Program
Through interactive sessions and extended post-event resources, Developer U equips CEOs and senior-level executives of climate companies with strategies, skills, and insights needed to deploy their technologies at scale.
Through interactive sessions and extended post-event resources, Developer U equips CEOs and senior-level executives of climate companies with strategies, skills, and insights needed to deploy their technologies at scale.
Developer U targets executives at companies approaching the inflection point between technology innovation and large-scale deployment. Most participants are preparing to build their first demonstration or commercial project within the next one to three years, often after raising Series A to Series C venture funding to accelerate technology. Earlier- or later-stage companies might also participate depending on the maturity of their technology.
For companies at this stage, hands-on, strategic insights into project finance and development are essential. Through real-world lessons and case studies shared by expert “faculty”, entrepreneurs gain practical strategies to improve capital efficiency and project execution. Developer U’s rich content and peer network save companies significant time and resources, helping them avoid costly missteps before executing their projects.
Our comprehensive program covers topics like:
Gain a strong foundation in the core principles that transform innovative climate technologies into viable infrastructure projects. This module emphasizes the technical, operational, and organizational elements required for successful project delivery.
Explore strategies for structuring and managing Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) contracts and long-term O&M agreements. Learn how to align incentives, control costs, and ensure reliable performance across the project’s lifecycle.
Explore strategies for structuring and managing Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) contracts and long-term O&M agreements. Learn how to align incentives, control costs, and ensure reliable performance across the project’s lifecycle.
Understand how insurance can be leveraged as a critical risk mitigation tool for infrastructure projects. This session provides an overview of when to engage brokers, the coverage types a project might need, and how to negotiate with insurers.
Discover important factors for navigating public policy, permitting, and stakeholder engagement. Learn about opportunities to engage stakeholders to accelerate project buy-in, approval, and support.
Gain a practical introduction to key concepts, structures, and players in climate infrastructure finance. This session demystifies core terms and frameworks to prepare participants for deeper financial discussions.
Learn what investors, banks, and other financiers look for when evaluating credible, bankable projects. This session covers how lenders use to determine project viability and how to position projects to meet institutional investment criteria that startups will face as they scale beyond early-stage funding toward large-scale infrastructure deployment.
Understand practical approaches to financial modeling through detailed examination of pro-formas and typical project finance structures. This session equips startups with the skills to create professional-grade models that support successful fundraising and meet investor expectations.
Examine the legal frameworks and contractual structures that underpin successful project financing. Participants can insights into LLC arrangements, offtake agreements, and IP licensing structures.
Developer U is led by a seasoned faculty of active industry practitioners, including accomplished infrastructure developers, finance experts, and CEOs with firsthand experience developing and financing projects. The program’s faculty includes leaders from the following organizations:
"What an experience! Less of a training, more of a milestone in our company's maturity & growth. A warm reception, professionally run and an exceptional stage for network building. A 'do not miss' opportunity to learn from centuries of true DeepTech scaling expertise. My only regret is that we should have done this sooner..."
"Developer U provided the perfect crash course in planning, structuring, and executing project deployments. It illuminated the extensive roadmap developers must navigate and where the climate ecosystem can support companies. As an investor, it sharpened my understanding of the intricacies of financing deployments and evaluating project investment opportunities."
Developing projects is how we will make a dent in climate change. Anyone looking to scale a novel technology needs to attend this course.
“Two really thoughtful days with like-minded developers and funders. Hearing direct validation of our approach from experts and stakeholders gave me real confidence that we're on the right track. The shared ‘rules of thumb,’ along with the openness and honesty around topics like investor return expectations and EPC contracting, gave me practical tools that will help accelerate business planning and decision-making.”
"We attended Developer U with hopes of beginning to "know what we don't know" about project development in finance. Through the course of the program, we turned many unknown unknowns into known unknowns and made several contacts who can help us as we begin the project development journey. We also reconnected with lots of fellow climate tech startups / investors - learning is always better with colleagues and friends!"
"DevU is a must-attend [workshop] for anyone looking to build bankable projects, and of all the programming around, DevU offers the highest slope learning. Incepted by Spring Lane Capital and housed at CREO, Dev U was built by the best investors and developers for the brightest founders and next-generation of infrastructure."
"What an experience! Less of a training, more of a milestone in our company's maturity & growth. A warm reception, professionally run and an exceptional stage for network building. A 'do not miss' opportunity to learn from centuries of true DeepTech scaling expertise. My only regret is that we should have done this sooner..."
"Developer U provided the perfect crash course in planning, structuring, and executing project deployments. It illuminated the extensive roadmap developers must navigate and where the climate ecosystem can support companies. As an investor, it sharpened my understanding of the intricacies of financing deployments and evaluating project investment opportunities."
Developing projects is how we will make a dent in climate change. Anyone looking to scale a novel technology needs to attend this course.
“Two really thoughtful days with like-minded developers and funders. Hearing direct validation of our approach from experts and stakeholders gave me real confidence that we're on the right track. The shared ‘rules of thumb,’ along with the openness and honesty around topics like investor return expectations and EPC contracting, gave me practical tools that will help accelerate business planning and decision-making.”
"We attended Developer U with hopes of beginning to "know what we don't know" about project development in finance. Through the course of the program, we turned many unknown unknowns into known unknowns and made several contacts who can help us as we begin the project development journey. We also reconnected with lots of fellow climate tech startups / investors - learning is always better with colleagues and friends!"
"DevU is a must-attend [workshop] for anyone looking to build bankable projects, and of all the programming around, DevU offers the highest slope learning. Incepted by Spring Lane Capital and housed at CREO, Dev U was built by the best investors and developers for the brightest founders and next-generation of infrastructure."