Greentown Go Make 2025 with Evonik has successfully wrapped up after eight transformative months. Furthering its mission of meeting customer demand for natural and environmentally friendly alternative ingredients for personal-care products, Evonik partnered with Greentown Labs to identify like-minded startups that could become potential partners along this journey.
Greentown Go is designed to fast-track startup-corporate partnerships to advance climatetech. This iteration of the open-innovation program focused on technologies that reduce products’ manufacturing-related emissions and end-of-life environmental impact and provided a forum for Evonik to engage with two innovative startups, Ecovia-bio and La Fabrique Végétale.
Impactful Collaborations
The teams rolled up their sleeves and began collaborating effectively from day one after setting up critical KPIs. Biweekly meetings were established between Evonik and the respective startups, fostering enhanced communication and cooperation. Samples were provided, and testing was conducted in the partner labs on material performance and personal care applications. Additionally, Greentown facilitated two in-person workshops covering topics critical for technology commercialization in the personal care industry, further building trust among the participants. These workshops served as excellent platforms for feedback on the sample exchanges and encouraged ongoing dialogue. The continuous dialogue strengthened relationships and enhanced innovation. Overall, these measures significantly contributed to our advancement and laid a solid foundation for our ongoing collaborative efforts.
Expected and Unexpected Value
“One of the most valuable aspects of the Go program was the cultivation of a sense of openness that enabled a remarkably deep level of collaboration in a short period,” stated Kathrin Brandt, Head of New Growth Area Biopolymers at Evonik Creavis. “The synergy between Evonik’s internal teams and the innovative startups exceeded our initial expectations.”
Beyond the tangible outcomes, such as the development of sustainable alternatives for personal-care products, this program has fostered cross-functional collaboration among Evonik’s Personal Care Business, Corporate Venture Capital office, and numerous Research, Development & Innovation teams.
Driving Accountability and Momentum
The structured approach of the Go program was pivotal in driving accountability and maintaining momentum. Regular check-ins and milestone tracking ensured focus and alignment, allowing the teams to achieve significant progress throughout the program. This framework created a sense of urgency and commitment that propelled the collaborations forward. The Go program has also enhanced internal alignment within Evonik and facilitated the prioritization of resources to meet deadlines effectively.
Broad Impact
Greentown Go programs are structured to complement companies’ existing sustainability efforts by providing broader perspectives on developments in the innovation ecosystem and lowering barriers for corporates to engage with innovative startups.
“Working with Greentown Labs, with their expertise in fostering startup-corporate partnerships, provided us with the necessary guidance and resources to accelerate this initiative far more than we could have alone,” stated Anil Saxena, Vice President RD&I at Evonik.