Please join us on Thursday, February 6 to celebrate the successful conclusion of the Circularity Challenge!

The Greentown Labs Circularity Challenge is a six-month accelerator program for startups developed in partnership with BASF, one of the world’s leading chemical companies. The program intends to advance innovative ideas to disrupt the plastics, energy storage and recycling value chains to enable a circular economy. The Circularity Challenge is focused on connecting entrepreneurs with mentors, team members, business, and technical resources they need to launch successful ventures with partnership from BASF and support from Stanley Black and Decker.

At this event attendees will:

• Have the opportunity to network with VIPs and executives from BASF

• Listen to pitches from the Circularity Challenge startup participants

• Learn more about startup progress, accomplishments and successful results of working closely with supporting partners

• Learn more about the circular economy’s impact on the environment, value chains, economic growth and the deployment of new innovation

• Learn more about BASF’s innovation priorities and the Circularity Challenge

Meet this year's participants:

• Corumat, based in California, USA, is a materials science company on a mission to eliminate plastic waste and fight climate change. Corumat uses materials science to micro-engineer bioplastics to make lighter, stronger, cheaper products.

• Nexus Fuels, based in Georgia, USA, is an operational, commercially-scaled 50 ton/day plant converting waste plastics to feedstocks, which in turn can be converted back to virgin plastics through molecular recycling.

• Circularise, based in The Hague, Netherlands, is a blockchain transparency solution with a patent-pending “smart questioning” technology that guarantees proof of sustainability, circular economy, and recycling practices for brands and manufacturers that aim for high sustainability standards and want to avoid greenwashing.

• Interface Polymers, based in Loughborough, England, is working to become the global leader in compatibility and surface functionality solutions for the polyolefin industry. Their unique Polarfin® additives offer the plastics industry worldwide the ability to transform performance and cost competitiveness in any market application where interfacial compatibility or surface properties are important.

• American Battery Metals Corporation, based in Nevada, USA, is an American-owned company that is meeting the global battery metals supply chain challenges with innovative, environmentally-sustainable solutions. The company’s vertical strategies leverage its exploration and mining operations with self-supporting extraction and battery recycling divisions.

Check out the Circularity Challenge landing page for more information on this accelerator.

Questions? We have answers! FAQs:

*Who is BASF?

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 20,000 employees in North America and had sales of $19.7 billion in 2018. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.us.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 122,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €63 billion in 2018. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.

*Who is Stanley Black and Decker?

Stanley Black & Decker is a $14 billion revenue, $20+ billion market capitalization, purpose-driven industrial organization. Stanley Black & Decker has 60,000 employees in more than 60 countries and operates the world's largest tools and storage business, the world's second largest commercial electronic security company, a leading engineered fastening business as well as Oil & Gas and Infrastructure businesses. The company's iconic brands include BLACK+DECKER, Bostitch, CRAFTSMAN, DEWALT, FACOM, Irwin, Lenox, Porter Cable and Stanley. Stanley Black & Decker is a company for the makers and innovators, the craftsmen and the caregivers, and those doing the hard work to make the world a better place. Learn more at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com.

*Who is Greentown Labs?

Greentown Labs is a community of bold, passionate entrepreneurs creating solutions for today’s biggest climate and environmental challenges. Located in Somerville, Mass., and founded in 2011, the Greentown Labs Global Center for Cleantech Innovation is the largest cleantech incubator in North America, 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 and has supported more than 210 since its inception. These startups collectively employ more than 2,800 people and have raised more than $650 million in funding. The incubators’ mission is to provide entrepreneurs with the community, resources, and space they need to thrive. For more information, please visit www.greentownlabs.com or find us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

*What is Greentown Launch?

Greentown Launch is a six-month, industry specific, structured acceleration program designed to drive deals between entrepreneurs and corporate partners. Over the last four years, Greentown Labs has run four Greentown Launch programs that have resulted in investment and partnership deals for over 65% of startup participants. We facilitate these deals through more than 80 hours of intensive business training, hands on mentorship from industry experts and a unique model of startup and corporate relationship building. Beyond our unique partnership curation program, startups accepted into this program gain the ability to access our network of more than 150 investors and 40 corporate partners while gaining access to state of the art lab, business and software tools including SOLIDWORKS, Altium, a machine shop, electronics equipment, wet lab, legal and marketing support.

The program is hosted at Greentown Labs’ Global Center for Cleantech Innovation, one of the world’s most renowned energy innovation hubs. Entrepreneurs selected for this program will receive paid desk space at Greentown Labs for the duration of the six month program.

Questions about Greentown Labs + BASF Circularity Challenge Challenge Kick-off? Contact Greentown Labs at launch@greentownlabs.com

*What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?

Greentown Labs does not have any parking but we're a short 1-mile walk from the Harvard MBTA station down Kirkland and Washington Streets. Union Square in Somerville is also easily accessible via the #86 and #91 MBTA buses. We offer indoor bike parking on-site and the closest Bluebikes stations are at Dane St., Conway Park and Union Square.

*What's the dress code?

Business casual.

*Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

Save the paper! No need to print your ticket.

*How can I contact the organizer with any questions?

You could send a drone with a message but it's probably easiest to just send an email; please reach out to us at launch@greentownlabs.com :)

Please note that by registering to attend this event you are accepting these terms: You acknowledge that alcohol will be served and all attendees are subject to be ID'ed (only those 21+ will be served); You consent to your image or likeness being used in content associated with the event; You release Greentown Labs and all partners from any and all liability stemming from any event-related incident.