Three people gathered around a table looking at a scale model of a building, with architectural plans and books on the table, in a modern office setting.

Innovating the future of affordable housing

Nova Cottage Co. was founded in 2024 as an Idealab Studio company. In November 2025, Nova Cottage Co. was accepted into the Los Angeles Clean Tech Incubator (LACI) Cohort 11 focused on resilient rebuilding. We are headquartered in Pasadena, California. We're excited to work with organizations passionate about housing. Contact us and let's partner up!

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A small green house with a yellow door and multiple windows is situated in a lush yard surrounded by trees with autumn foliage. There are white rocking chairs and potted plants near the entrance, with a forested background.

The Nova Cozy Cottage model home in Pasadena, California.

Open office space with multiple computer workstations, a curved yellow desk, and people working at their desks. Office decor includes flowers, and a sign on the back wall reads 'idea ab!'
Three people discussing a technical diagram on a whiteboard, which includes drawings of machinery, pipes, and labels related to water or fuel systems.
Three people are gathered around a laptop and monitor, looking at a design on the screen, in what appears to be a collaborative work environment or tech workspace.
Person drawing a landscape plan with colored pens on white paper, showing houses, landscaping, and a sports court.
A person working on a laptop displaying a 3D house design in CAD software.

Nova Cottage Co. Leadership

  • Man with glasses and a blue shirt smiling, standing against a brick wall on a sidewalk.

    Bill Gross

    Founder and Chairman

    Caltech alumnus Bill Gross is the founder of Idealab, a Pasadena-based startup incubator that looks to solve big problems by bringing together exceptional technology and talented teams. Idealab boasts 20+ years of company creation in climate tech and infrastructure.

    LinkedIN
  • A man with short dark hair smiling, wearing a navy blazer with a pin on the lapel and a light blue collared shirt, standing outdoors with a blurred green foliage background.

    Jeff Howard

    Co-founder and CEO

    Jeff Howard is an experienced founder in the housing industry with decades of experience in business operations and large-scale humanitarian projects. He has worked with representatives in the U.S. Congress advocating for human rights issues. He previously co-founded Vika Living, a safe, flexible, interim housing solution.

    LINKEDIN
  • A woman with short, curly brown hair smiling and looking at the camera, wearing a black jacket, with a blurred background of art on the wall and a window.

    Caroline Paules

    Co-founder and Head of Engineering

    Caroline is a Caltech-educated mechanical engineer devoted to making people's lives better through intelligent, analysis-driven design. She has developed novel technology in the fields of green energy, sustainable mass manufacturing, off-grid blackwater treatment, electric vehicles, robotics, and public transportation.

    LinkedIn
  • A woman with dark curly hair, glasses, and earrings is smiling, wearing a pink top and carrying a backpack, with an urban cityscape and mountains in the background during sunset.

    Karin Najarian

    Co-founder and Head of Design

    Karin Najarian is a leader in housing innovations including 3D Concrete Printing and Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs). She’s an award-winning designer for new technologies applied to net-zero residential construction. Karin is a LEED Green Associate and Associate AIA Member.

    LinkedIn