UK-based building materials supplier Travis Perkins has formed an accelerator called BreakThru that will invest in and provide assistance to startups, Retail Gazette has reported.
Travis Perkins oversees a network of businesses including home improvement retail chain Wickes, and tools and building equipment retailer Toolstation as well as its eponymous flagship brand.
The 11-week Breakthru initiative will work with startups developing health and safety, digitalisation and customer service technology, and will collaborate with corporate innovation specialist L Marks.
John Carter, CEO of Travis Perkins, said: “Our goal is to provide a seamless customer experience through harnessing the latest innovations and ideas brought by startups.
“We hope the startups who join us can challenge us internally, while we also hope to provide them with the expertise and support to take their product or solution to the next level.”