20th Annual Babson Sustainability & Energy Conference
Entrepreneurs
for Impact
Celebrating the entrepreneurs who turn challenges into scalable solutions.
"This is where the next 20 years begins."
— BSEC 20th Annual Conference, April 2026
A milestone two decades in the making
In 2006, a vision was born at Babson College: to create a community where entrepreneurs could tackle the world's most pressing sustainability and energy challenges. Two decades later, Entrepreneurs for Impact brings that community back together.
Join students, alumni, founders, investors, and ecosystem partners for a day of bold ideas, high-impact networking, and honest conversations about building ventures that matter.
This isn't just another conference. It's a celebration of 20 years of student leadership, innovation, and the entrepreneurs who've turned sustainability challenges into scalable solutions — and a reunion of the founders, alumni, and partners who built this community from the ground up.
Conference Agenda
20th Anniversary VIP Dinner
St. Lawrence Room · Executive Education Center, Babson College
Hosted by Mark Donohue B’89, Honorary Chairman of the BSEC Conference and Co-Founder of the Conference. An intimate gathering of past BSEC co-presidents, keynote speakers, sponsors, and select members of the Babson community. An evening of reconnection and reflection ahead of the 20th anniversary milestone. By invitation only.
Registration & Networking Breakfast
Knight Auditorium Foyer · Doors open. Coffee, tea, and breakfast served. A chance to connect with fellow attendees before the program begins.
Welcome & BSEC Conference Kickoff
Opening welcome from BSEC Co-Presidents Ryan Lee and Rashmi Tripathi. Setting the theme for the day: Entrepreneurs for Impact.
State of Sustainability & Impact at Babson
From Babson’s first wind turbine in 2008 to a solar farm launching this spring, a new bee farm, and a Miyawaki biodiverse forest — a grounding look at 20 years of sustainability progress at Babson College and what’s on the horizon.
Alumni Spotlight: Exodys Energy
A Babson-born venture pioneering nuclear waste recycling. Co-Founders Carl Perez and Viola Aureggi share the story of building an unconventional company from campus — and what it takes to push forward when the world says it can’t be done.
Alumni Spotlight: John Chaimanis
Co-founding BSEC, two decades of impact investing, and the journey that led to building Kendall Sustainable Infrastructure — a mission-driven investment manager at the forefront of the energy transition.
Entrepreneurs for Impact — Mark Donohue
39 years of impact investing. A perspective on AI, exponential technology, and entrepreneurship as the most powerful force for positive change in the world — and what it means to build with purpose in this era.
Entrepreneurship & Conservation in Massachusetts
How entrepreneurship is reshaping conservation and sustainability across Massachusetts — and the power of public-private partnership to drive lasting environmental impact.
Keynote Introduction
Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. formally introduces our headline keynote speaker, David Evans Shaw, in a brief and personal introduction from the stage.
Keynote: David Evans Shaw
A lifelong builder of companies, ideas, and impact. Pioneer behind more than a dozen science-driven enterprises valued at over $50 billion. David’s work spans business, public health, ocean conservation, and beyond — united by a single idea: leadership success should be measured by impact.
David Evans Shaw is a lifelong business and social entrepreneur—a builder of companies, ideas, and impact. As CEO of Black Point Group, he has helped create more than a dozen science-driven enterprises valued at over $50 billion, advancing healthcare and innovation worldwide.
But his work extends far beyond business—into education, science policy, public health, international affairs, the arts, capitalism reform, mental health, and the global conservation of nature including oceans.
He has championed the powerful idea that leadership success should be measured by impact. In his book Wave Making: Inspired By Impact, he invites all of us to step forward—not as spectators, but as changemakers… or as he calls them: wave makers… for a better world.
Beyond business, David has been a leading voice in global ocean stewardship — championing science-based conservation, marine policy, and sustainable ocean economies as a pathway to a healthier planet.
At this year’s 20th Annual BSEC Conference, David will receive the inaugural Entrepreneur for Impact Award in recognition of his decades of leadership building enterprises that measure success by their impact on people and the planet.
Lunch & Networking
Knight Auditorium Foyer · Lunch served buffet-style. Venture Showcase tables open for a preview walk-through.
“For Impact” Breakout Sessions
Malloy Hall · Five one-hour sector-focused sessions across three time blocks, running two concurrently. Each session features a panel or fireside conversation with Q&A.
🌊 Oceans for Impact · 1:15–2:15 PM — Mod: Prof. Sinan Erzurumlu · Panelists: Eric Hudson (Preserve), Conor Carlin (Clefs Advisory), Rockford Weitz (Tufts/Fletcher School)
👗 Fashion for Impact · 1:15–2:15 PM — Mod: Caroline Daniels
⚡ Energy for Impact · 2:15–3:15 PM · Malloy 101 — Mod: Nick d’Arbeloff (ReVision Energy) · Panelists: Shiv Bhakta (Active Surfaces), Ignacio Estella (Avangrid), Luke Winston-Almanzar (Reservoir), Erin Smith (Environmental League of MA)
🌿 Food & Agriculture for Impact · 2:15–3:15 PM — Panelists: Jen Faigel (CommonWealth Kitchen), Christopher Rassias (Bright Feeds), JC Arce (Tidefield)
💼 VC for Impact · 3:15–4:15 PM — Mod: Brigitte Muehlmann · Panelists: Samir Karoum (Bombelli Ventures)
BSEC Sustainability & Impact Venture Showcase
Knight Auditorium · Meet the startups and student ventures building solutions at the intersection of entrepreneurship, sustainability, and climate. An open expo-hall format with exhibitor tables throughout the afternoon — including Babson’s FME student ventures. FoMu ice cream served.
Cocktail Reception & Entrepreneur for Impact Awards
Drinks, FoMu ice cream, and light bites as we celebrate the 20th anniversary with the community that built BSEC. The inaugural Entrepreneur for Impact Award recognizes entrepreneurs who have dedicated their careers to building a more sustainable and equitable world. Group photo with speakers and BSEC leadership. The reception flows into open community networking from 5:30 PM — continue the conversation with founders, investors, alumni, and the next generation of impact entrepreneurs.
Charles River Earth Day Cleanup
Join the 27th Annual Charles River Watershed Association Earth Day Cleanup at Elm Bank on the Charles River — right in Babson’s backyard. Pick up litter, restore the watershed, and extend the spirit of the conference into action. Open to all conference attendees. Free student volunteer registration available; sponsored team spots also available.
Meet the Speakers
A full day of bold ideas
and real connections
Four tracks. One keynote. A showcase. An inaugural award. And the community that makes it all matter.
Morning Program: Vision & Context
Knight Auditorium · Alumni spotlights, keynote conversations, and a headline keynote address from David Evans Shaw — introduced by Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr.
Five "For Impact" Tracks
Afternoon breakouts in Malloy Hall — five one-hour sessions across three time blocks, running two concurrently per block.
- Energy for Impact
- VC for Impact
- Food & Agriculture for Impact
- Fashion for Impact
- Oceans for Impact
BSEC Sustainability & Impact Venture Showcase
Spotlighting the next generation of climate and sustainability solutions — an open expo-hall format in Knight Auditorium. Babson FME student ventures and external innovators exhibiting throughout the afternoon.
Entrepreneur for Impact Award
The inaugural Entrepreneur for Impact Award recognizes entrepreneurs who have dedicated their work to building a more sustainable and equitable world. Integrated into the closing cocktail reception at 4:30 PM.
Inaugural · April 24, 2026Our Sponsors Make This Possible
BSEC has spent 20 years building bridges between students, founders, and the organizations driving sustainability forward. Your sponsorship puts your brand at the center of that community.
FME Good Business Index
Join our sponsor community
Reach 150–200 sustainability-focused students, alumni, founders, and investors. Limited sponsorship packages available — contact us to learn more.
Join Us for the
20th Annual Conference
Whether you helped build BSEC or are joining us for the first time — this is the conference to be at.
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