USA – Global consumer goods company, Unilever, has joined Greentown Labs, one of the largest cleantech start-up incubator in North America, as a Terawatt-level Partner.
Unilever’s partnership with the incubator seeks to support the advancement of sustainable products and supply chains.
Greentown Labs’ network of early-stage startups will now have the unique opportunity to connect and potentially collaborate with one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies.
“At Unilever we have ambitious sustainable growth targets. We’re excited to be joining Greentown Labs as a partner and working with a new community of entrepreneurs, exploring innovations and different solutions to work towards our sustainability goals,” says Marc Engel, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Unilever.
“Unilever has been a pioneer in deploying science-based sustainability goals and incorporating them into the DNA of the organization,” said Emily Reichert, CEO of Greentown Labs.
“They have helped set the standard for what global corporations can achieve when they commit to courageous climate action goals.
“We’re thrilled to partner with them and eager to see how our organizations will collaborate this year and, in many years, to come!”
Key elements of Unilever’s partnership include: Startup Pitch Day: Greentown Labs will coordinate meetings with Greentown Labs’ member startups or external, regional startups to provide access to vetted deal flow.
Sector Pitch Days: As a unique offering for Greentown Labs’ Terawatt and Gigawatt partners, Unilever will gain access to events focused on technological, business, and innovation trends within emerging technology sectors.
Corporate Innovation Day: Greentown Labs will host an event for Unilever executives to tour and receive an overview of Greentown Labs, learn about the best practices of open innovation, and see presentations from relevant member startups.
Wendy Herrick, Vice President of Digital Supply Chain, will join also Greentown Labs’ Advisory Board which provides strategic guidance and input to the incubator on growth planning, partnership development, and other areas.
Unilever executives will also host office hours and informational sessions with Greentown Labs’ startup community to showcase their areas of expertise, innovation priorities, and engagement opportunities for startups to connect with the company.
Greentown Labs operates a 100,000 sq. ft. campus which provides startups with a robust network of strategic partners, prototyping lab space, a wet lab, a machine and electronics shop, office space for more than 500 entrepreneurs, a 600-person event space, and a variety of flexible membership options.
Located in Somerville, Massechusetts, Greentown Labs is home to more than 100 startups and has supported more than 250 startups since its inception in 2011.
According to Greentown Labs, these startups have collectively created more than 6,500 direct jobs and have raised more than US$750 million in funding.
