SHELTERTECH

Habitat for Humanity’s ShelterTech is a global innovation platform advancing entrepreneurial housing solutions that radically improve the lives of low-income families. Supported by Habitat’s Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter and its partners, ShelterTech puts entrepreneurs at the center of a highly connected ecosystem of collaborators who share a passion for revolutionary solutions in affordable housing. They include investors, financial institutions, corporations, governments, ... peers, mentors and technical experts. The challenge is daunting: 1.6 billion people live in inadequate shelter globally, many in slums and informal settlements that, for generations, have trapped families in a cycle of poverty, poor health and social injustice. But Habitat’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live — and ShelterTech brings this into focus every time someone with a breakthrough housing idea improves their business model in partnership with impact investors, mentors and peers. ShelterTech supports innovation in housing sectors ranging from materials and markets to energy. As the world’s leading platform for affordable housing innovation, ShelterTech is unique in its range of offerings for startups and scaleups and its ongoing support of ShelterTech’s alumni. At the heart of the platform are ShelterTech accelerators, which help bridge the gap between housing innovations and real-world impact. With existing accelerators in Mexico, Kenya and India, ShelterTech now adds two more in 2020: one in Southeast Asia, the other in the Andean region of South America. These accelerators are designed for this critical moment in history, as the world recognizes more than ever the link between health and housing. They will be conducted virtually and focus on housing product and service innovations that work in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants will experience the full journey of acceleration, working with experts to: develop and improve their products; demonstrate their products and services to potential investors; participate in cross-regional, peer-to-peer experiences to exchange knowledge; and join an accelerator alumni group for ongoing online access to mentors and discussions.More