CertainTeed, Saint-Gobain NOVA and Greentown Labs Launch InNOVAte 2019 Challenge

CertainTeed, Saint-Gobain’s leading building and construction brand in North America, along with Saint-Gobain NOVA, the external ventures arm of one of the world’s largest building materials companies and manufacturer of innovative material solutions, and Greentown Labs, the largest cleantech incubator in the U.S., announce the call for applicants for the Greentown Labs InNOVAte 2019 Challenge. The Challenge is actively seeking entrepreneurs and innovators with an eye to disrupt the built environment value chain.

Applications for the InNOVAte 2019 Challenge are due by April 8, 2019 at 11:59 P.M. EST. To apply or learn more about the program, please visit: https://www.nova-saint-gobain.com/en/innovate-2019-challenge.

The Greentown Labs InNOVAte 2019 Challenge is the latest iteration of Greentown Launch, a six-month, industry specific accelerator program designed to drive deals between entrepreneurs and corporate partners. InNOVAte 2019 will provide startups with intensive business training, hands-on mentorship from industry experts and a unique approach to startup and corporate relationship building.

“Through partnering with Greentown Labs, we will be able to leverage our in-market expertise, resources and network of contractors, distributors and builders to help startups grow and scale their businesses by providing critical early stage feedback,” said Minas Apelian, Vice President of R&D, Quality and External Venturing at Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed. “By exchanging ideas, we can help startups develop a tailored solution that benefits both parties while improving the built environment value chain.”

Specifically, the challenge aims to attract startups focused on emerging technologies that enable a new value within the residential and commercial building value chains across North America. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Design and Plan: Processes, tools and technologies to improve planning and construction, including selection and specification of materials and solutions.
  • Procure and Distribute: Materials, products and services (physical and virtual) ordered and delivered from manufacturer to jobsite and/or end user and all steps in between.
  • Build and Construct: Processes, tools and technologies to enable construction, including materials installation and management. Enabling efficient and high-quality installation plus collaboration between different stakeholders including architects, general contractors, builders and specialty construction trades (specific to North America).
  • Operate and Occupy: Connecting product and material solutions to enhance value created for owners and occupants.

Since 2014, Saint-Gobain has served as a Terawatt Sponsor of Greentown Labs, helping to connect the incubator’s startups with company resources. Saint-Gobain extended its partnership with the incubator and underscored its commitment to innovation by providing a variety of building materials and becoming a Founding Sponsor of Greentown Labs’ Global Center for Cleantech Innovation in 2017. The launch of the InNOVAte 2019 Challenge demonstrates another element of Saint-Gobain and Greentown Labs’ deep, long-standing partnership.

“Greentown Labs is proud to expand our partnership with Saint-Gobain to attract innovators and entrepreneurs who are poised to disrupt the built environment value chain,” said Greentown Labs CEO Dr. Emily Reichert. “Our multi-year partnership with Saint-Gobain continues to grow and we’re confident that by combining the resources and expertise of Greentown Labs and Saint-Gobain NOVA we will provide selected startups with an invaluable opportunity to test their ideas and accelerate their go-to-market strategy.”

Selected program awardee(s) may be eligible for the following awards and benefits, including:

  • Partnership and/or investment from Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed by the end of the program
  • $25,000 in non-dilutive grant funding
  • Desk space at the Greentown Labs Global Center for Cleantech Innovation
  • Acceptance into Greentown Launch, a six-month acceleration program
  • Exclusive access to Greentown Labs’ and Saint-Gobain’s networks
  • Access to select Saint-Gobain testing capabilities, technical facilities and expertise

Submissions will be evaluated based on startups’ ability to disrupt the built environment value chain and applicants’ IP will be fully protected throughout the review process.

About Greentown Labs

Greentown Labs is a community of bold, passionate entrepreneurs creating game-changing energy technologies that transform the way we live, work, and play. Located in Somerville, Mass., and founded in 2011, the Greentown Labs Global Center for Cleantech Innovation is the largest cleantech incubator in the United States, operating a 100,000 sq. ft. campus comprised of prototyping and wet lab space, shared office space, a machine shop, electronics lab, and a curated suite of programs and resources. Greentown Labs is home to more than 90 startups that collectively employ more than 1,000 people and have raised more than $350 million in funding. The incubators’ mission is to provide startups with the community, resources, and space they need to solve today’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. For more information, please visit www.greentownlabs.com or find us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

About Saint-Gobain NOVA

NOVA, Saint-Gobain’s External Ventures arm, is dedicated to fostering partnerships with startups, incubators, and venture capital funds all over the world. Since 2006, NOVA identifies forward-thinking startups whose philosophies align with Saint-Gobain’s focus on well-being and sustainability and connects these startups with the resources and experience of Saint-Gobain. See www.nova-saint-gobain.com

About CertainTeed

CertainTeed Corporation is a North American manufacturer of building materials for both commercial and residential construction and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saint-Gobain. CertainTeed® is a leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, insulation, gypsum and ceilings. CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 6,300 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. Learn more about CertainTeed by visiting www.certainteed.com.

About Saint-Gobain in North America

Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest building materials companies and manufacturer of innovative material solutions, helps create great living spaces by combining comfort and sustainability. For more than three-and-a-half centuries, Saint-Gobain has been enhancing the wellbeing of people everywhere, whether it’s by addressing climate change, delivering true sustainable development, advancing the information revolution, participating in medical breakthroughs or playing a vital role in space exploration. In North America, Saint-Gobain has approximately 160 locations and more than 15,000 employees. In the United States and Canada, Saint-Gobain reported sales of approximately $6.1 billion in 2017. Learn more about Saint-Gobain North America by visiting www.saint-gobain-northamerica.com and connect with Saint-Gobain North America on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.