Saint-Gobain announces sponsorship of Cleantech Open Northeast

Saint-Gobain, one of the world’s largest building materials companies and manufacturer of innovative material solutions, today announced its sponsorship of Cleantech Open Northeast (CTONE), the world’s oldest and largest cleantech accelerator dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and technologists the resources needed to launch a successful cleantech company. Cleantech Open Northeast is managed by NECEC as the on-the-ground affiliate.

As a Cleantech Open Northeast Sponsor at the Contributor level, Saint-Gobain will provide startups that participate in the accelerator access to Saint-Gobain experts in sustainable construction and innovative materials, as well as the opportunity to network with NOVA by Saint-Gobain team members to solidify their pitches and obtain guidance on funding initiatives. NOVA by Saint-Gobain is the venturing arm of Saint-Gobain.

“Saint-Gobain is a respected and reputable partner for connecting startups with the resources, support and expertise needed to succeed,” said Beth E. Zonis, Northeast Regional Director, Cleantech Open Northeast at NECEC. “Saint-Gobain’s commitment to supporting Cleantech Open Northeast comes at the perfect time for startups that plan to participate in the 2021 Cleantech Open Northeast Accelerator Program.”

The Cleantech Open Accelerator Program is open to all early-stage clean energy and environmental sustainability startups and includes five months of entrepreneurship-focused cleantech-specific mentoring, training, resources, visibility, and access to capital to boost startups to the next level, culminating at the Cleantech Open Global Forum event in October 2021. The application deadline is April 18, 2021.

Since 2006, NOVA by Saint-Gobain has helped create more than 150 partnerships for transformative innovation with startups in various stages and in various forms, including co-development, licensing, commercial agreements, direct investments, and joint ventures. NOVA is also a limited partner in several global funds.

“Cleantech Open Northeast has a rich history of finding, funding, and fostering entrepreneurs with ideas to solve our greatest environmental and energy challenges, which is similar to our more than 350-year history at Saint-Gobain,” said Minas Apelian, Vice President, Internal and External Venturing, Saint-Gobain. “With our support of Cleantech Open Northeast, we look forward to expanding our engagement with startups and providing access to our internal resources and support with a goal of developing long-term relationships.”

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About Saint-Gobain

Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and solutions for the construction, mobility, healthcare and other industrial application markets. Developed through a continuous innovation process, they can be found everywhere in our living places and daily life, providing wellbeing, performance and safety, while addressing the challenges of sustainable construction, resource efficiency and the fight against climate change. This strategy of responsible growth is guided by the Saint-Gobain purpose, “MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER HOME,” which responds to the shared ambition of all the women and men in the Group to act every day to make the world a more beautiful and sustainable place to live in.

€38.1 billion in sales in 2020

More than 167, 000 employees, located in 70 countries

Committed to achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050

For more details on Saint-Gobain, visit www.saint-gobain.com and follow us on Twitter @sgnova or @saintgobain.

About Cleantech Open Northeast

Cleantech Open Northeast is part of Cleantech Open, the world’s oldest and largest cleantech accelerator, and is managed by NECEC as the on-the-ground affiliate. Cleantech Open is the world’s oldest and largest cleantech accelerator and is dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and technologists the resources needed to launch a successful cleantech company. Its mission is to find, fund, and foster entrepreneurs with big ideas that address today’s most urgent energy, environmental, and economic challenges. Cleantech Open provides the infrastructure, expertise and strategic relationships that turn clever ideas into successful global cleantech companies. Fueled by a network of more than 2,000 volunteers, Cleantech Open unites the public and private sectors in a shared vision for making America’s cleantech sector a thriving economic engine. Between 2005 and 2020, Cleantech Open Northeast trained more than 450 early-stage clean technology startups through its annual business accelerator. Sixty-eight percent of Cleantech Open Northeast alumni are still in business, raised more than $650 million, created more than 3,300 clean economy jobs, and generated more than $280 million in revenue. For more information, visit cleantechopen.org.

About NECEC

NECEC is the premier voice of businesses building a world-class clean energy hub in the Northeast, helping clean energy companies start, scale, and succeed with our unique business, innovation, and policy leadership. NECEC includes the Northeast Clean Energy Council, a nonprofit business member organization, and NECEC Institute, a nonprofit focused on industry research, innovation, policy development, and strategic communications. NECEC’s innovation program includes Cleantech Open Northeast, the Northeast affiliate of the national cleantech accelerator Cleantech Open, and Cleantech Navigate, which provides cleantech startups with curated connections to mentors, test sites, customers, corporate partners, and investors. NECEC brings together business leaders and key stakeholders to engage in influential policy discussions and business initiatives while building connections that propel the clean energy industry forward. Visit NECEC.org.