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David Wunder, a doctoral researcher at the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Aalto University, was selected as the Award Winner for the Best Research Translation sponsored by the Kauffman Foundation at the 2024 Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference (BCERC). The research translations highlight important implications of the underlying research studies for entrepreneurs and others involved in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. As research translations bridge the gap between academic research and practical applications, they enhance the relevance and impact of academic work, foster innovation, and support evidence-based decision-making in the business world.

Founded by Babson College in 1981, the BCERC is the premier entrepreneurship research conference in the world, held annually. This year, the conference took place at the Technical University Munich from June 5-8. As part of the conference, a highly prestigious doctoral consortium is organized. David Wunder was one of the 25 participants selected from over 120 applications for this year’s consortium. David Wunder’s research focuses on entrepreneurship and sustainability. His research translation, featured in the "Managing Growth" section, focuses on the financing strategies of sustainable entrepreneurs. The award was presented by the Director of BCERC, Professor Andrew Zacharakis, at the conference’s awards dinner. 

Summary of the winning research translation

Corporate venture capital (CVC) investors contribute to nearly half of the annual $50 billion VC investment in green technologies. But do CVCs accelerate green growth or merely greenwash? We explore the motivations behind CVC's green investments and their impact on startups' environmental outcomes and find that CVC investors prefer startups with green technologies, especially if the corporations are engaged in green innovation themselves. This points to strategic investment motives rather than greenwashing. Furthermore, only CVCs with complementary green resources can effectively drive startups' green innovation, highlighting the importance of CVCs possessing the right green knowledge and skills to support sustainable startups.

Read the full article: https://www.babson.edu/media/babson/assets/bcerc-dc-translations/wunder-david-Translation.pdf

More information about the research translations: