The office space at Greentown Labs

Somerville-based Greentown Labs has announced the most recent batch of green building startups for a new accelerator program created in partnership with construction giant Saint-Gobain.

CertainTeed, Saint-Gobain’s leading building and construction brand in North America, along with its external ventures arm Saint-Gobain NOVA, is sponsoring the inaugural InNOVAte 2019 Challenge, a six-month program intended to come up with new, environmentally-friendly construction techniques and materials for single-family, multifamily and commercial building. 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 mentoring from industry experts and a unique approach to startup and corporate relationship building.

The following startups will be taking part, after being winnowed down from 110 applicants:

• Hyperframe, based in San Francisco, 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, 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. 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, California, provides partially prefabricated walls through automated machinery and software that can minimize cost by 45 percent and reduce labor time by 10 times while simplifying installation.
• Techstyle Materials, based in Providence, Rhode Island, is creating smart, multifunctional construction materials that can enhance building sustainability through increased energy efficiency, comfort and durability.

“We know a significant percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions come from buildings and the built environment and we’re proud to be collaborating with our long-standing partner, Saint-Gobain, to support entrepreneurs who are creating sustainable solutions to this challenge,” Greentown Labs CEO Emily Reichert said in a statement. “We’re eager to see the progress these startups will make throughout InNOVAte 2019 and believe their technologies will help the built environment value chain take action on climate.”

All participants in the program will receive:

• $25,000 in grant funding.
• Acceptance into Greentown Launch, a six-month accelerator program.
• Exclusive access to Greentown Labs’ and Saint-Gobain’s networks.
• Access to Saint-Gobain testing capabilities, technical facilities and expertise.
• Desk space at the Greentown Labs Global Center for Cleantech Innovation.
• Participants may also engage in a partnership opportunity or receive investment from Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed by the end of the program.

“Through the InNOVAte Challenge we are challenging the tried and true conventions of the building industry,” Saint-Gobain and CertainTeed Vice President of Internal and External Venturing Minas Apelian said in a statement. “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.”