Rheem, a leading global water heating and HVAC firm, recently announced its partnership with Plug and Play, a global innovation and startup accelerator platform headquartered in Silicon Valley. Rheem joins as an ecosystem partner for the Plug and Play Internet of Things (IoT) vertical.

Established in 2006, Plug and Play brings together the best startups and the biggest corporations around the world through a series of industry-specific accelerator programs. The Plug and Play IoT program is one of the oldest and most successful programs.

"We are very excited that Rheem, one of the largest manufacturers of water heaters and HVAC equipment in the U.S., is joining our IoT program here in Silicon Valley,” said Sobhan Khani, vice president of Plug and Play. “Digitization is affecting all industries - the home and the office are no different. By combining the power of Plug and Play’s innovation platforms with Rheem’s leadership in the HVAC industry, we aim to bring in new technologies for homeowners and corporations."

“We are equally excited to partner with Plug and Play to further our global innovation strategy. We have a tremendous opportunity to lead the industries that we serve with the most innovative air and water solutions,” said Chris Peel, president and CEO of Rheem. “This partnership will allow us to accelerate our investments in industry leading technologies that provide true benefits to our customers.”

As an ecosystem partner, Rheem will work with Plug and Play startups to enrich the organization’s mission to deliver a greater degree of comfort for customers through customizable solutions, smart home technology and an unwavering commitment to sustainability across its products, processes and people.

“At Rheem, we are a committed innovation leader in our industry,” said Chee Wee Gan, vice president global strategy of Rheem. “By partnering with creative start-ups and thought leaders in technology and HVAC, we will identify key trends as they emerge and accelerate our pace of innovation to deliver the best solutions and experiences for our customers globally.”