Top 50 Rising Stars 2021 continued (in alphabetical order by CVC unit): Benjamin Price, external ventures manager, Saint-Gobain Nova
Ben Price serves as external ventures manager for Saint-Gobain Nova, France-headquartered glassmaker Saint-Gobain’s US-based corporate venture capital (CVC) arm.
Price said: “The Nova team is responsible for driving innovation by connecting startups with the resources and experience of Saint-Gobain. I personally focus on construction technology, innovative building materials and other disruptions to the construction value chain and built environment. I have been in the role for a little under two years and look forward to growing the portfolio, and continued success and collaboration with our current startups.”
Before joining Saint-Gobain and Nova, Price worked as a strategy consultant full-time, and in his free-time started a “micro-micro fund” for funding family and friend-staged startup companies. He explained: “The idea was to split a small share of very early-stage investments between a group of investors. The combination of my interest in developing corporate strategy, paired with my analysing and investing in innovative startup companies led me to CVC. I see CVC as the ideal field at the crossroads of strategy, innovation, research and development, and venture capital.”
Regarding his team’s – and his own – achievements, Price said: “I see the greatest successes as partnerships and investments in companies that drive an environmental sustainability impact. In my opinion, both capital and partnerships with industry leaders are key in having sustainable alternatives or new approaches adopted. According to the UN Environment Programme, buildings and their construction account for 36% of global energy use and 39% of energy-related CO2 emissions. I believe my and the Nova team’s work will put a dent in this.
“Our investment portfolio has increased substantially to over 19 companies and I am excited to have sourced and lead on a substantial number of these. I see the breadth of our investments ranging from hardware to software companies as a major success. Recent investments I see as successes include Ossia, Ecomedes, Hyperframe, Inovues and Unity Homes.”
