These four ideas might be the future
More than 110 startups in the building arena – specifically, the “built environment value chain” – submitted their ideas in the first ever InNOVAate 2019 Challenge. The judges have selected four winners – each will participate in a six-month accelerator program to develop their disruptive technologies.
The program is organized by a trio of companies – CertainTeed, the North American brand of Saint-Gobain; Saint-Gobain NOVA, the external ventures arm of the building products company; and Greentown Labs, a cleantech incubator.
And the winners are:
"Through the InNOVAte Challenge we are challenging the tried and true conventions of the building industry," said Minas Apelian, VP of internal and external venturing at Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed. "Our accelerator program will provide these startups with the resources and reach to disrupt on the world's oldest industrial ecosystems and achieve tangible business outcomes. We are excited to partner with the winners to develop unique, tailored growth and development strategies through every step of the incubation process."
According to the announcement, the InNOVAte Challenge is focused on developing emerging technologies to enable new value within the residential (single and multi-family homes) and the commercial building value chains across North America. The challenge allows entrepreneurs and innovators to receive support and guidance in launching a successful venture. The chosen class of 2019 will receive intensive business training, hands-on mentorship from industry experts and a unique approach to startup and corporate relationship building.
The program is organized by a trio of companies – CertainTeed, the North American brand of Saint-Gobain; Saint-Gobain NOVA, the external ventures arm of the building products company; and Greentown Labs, a cleantech incubator.
And the winners are:
- Hyperframe, based in San Francisco, Calif., is designing, manufacturing, and distributing a new class of building components that can be installed without tools or skills. Its products include a steel framing system for commercial buildings which can be installed up to 75 percent faster and 30 percent cheaper than traditional materials.
- Inovues, based in Houston, Texas, is developing a non-intrusive building envelope retrofit system that enables the windows and glass facades of existing buildings to be upgraded as energy efficient and smart without requiring any replacement, alteration, or drilling.
Inovues
The system can increase window insulation by up to 10 times and can save owners up to 40 percent on energy consumption. - Pre Framing Corp., based in Berkeley, Calif., provides partially pre-fabricated walls through automated machinery and software that can minimize cost by 45% and reduce labor time by a factor of 10 while simplifying installation.
- Techstyle Materials, based in Providence, R.I., is creating smart multifunctional construction materials that can enhance building sustainability through increased energy efficiency, comfort and durability.
"Through the InNOVAte Challenge we are challenging the tried and true conventions of the building industry," said Minas Apelian, VP of internal and external venturing at Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed. "Our accelerator program will provide these startups with the resources and reach to disrupt on the world's oldest industrial ecosystems and achieve tangible business outcomes. We are excited to partner with the winners to develop unique, tailored growth and development strategies through every step of the incubation process."
According to the announcement, the InNOVAte Challenge is focused on developing emerging technologies to enable new value within the residential (single and multi-family homes) and the commercial building value chains across North America. The challenge allows entrepreneurs and innovators to receive support and guidance in launching a successful venture. The chosen class of 2019 will receive intensive business training, hands-on mentorship from industry experts and a unique approach to startup and corporate relationship building.