 min read

Illuminem Voices
Sustainable Business · Green Tech · Environmental Sustainability · Ethical Governance · Corporate Sustainability

HEC Paris, Europe’s top-ranked Business School, has partnered with illuminem to launch Europe's first university course in Greentech. Led by our founder, Andrea Gori, this course is specifically designed to develop the next generation of sustainability leaders. It uniquely combines real-world lessons, case studies, career opportunities, and academic education.

illuminem founder Andrea Gori and Greenly founder Alexis Normand with the HEC Paris Greentech class

The program consists of six intensive 3-hour sessions, each co-facilitated by one or more esteemed industry leader. It concludes with a greentech investment pitch, where students are evaluated by top venture capitalists and entrepreneurs.

Structure of the course

• Green technology fundamentals & history: Understanding key innovations and their role in sustainability
• Impact assessment: Evaluating the real-world effectiveness of Greentech solutions
• Greentech investing: Exploring the venture capital ecosystem and successful case studies
• Greentech policies & ecosystems: Examining global regulations and market trends
• Greentech business development: Preparing scalable greentech businesses, from idea validation to growth at scale
• Pitching & fundraising: Presenting startup ideas to top-tier investors

Greentech investment cases presented by Blackwood (Danish top VC) founders Bastian Larsen & Thomas Derambure

Greentech investment strategies presented by VC Partner Olivier Mougenot, during the class visit at Techstars HQ

Meet the distinguished Guest Lecturers

One of the course's major highlights is the participation of some of the most influential figures in Greentech as guest lecturers. The classes blend academic lectures (curated by prof. Andrea Gori), with practical insights and real-world lessons. The following distinguished personalities are Guest Lecturers in the program.

EcoVadis founder & CEO, Pierre-François Thaler, on scaling greentech

Greentech business development and scaling

• Alexis Normand (Founder & CEO, Greenly)
• Elena Morettini (Global Head of Sustainable Business, Globant)
• Hala Fadel (Managing Partner, Eurazeo)
• Martina Schwarz (Founder, Blackmarket)
• Pierre-François Thaler (Founder & CEO, EcoVadis)

Greentech investing

• Bastian Larsen & Thomas Derambure (Co-Founders, Blackwood)
• Gianluca Dettori (Chairman & GP, Primo Ventures)
• Jochen Wermuth (Founder & CIO, Wermuth Asset Management)
• Olivier Mougenot (Partner, Wind Capital)
• Vincent Ruinet (Founder, Vinculum)

Impact assessment

• Dexter Galvin (Fmr. CCO, CDP)
• Elena Harumi Stark (Investment Principal, AENU)
• Helmy Abouleish (CEO, SEKEM)

Greentech policy

• Angelo Bonelli (Spokesperson, Green Europe)
• Francesco Corvaro (Italy’s Special Envoy on Climate Change)
• Taavi Rõivas (Fmr. Prime Minister of Estonia)

Pitching & fundraising

• Arnaud Houlés (Co-Founder, Nine Realms)
• Arthur Chabot (Co-Founder, ClimeRock)
• Belinda Saunders (Head of Sustainability, BlaBlaCar)
• Benjamin Schulz (Co-Founder, Altitude)
• Briseida Gjoza (Founder, ConsciESG)
• Clara Cornu (Investment Manager, 360 Capital)
• Julien Tchernia (Founder, EkWateur)
• Rebecca Ravenni (Investor, Techstars)

Course videos

• Conversation on global climate policy and EU strategy, with Francesco Corvaro (Italy’s Special Envoy on Climate Change)
• Sustainability Lessons from SEKEM, with Helmy Abouleish (CEO, SEKEM)

Class recommended readings

The Great Classics of Sustainability

• 'Laudato Si' by Pope Francis
The most-read sustainability text in history, introducing the concept of Integral Ecology: true care for the environment isn’t just about technocratic solutions, it must include care for people, especially the most vulnerable in society.

• Former nuclear leaders: Say ‘No’ to new reactors by Paul Dorfman and the fmr. Nuclear Regulators of the US, Germany, France, and the UK 
One of the most debated sustainability letters: a rare, coordinated warning from top insiders against the risks, delays, and costs of new nuclear.

• The Paris Agreement (UNFCCC)
The global climate pact signed by nearly every country in 2015 to keep global warming below 2°C above the pre-industrial era.

• Net Zero by 2050: A roadmap for the global energy sector (IEA)
The IEA’s boldest call to date: no new oil, gas, or coal fields—just a clear path to net zero built on renewables, electrification, and efficiency.

• Planetary boundaries (Stockholm Resilience Center)
The most quoted science-based framework defining Earth’s safe operating space—crossing these nine limits risks destabilizing the entire planet.

• Revealed: more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by biggest certifier are worthless, analysis shows (The Guardian)
2023's bombshell investigation, which shocked carbon markets with tha accusation that most forest offsets fail to deliver real climate impact, raising major questions of integrity.

• The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review (UK Government)
A landmark report reframing nature as economic infrastructure—our economies depend on ecosystems, yet treat them as invisible and disposable.

• Letter to CEO: The power of capitalism, by  Larry Fink
The most influential annual letter in finance by BlackRock's CEO, urging companies to lead on ESG or risk losing investor trust. 

• Offsetting is a dangerous climate lie, by Jennifer Morgan
The historic first major critique of carbon offsetting by Greenpeace (published exclusively by illuminem ahead of COP28), which sparked one of the biggest rifts among greentech and climate leaders.

• The secret diary of a ‘sustainable investor’, by Tariq Fancy
The insider exposé from BlackRock’s ex-sustainability chief, arguing that ESG often distracts from the systemic change the planet truly needs.

• Why sustainability is now the key driver of innovation (Harvard Business Review)
A defining piece in corporate sustainability—proving that going green isn’t a cost, but a catalyst for breakthrough innovation and competitive advantage.

• Alex Langer’s Advice for a Future Friend: "lentius, profundius, suavius", by Alexander Langer, re-read and reflected on by Omar Alshogre, Susan Ellicott and Angelo Bonelli
The poetic manifesto of Green Politics, calling for a "slower, deeper, gentler" world, by one of the founding fathers of European environmentalism.

Corporate sustainability

• Carbon neutral vs. net zero: Understanding the differences and implications, by illuminem
• Corporate sustainability at a crossroad, by Georg Kell
• The ROI for sustainability has never been clearer, by Charlotte Degot

Energy transition

• ‘Dutch Disease to Energy Transition’, by Noé van Hulst
• How strategic financing can help navigate the climate transition, by Pierre Abadie
• Hydrogen is important - but heating with it is still a fairy tale, by Jan Rosenow
• Just substitute oil, by Jeremy Bentham
• Redesigning energy for people and planet - the next steps, by Angela Wilkinson
• The colors of hydrogen, by Nicola de Blasio
• The untold energy truth: Who are the future energy leaders (video)​, by Andrea Gori
• The silent revolution, by Alessandro Blasi

Environmental markets

• Carbon Academy: everything you need to know about carbon markets, by illuminem
• Biodiversity credits: right from the start, by Patricio Lombardi
• Biochar is booming: What are the risks?, by Ted Christie-Miller
• Carbon removal is not a finite resource, by Robert Höglund
• The convergence of the voluntary and compliance carbon markets, by Eve Tamme
• The paradox of carbon credits, by Renat Heuberger, Steve Zwick
• Why biochar as a permanent carbon sink is essential for achieving climate targets, by Venna Lepel

Environmental issues and Nature-tech

• Antarctica is melting faster than ever. Here’s what we can do about it, by Nigel Topping, Helen Millman, Martin Siegert
• Biofuels: easier said than done, by Nicola Armaroli
• The ‘great green step back’?, by Marco Lambertini

Greentech innovation

• Building smarter, cleaner energy storage with AI, by Riad Meddeb
• Climate tech is dead. Long live green tech!, by Jessica Burley
• How to unleash the UK’s cleantech industrial potential, by Sarah Mackintosh
• If countries are serious about climate change, they should get serious about quantum computing, by Sam Howell
• If you care about the climate, should you be anti-AI?, by Alessio Terzi
• New solar cells break efficiency record, by Sebastian Bonilla
• The 3 gaps that challenge climate technology entrepreneurship, by Wim Naudé
• Why AI is the future of government, by Taavi Rõivas
• Why electric cars are (truly) better than gasoline or diesel ones, by Nicola Armaroli
• Why transparency in manufacturing is the game changer for the green transition, by Hilde Merete Aasheim
• Why plug-in hybrids (PEVs) are better for the climate than full Electric Vehicles (BEVs) today, by Kumar Venkat 

Greentech politics & geopolitics

• A new catalyst for the Chinese economy: the green dragon, by Gabriela Herculano
• Taking the politics out of climate change, by Alex Edmans
• Tending to the broken bones, by Christiana Figueres
• The EU can lead in tackling green and social challenges in tandem, by Sandrine Dixson-Decleve
• The UN Sustainable Development Goals haven’t had much impact so far, by Frank Biermann

Social and other issues

• Empowering change and resilience: social protection in the age of mega trends, by Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana
• The silk road of ideas and Edgar Morin's vision of complex humanity, by Claudio Pedretti
• State, market and education: the recipe for bringing all humans out of poverty, by Erik Solheim
• What should be done to address one of the worst performing SDGs, by Galit Palzur

Sustainable finance and ESG

• After the ESG party, by Antoine Mach
• Asset managers: blended finance is like music, by Harald Walkate, Robert W. van Zwieten, Simon Gupta
• Don’t be misled by the climate change claims of ESG funds, by Theo Vermaelen
• In conversation with impact investors, by Stephanie Dorsey, Renat Heuberger, Gianluca Dettori, Nathan Kinch
• The $1.6 trillion revelation: natural capital’s silent takeover of global finance, by Matt Ross

Further recommended links

• The Top sustainability newsletters everyone should subscribe to, by illuminem
• The Definitive Reading List: Recommended Sustainability Classics, by illuminem


If you're interested in accessing the illuminem x HEC Paris Greentech course materials or exploring collaboration opportunities, contact us.

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About the authors

illuminem's editorial team, delivering the most effective, updated, and comprehensive access to sustainability information. Follow us on Linkedin, Instagram, Youtube & Twitter. Track and compare the sustainability performance of thousands of companies on illuminem’s Data Hub™.

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Andrea Gori is an entrepreneur & global expert in sustainability, green tech and energy transition. He is the founder & "Chief Earth Officer" (CEO) of illuminem, and prof. of Greentech at HEC Paris (see full program). Previously, he served as BCG's Global Green Champion, delivering projects on sustainable investments around the world. He has been awarded one of Italy's Leading Innovators of 2023 and Angel List’s Top Startups in Europe. His latest TEDx, on the 'ESG revolution', is recognized as "the most-watched talk in Italian on sustainability".

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Pierre-François Thaler is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of EcoVadis, with over 20 years of experience in procurement, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. He leads the Customer, Marketing, Solutions, and Impact teams and drives the company's strategic development. Prior to EcoVadis, he was Director of Managed Services at Ariba and CEO of B2Build, Europe’s first B2B construction marketplace. He holds an Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from CentraleSupélec and an Master of Business Administration from INSEAD.

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Hala Fadel is a Managing Partner at Eurazeo, focusing on digital and tech investments and preparing portfolio companies for public market exits. She previously built Comgest’s private growth equity program and co-founded Leap Ventures. Hala began her career in Merges and Acquisitions at Merrill Lynch and serves on the MIT Board of Trustees. She holds a Master's in finance from HEC Paris and an MBA from MIT Sloan.

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Alexis Normand is CEO and Co-Founder of Greenly. A graduate of HEC and Sciences-Po, Alexis began his career in public policy consulting before spending six years at Withings, where he led operations in Boston and established the company’s health department. After Withings was acquired by Nokia, he joined the startup Embleema through Techstars, refining his entrepreneurial skills. Returning to France, Alexis channeled his experience into addressing the climate crisis at a critical moment.

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Elena Morettini is the Global Head of sustainable business of Globant, a native digital multinational company, and Co-Founder of BecauseEnergyMatters. She has previously held key managerial positions in renowned international companies such as Shell, Repsol YPF, Badley Ashton, and Fugro GeoConsulting. Elena founded the first Diversity and Inclusion Committee for Oil and Gas in the Latin America region.

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Benjamin Schulz is the Founder of Altitude - Sustainable Aviation. He formerly co-founded Carbon Removal Partners, a Zurich-based VC with a pure focus on the growing Carbon Removal industry. Carbon Removal Partners invests into technologies to withdraw carbon from the atmosphere in a permanent manner, as well as into companies along the Carbon Removal value chain. He's also a board member at CRIA (Carbon Removal India Association).

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Bastian Larsen is the Chief Executive Officer of BlackWood and sits on the firm's investment committee. He previously worked for BlackRock in London, Geneva, and New York, where he co-led global product strategy for the firm's $10bn M&A hedge fund. Bastian has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oxford, a Bachelor of Science from Copenhagen Business School, and was selected as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2023 - Finance.

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Thomas Derambure is the Chief Operating Officer of BlackWood. Previously, he was a senior strategy consultant at Stanwell and led the development of the top private security company in Senegal. He holds a Master of Science in Strategic Management from HEC Paris and a BBA from HEC Montreal.

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Olivier Mougenot is Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Wind Capital. He was previously a Partner at Citizen Capital and Managing Director at NUMA. He also has experience as an investment banking analyst and vice president, and was the founder of a company, which he successfully exited. His specialty lies in climate adaptation, venture capital, and technology.

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Vincent Ruinet is an expert in tech funding and climate with over 15 years of experience in venture capital, private equity, and infrastructure financing, including roles at ENGIE and Future Positive Capital. As the founder of Vinculum, he helps entrepreneurs raise capital, structure M&As, and scale their businesses. He also shares his expertise as a mentor at Techstars and a guest lecturer at HEC.

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Jochen Wermuth is the Founder of Wermuth Asset Managemen, with over 20 years of investment experience. He has overseen $1bn in investments, including his first solar power investment in 2000. Previously, Jochen was a Director at Deutsche Bank and an Economic Advisor for EU & World Bank projects. He holds a Master of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Brown University, and completed D.Phil. qualifying exams at Oxford University.

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Elena Harumi Stark is the Head of Impact and ESG at AENU, an early-stage climate tech venture capital firm. Previously, she led impact and ESG initiatives at Tomorrow Bank, a German sustainable FinTech, where she contributed to achieving the Best for the World B-Corp Certification. Her work focuses on sustainable investing and ESG strategies to address climate challenges and promote social equality.

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Helmy Abouleish is the CEO of SEKEM Initiative in Egypt. Through this organisation, Helmy promotes sustainable development in a holistic approach: ecological (biodynamic agriculture and its promotion, sustainable water management, renewable energies), economic, "Economy of Love" (sustainable production of phytopharmaceuticals, organic textiles and food), societal (sustainable community development) and cultural (individual potential unfolding in Schools and university, integrative health, holistic research).

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Taavi Rõivas is an Estonian politician, former Prime Minister of Estonia from 2014 to 2016, and former leader of the Reform Party. Before his term as the Prime Minister, Rõivas was the Minister of Social Affairs from 2012 to 2014. During his tenure as Prime Minister, he was the youngest government leader in the European Union. He now serves as Chairman of Auve Tech.

 

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Angelo Bonelli is the Spokesperson of Green Europe since July 2021 and a Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, representing Imola since October 2022. He previously served in the Chamber from 2006 to 2008 for Lazio 1. Bonelli has held significant roles such as President of the Green Party and Regional Assessor for Environment in Lazio. He was a Regional Councillor in Lazio and a candidate for Mayor of Taranto in 2012. Bonelli has been active in Italian politics since 1990.

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Francesco Corvaro is the Special Envoy for Climate Change of Italy. He is an associate professor in industrial technical physics at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Mathematical Sciences of the Polytechnic University of Marche.

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Clara Cornu is Partner and Investment Manager of 360 Capital, where she focuses on investments and supports portfolio companies. Prior to joining 360 Capital, Clara worked in product development at L’Oreal and helped launch an internal startup studio at an FMCG company. She is also the Co-Founder of HEC for Women, a network dedicated to empowering women in business. Clara holds a Master in Management from HEC Paris and a Master X-HEC Entrepreneurs in Entrepreneurship from École Polytechnique.

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Gianluca Dettori is the Chairman and General Partner of Primo Ventures, focusing on digital and space tech investments. He co-founded Vitaminic, took it public in 2000, and later became Vice President of Buongiorno. In 2007, he founded dpixel, an innovation advisory firm. He is also the Founding President of the Italian Tech Alliance and a Fellow of the Kauffman Society.

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Belinda Saunders is the Head of Sustainability at BlaBlaCar, based in Paris, France. With a background in strategy and management consulting, she previously held roles at Boston Consulting Group. Belinda earned her Master of Business Administration from INSEAD, graduating in the Class of 2021.

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Briseida Gjoza is the Co-Founder and CEO of ConsciESG, an ESG fintech startup. With experience in SDG-aligned projects for UNESCO and leadership roles in multinational companies, she founded ConsciESG in 2022 to transform ESG scoring. Under her leadership, the company has won the UNDP Boost Women Innovators Award, secured partnerships with Morningstar, Dow Jones, and Moody's, and received EU-backed funding.

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Arnaud Houlés is the Co-Founder and General Partner of Nine Realms, a leading investment firm. Arnaud brings extensive experience from his previous roles at Rumah Group & Foundation, ReefKnot Investments, and Kuehne + Nagel. He co-founded Nine Realms to leverage his expertise in management, business development, and project management to drive growth and innovation in the investment space. Arnaud holds a Master's degree from TBS Education

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Arthur Chabot is the Co-Founder of ClimeRock, a company focused on carbon dioxide removal to fight climate change. Arthur brings a strong background in materials science, AI, and digital technologies from previous roles at MP DATA, Amiwi, and ALTEN. With a passion for innovation, Arthur has transitioned his expertise towards addressing climate change, dedicating himself to developing solutions for a sustainable future.

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Julien Tchernia is the Founder and former CEO of Ekwateur, a renewable energy company. He has held leadership roles, including Director of Lampiris France, and has been a Visiting Professor at MINES ParisTech. Julien has a strong background in energy, entrepreneurship, and strategy and he holds a Master of Engineering and a post-graduate degree in Energy from Mines Paris.

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Rebecca Ravenni is an Investment Associate at RAISE Sherpas and Program Manager at Techstars Sustainability Paris. She supports early-stage climate and impact startups through France’s first philanthropic VC fund and helps scale sustainable innovation via the Techstars accelerator ecosystem.

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Dexter Galvin is Climate Ambassador at EcoVadis, where he drives global supply chain decarbonisation. Previously working at CDP with 16 years of leadership experience, he served as Chief Commercial Officer, scaling corporate climate action worldwide.

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Martina is the founder of Blackmarket, a refillable handwash brand pioneering zero-waste solutions without single-use plastics. With 10+ years in design and FMCG, she previously led business development at Aire Global and managed creative teams at Tag. A winner of LVMH’s DARE Innovation Programme, Martina brings together design thinking and business strategy to drive circular innovation.

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