Experts – Cemex Ventures https://www.cemexventures.com Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:56:29 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.3 H1 2025 Industry Insights: Contech & Cleantech  https://www.cemexventures.com/h1-2025-industry-insights-contech-cleantech/ Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:29:05 +0000 https://www.cemexventures.com/?p=111237

The first half of 2025 brings good news and some pretty exciting numbers when it comes to the investment landscape — and we’re here to tell you all about it. 📈 

That said, the game has changed compared to previous years, with disruptive technologies taking center stage. Interesting, right? Here are some insights from the Cemex Ventures investment team, who’ve gathered the most relevant takeaways from 2025 so far. 

Let’s go! 

Q2 2025 Summary 

Q2 2025 was busier than ever! Investments totaled US$660.5M across 91 deals. Compared to Q2 2024, the total amount invested increased slightly by 19%, while the number of deals rose by 24%. 

  • Total Investment: $660.5M 
  • Total number of deals: 91 
Graphic 1_Q2 2025 Summary

Taking a big-picture view of H1 2025, total investment volume reached US$2.023 billion, marking a significant 55% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Another clear sign of growth: the number of deals rose to 192, representing a 31% increase over the first half of 2024. 

Graphic 2_Updated_Q2 Contech Data

Investment by Focus Area

Technologies focused on productivity improvement and disruption are receiving the most attention in 2025 so far. The breakdown by investment amount in Q2 2025 across Cemex Ventures’ four market-driven opportunity areas was: 

Focus Area Graphic
  • Enhanced Productivity: 45% 
  • Future of Construction: 30% 
  • Green Construction: 15% 
  • Construction Supply Chain: 10% 

Key Note: It’s important to highlight the sharp drop in investment in sustainable solutions (Green Construction) during this period. Historically, this category has consistently ranked alongside Enhanced Productivity as one of the top two fastest-growing technology areas.  

This phenomenon may be driven by reduced interest in the U.S., stemming from the new administration’s deprioritization of sustainability. Meanwhile, Europe continues to move toward a greener economy and industry, albeit at a slower pace. We’ll keep an eye on green construction deals in the coming quarters to better understand long-term trends. 

45% of the deals were related to AI, which continues pushing productivity transactions this year. 

In terms of investment share (%), Enhanced Productivity has clearly emerged as the dominant focus area, accounting for 45% of total funding. This includes solutions such as geotechnical analysis, BIM and digital twins, health and safety tools, and project tendering, among others. 

Close behind was Future of Construction, capturing 30% of total investment, a notable resurgence for a focus area that has rarely held such a strong position. It includes technologies like 3D printing, robotics, smart buildings, and automated construction. 

Investment by Region

The majority of Contech and Cleantech investment in Q2 2025 was concentrated in North America, continuing a trend seen over the past few years, with figures very similar to those in Q2 2024 (2024: 55%, 2025: 57%). As usual, Europe followed, also maintaining a comparable share to the same period last year (2024: 30%, 2025: 29%). 

North America & Europe are leading compared to other regions (86% of the deals) in the first half of the year

Below is the breakdown of investment amounts by region for Q2 2025:

World Map Investment

Top Deals in Q2 2025

Every month, our investment team tracks and compiles the top deals in Contech and Cleantech. Here are our top 3 picks: 

  • Gecko Robotics raised $125M in Series D: Gecko Robotics, which uses robots and AI to help organizations including the U.S. military inspect and monitor critical infrastructure, raised a $125 million Series D, bringing its valuation to $1.25 billion. Read more!  
  • AIM secured $50M in new funding: AIM  Intelligent Machines, Seattle-area startup that retrofits heavy earthmoving machinery to operate autonomously, raised $50 million in new funding. Read more! 
  • Buildots closed $45M in Series D: Buildots raised $45 million in a Series D funding round led by Qumra Capital, with participation from OG Venture Partners, TLV Partners, Poalim Equity, Future Energy Ventures, and Viola Growth. Read more!  

Key Takeaways from our Experts

Closing out H2, here are our main takeaways 🔍 

  • Q2-2025 showed improved investment figures and deal activity compared to the same quarter last year, although it dropped compared to Q1-2025, where we registered a relevant investment volume of +$1,360M. 
  • The first half of 2025 showed strong results ($2,023M) compared to the same period of 2024 ($1,304M) and 2023 ($1,228M). 
  • Activity continues to increase, especially in early-stage rounds (pre-seed to series A).  
  • Strategics were active during the period with relevant deals, especially in the cement industry. Cemex Ventures closed 2 deals during this period (Terra CO2 and Optimitive). 
  • In the first half of the year, productivity and green construction projects account for two-thirds (66%) of the total invested capital. 

Whether you’re a startup, SME, corporate, building professional, media journalist, or just plain curious, we’d love to hear from you! Reach out through our website or follow us on LinkedIn and X.  

Want to stay in the loop on the latest Contech deals and news? Subscribe to our biweekly Contech Tacos newsletter! 🌮 

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]]> Q1 2025 Industry Insights: Contech & Cleantech  https://www.cemexventures.com/q1-2025-industry-insights-contech-cleantech/ Tue, 15 Apr 2025 07:56:28 +0000 https://www.cemexventures.com/?p=110298

April Fools’ season is here! This can only mean one thing: The first quarter of 2025 is officially in the books. If you’re wondering what went down during the first few (definitely not quiet) months of the year, we’ve got you covered. 

In this quick-read article, we’re breaking down the latest investment moves across Contech and Cleantech that have been applied to the built environment. With the construction industry in the thick of a digital and sustainable transformation, the Cemex Ventures investment team has rounded up the key trends and insights from January to March. 

So, let’s take a look at Q1! 

Q1 2025 Summary 

In the first quarter of 2025, the total investment volume reached US$1.39 billion across 99 deals. Compared to Q1 2024, this represents a 85% increase in the number of transactions—despite prevailing uncertainty, Q1 has performed well relative to the same period last year. That said, it will be important to assess the impact of broader macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty as the year progresses. 

  • Total investment: $1.39Bn 
  • Total number of deals: 99 
Q1 2025 SUMMARY GRAPHIC

Investment by Focus Area 

Construction technologies are at the forefront of transforming the way we build. In Q1 2025, Cemex Ventures’ investment strategy was focused on 4 key market-driven opportunities. Here’s how the investment was distributed across these transformative areas: 

  • Green Construction (GC): 36% 
  • Construction Supply Chain (CSC): 19% 
  • Enhanced Productivity (EP): 33% 
  • Future of Construction (FC): 12% 

The biggest shift compared to Q1 2024 came from Construction Supply Chain solutions, which jumped from capturing just 8% of total investment to an impressive 19%. Meanwhile, Future of Construction technologies also gained momentum, nearly doubling their investment volume year over year. 

FOCUS AREAS

In terms of the amount of money invested (%), Green Construction (36%) was the most active Focus Area, encompassing solutions related to decarbonization, Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS), circular business models, sustainable materials, water conservation, etc. Following very closely behind was investment in Enhanced Productivity (33%), which includes solutions such as project design and budgeting, geotechnical analysis, project bidding, and document management, among other solutions that improve construction efficiency. 

Investment by Region 

Continuing the trends from 2024 & 2023, most of Contech & Cleantech investments – almost 50% – in the first quarter were concentrated in the United States. However, we saw a significant increase in capital deployed across Europe and the Asia Pacific (APAC) regions compared to Q1 2024. For more information about last year’s investment by region, download the Top 50 Contech Startups Report 2025.  

  • North America: 49% 
  • Europe: 32% 
  • APAC: 12% 
  • Middle East: 4% 
  • LATAM: 2% 
  • Africa: 0% 
Infografía gráficos plan de ventas anual empresa profesional azul

The top countries by investment amount in Q1 were the United States, India, Germany, and France, solidifying their position as the most active markets in innovative construction technologies. 

  • Fun fact: 5 of the 6 largest deals in Q1 have been concentrated in the US 
Map

Top Deals Q1

Cemex Ventures’ investment team compiles a monthly roundup of the most significant deals within the Contech & Cleantech ecosystem. Below are the top three transactions from Q1, reflecting key developments in these sectors: 

  • Brimstone received $189M in grant – US: In January, Brimstone finalized an up to US$189M federal award for an efficient and sustainable Rock Refinery that co-produces Portland cement and alumina from US-sourced rocks. Read more! 
  • Infra.Market closed $125M in Series F funding – India: In January, the building materials platform Infra.Market rose around US$125M in its Series F funding round. This followed the completion of the final tranche of its Series E round in September 2024. Read more!  
  • Terra CO2 secured $82M in Series B funding – US: In February, the leading US-based low-carbon building materials company secured US$82M in Series B equity commitments from a mix of financial and strategic investors. Read more!  
  • ICON closed $56M in Series C funding – US: In February, the pioneer in the 3D printing of homes closed US$56M in Series C funding co-led by Norwest Venture Partners and Tiger Global. Read more!  
  • BuildOps raised $127M in Series C funding – US: In March, the AI-powered platform that simplifies project management and service for commercial contractors announced that it raised US$127M in new funding, raising its valuation to US$1Bn. Read more! 
  • Zeitview announced a capital raise of $60M – US: In March, Zeitview, the leader in visual AI for critical infrastructure, announced a capital raise of US$60M led by Climate Investment, with participation from current investors Valor Equity Partners, among others. Read more!  

Key conclusions from Cemex Ventures’ Investment Experts 

Wrapping up, here are the key takeaways from the investment experts at Cemex Ventures: 

  • Although the global macroeconomic uncertainty, there has been a significant increase in investment activity compared to the same period in 2024. 
  • Early-stage rounds (Pre-Seed, Seed & Series A) still dominate the investment activity; however, there has been a slight increase in late-stage rounds (Series B & C). There is still some confidence in a few mature and stablished solutions.  
  • In terms of focus areas, Green Construction and Enhanced Productivity lead with nearly 70% of the transactions registered. A significant change compared to Q1 2024 is the considerable increase in capital invested in Construction Supply Chain technologies. 
  • Regarding regions, North America notably predominates, followed by Europe. 

Whether you are a startup, SME, corporate, building professional, media journalist, or just want to find out more, we encourage you to contact us through our website or follow us on LinkedIn and X. 

You can also keep up to date with the newest Contech deals and news by subscribing to our biweekly Contech Tacos newsletter!    

]]> Inside Contech Investment: Cemex Ventures Expert Insights You Must Read  https://www.cemexventures.com/contech-investment-expert-insights/ Thu, 06 Mar 2025 07:52:43 +0000 https://www.cemexventures.com/?p=109474

If we had to sum up 2024 in a few words, we’d call it a year of uncertainty—geopolitically and socially—across the globe. It was a challenging year, yet one that also brought early signs of economic stabilization, including in the Contech  investment landscape. 

There’s no doubt that the construction industry remains one of the world’s largest, and as Cemex’s corporate venture capital and open innovation arm, we play a key role in its transition—driving growth and pushing the shift toward sustainability, efficiency, and digitalization. But first, let’s take a deep dive into what shaped the Contech ecosystem in 2024, guided by our investment experts: Mateo Zimmermann – Head of Investments; Ibon Iribar & Miguel Carralón – Investment and Open Innovation Advisors. 

Keep scrolling to explore the key insights & investment activity of 2024! 

A quick picture of the venture capital market 

Last year, total venture capital (VC) remained relatively stable in 2024, growing by 6% (vs. 2023) in total investment, though deal activity dropped by 14%. However, the last quarter of 2024 showed a +53% QoQ (quarter-over-quarter) surge in funding—a positive sign, even as deal count continues to decline. 

Total Investment VC

Contech’s impact on the VC ecosystem

Open innovation in Contech is on the rise, with 33 active strategists identified, and 20% of transactions involving at least one strategic investor. But where are strategic investors allocating their capital? (See the graphic below 👇) 

Contech Investment VC
  • Contech has produced 2 new unicorns in 2024: JobNimbus & Gropyus🦄 

JobNimbus (United States- Enhanced Productivity): All-in-one software to help streamline roofing operations, contractors can quickly create quotes, order materials, and manage projects—all from a single, user-friendly platform. 

Gropyus (Austria – Future of Construction): Vertically integrated affordable and sustainable housing, offering flexible and modular building systems to optimize land use, customize plans, and build with both off-site prefabrication and on-site assembly. 

It’s crucial to highlight that Contech investments make up only about 1% of total VC funding—a figure that, despite steady growth over the years, remains extremely small compared to the industry’s overall scale. 

 

“Contech is one of the most untapped sectors in VC, offering significant opportunities for forward-thinking investors and vast growth potential still waiting to be unlocked.” – Mateo Zimmermann, Head of Investments 
Contech Investment Mateo Zimmermann quote

The core role of innovation

Open innovation in Contech is on the rise, with 33 active strategists identified and 20% of transactions involving at least one strategic investor. But where are strategic investors allocating their capital? (See the graphic below 👇) 

core role of innovation

Furthermore, cement players are continuing to expand their open innovation strategies, including direct/indirect investments, acceleration, venture clienting, and adopting similar approaches to investing in the sector. 

 

“The growth of corporate venture capital over the past decade has reshaped Contech investment. It is impressive to see that 20% of transactions in 2024 involved at least one industry CVC” – Miguel Carralón, Investment & Open Innovation Advisor

North America vs. Europe

Last year, continuing the trend of previous years, North America accounted for 46% of the deals, while Europe and APAC saw a resurgence, increasing their share. However, Enhanced Productivity leads in North America, whereas Europe shows a more balanced distribution across focus areas. 

  • The UK and Germany lead Contech activity in Europe, representing 44% of all transactions  

Early-stages dominate all round types

In 2024, early-stage deals showed strength, accounting for 65% of all deals. Based on this, we expect most investors in the Contech sector to continue focusing primarily on startups in these early phases. 

  • Early-stage investments continue to dominate, accounting for nearly half of the total funding 

This aligns with the expectation that the number of deals will continue to grow, but not the deal sizes, due to the nature of these rounds. At the same time, companies securing larger-scale deal sizes are likely to remain focused on sustainability solutions tied to Cleantech (clean technologies), as these pilots typically require higher upfront costs due to their scale, unlike digital companies, which require less infrastructure. However, the largest deals have significantly reduced in size over the past 5 years, dropping from 50% to 32% in 2024. 

  • Did you know? The average deal size decreased from $13M in 2023 to $9.3M in 2024 📉

A good piece of news is that nearly all-round types saw significant growth last year, except for Series C, which decreased by 20% compared to 2023. 

inphographic round

 

“The reduction in large rounds forces us to be even more selective. We must identify those Cleantech companies with scalable and long-term viable business models, which can demonstrate efficient use of capital” – Ibon Iribar, Investment & Open Innovation Advisor 

M&A activity keeps growing

In the AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) sector, M&A (Mergers & Acquisitions) activity has grown for three consecutive years (since 2022), with strategic investors making up half of the acquisitions in 2024—signaling renewed confidence and strategic recalibration among key players. 

Most Strategic Investments 2024

On the other hand, Private Equity (PE) interest remains strong, particularly in construction software, as firms focus on expanding their client base and enhancing product functionalities. 

AI breaks records in enhanced productivity solutions 

All Cemex Ventures’ focus areas saw an increase in deal activity in 2024 compared to 2023, but Enhanced Productivity* stood out as the largest, growing by 119% in both deal count and investment amount—an exponential rise driven by the integration of AI into these technologies. AI-driven Contech deals accounted for 37% of total funding, with larger average deal sizes. 

  • AI in venture capital hit a record high in 2024, raising $101 billion 💸 
AI Image Contech Investment

*Enhanced Productivity includes topics like geotechnical analysis, project tendering, project design and budgeting, planning and schedule optimization, BIM & digital twins, project monitoring and control, document management, health and safety tools, insurance and risk management, payments and finance tools, insurance and risk management, payments and finance tools, project quality and asset maintenance.

Explore Cemex Ventures focus areas here!

Top 5 Contech deals fueled by AI

Three of the top five AI deals in 2024 were in the Enhanced Productivity category: 

artificial intelligence deals

Key takeaways

Closing out 2024, these are our 5 major conclusions: 

  1. Contech investment is stabilizing, and the growing activity and investment in the last two quarters of 2024 is a positive signal for 2025. 
  1. The United States and Europe continue leading investment and activity with 85% of all transactions. 
  1. Productivity has again taken the lead as the largest area – 119% YoY in US$ invested – fueled by AI and value-added solutions. 
  1. AI deals have been 53% larger than the rest of deals, concentrating 37% of total funding. We expect this trend to continue globally in 2025. 
  1. With the increasing number of corporate open innovation units, we expect more strategic investments in the next years. 

If you want a deep dive into all the 2024 Contech investment data and the outlook for 2025—plus a list of the 50 most promising startups of the year—don’t miss our Top 50 Contech Startups List & Report 2025, developed by the Cemex Ventures investment team. 

Download here
]]> Q3 2024 Industry Insights: Contech & Cleantech  https://www.cemexventures.com/q3-industry-insights/ Tue, 15 Oct 2024 11:18:17 +0000 https://www.cemexventures.com/?p=108378

2024 is 75% complete! Q3 has wrapped up, and we’ve got good news… 

Investment in Contech & Cleantech hit record highs during 2024’s summer months, with technologies focused on efficiency leading the way. Here are some insights from Cemex Ventures’ investment team, who have gathered the most impactful highlights of the year.  

Keep scrolling to check out the latest insights hot off the press! 

Q3 2024 Summary

From July to September, investments totaled US$734 million over 85 deals. Comparing Q3 to Q2 (2024), the overall number of US$ invested increased significantly by 32%, while the number of deals increased by 8%. 

  • Total investment: $734M 
  • Total number of deals: 85 
Q3 2024 Summary - Graphic

Taking a big-picture view of the year so far, both the amount of investment & the number of deals reached in this Q3 have surpassed the figures from Q1 & Q2, making it the strongest investment period in 2024. 

figures from Q1 & Q2

Investment by Focus Area

Once again, technologies focused on sustainability & productivity improvement are receiving the most attention in Q3, continuing the trend of 2024. The breakdown by investment amount in Q3 2024 across Cemex Ventures’ four market-driven opportunity areas was: 

  • Green Construction: 26% 
  • Construction Supply Chain: 6% 
  • Enhanced Productivity: 50% 
  • Construction’s Future: 18% 

In terms of the amount of money invested (%), Enhanced Productivity (50%) emerged as the dominant Focus Area, covering geotechnical analysis, project tendering, BIM (Building Information Modeling) & digital twins, payments & finance tools, and other solutions that enhanced construction’s efficiency.  

Following closely behind was investment in Green Construction (26%), which includes sustainable materials, Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage (CCUS) solutions, alternative fuels, and machinery electrification, among others. 

Compared to Q2, there’s a notable shift. In the previous quarter, the Focus Area with the highest % of investment was Green Construction, followed by Enhanced Productivity. In Q3, these verticals have switched places, with Enhanced Productivity solutions leading the list, experiencing a 67% increase in investment vs Q2. 

Investment by Region

The majority of Contech & Cleantech investments in Q3 were concentrated in North America, continuing a trend observed since last year and into the first two quarters of 2024, with an increase of 13% compared to Q2, followed by Europe. 

Following is the breakdown by investment amount in Q3 2024 across various regions: 

World Map Location Chart - Graphic
  • North America: 62% 
  • Europe: 24% 
  • Asia & Oceania: 12% 
  • Middle East: 2% 
  • Latam: 0% 
  • Africa: 0% 

Below is the investment breakdown comparison by region for Q2 & Q3 2024: 

Graphic investment by region

Top Deals

In Q3

Every month, our investment team tracks and compiles the top deals in Contech & Cleantech. Here are our top deals for Q3 2024: 

  • Thumbtack raised $75M in new debt financing: In July, the home improvement app Thumbtack received US$75M in new debt financing. The funding will help Thumbtack access new capital and liquidity. Read more! 
  • HammerTech secured $70M in growth funding: In July, HammerTech, a Melbourne, Australia- and Menlo Park, CA-based construction safety software company, raised US$70M in Growth funding. Read more! 
  • HERO Software closed €40M in Series B funding round: In July, HERO Software SaaS platform for trade SMEs in the DACH region, closed a €40M Series B financing round. Read more! 
  • Vantem raised $30M in Series C funding round: In July, Vantem Global is raising a US$30M Series C to vastly expand production of energy-efficient modular homes. Read more! 
  • GreenLite secured $28.5M in Series A funding round: In September, GreenLite, a construction technology company making permitting faster and more predictable for builders, developers, & municipalities, announced its Series A raise of US$28.5M. Read more! 
  • Remi closed $21M in Series A funding round: In August, Remi, a tech startup focused on streamlining the roofing process for homeowners and contractors, raised US$21M in a Series A funding round. Read more! 
  • Trunk Tools raised $20M in Series A funding round: In August, Trunk Tools, a NYC-based provider of an AI Platform for the construction industry, raised US$20M in Series A funding. Read more! 
  • Buildots secured $15M in funding round: In July, the Israeli startup’s platform provides a performance-driven approach that measures individual tasks, increasing overall efficiency, and lessening costs, while reducing delays by up to 50%. Read more! 
  • Fortera closed $85M in Series C funding round: To meet the growing demand to lower the cement industry’s carbon emissions, in August, the advanced materials manufacturer Fortera secured US$85M in Series C funding. Read more! 
  • Alcemy raised $10M in funding round: In July, cement & concrete decarbonisation startup Alcemy raised a US$10M funding scale its cement decarbonisation solution. Read more! 

Check out the Q2 & H1 industry insights in case you missed them! 

Key conclusions from our Investment Experts

Closing out Q3, these are our key takeaways: 

  • Up to now in 2024, investments have totaled US$1.918M across 226 deals. 
  • Record quarter in 2024 with 85 deals and +US$734M raised. We are still far from 2023 figures, but we see that many startups are preparing for fundraising. 
  • Without the last quarter of the year, we have already registered the same number of deals as in 2023, showing growing interest from investors in Contech. 
  • Regarding deals, Q3 has counted with the largest number of the year so far. We have also seen significant deals with the participation of strategic investors & 9 acquisitions closed. 

Whether you are a startup, SME, corporate, building professional, media journalist, or just want to find out more, we encourage you to contact us through our website or follow us on LinkedIn & X. 

You can also keep up to date with the newest Contech deals and news by subscribing to our biweekly Contech Tacos newsletter!    

]]> Q&A Innovation in Construction: Cemex Ventures x Soil Link  https://www.cemexventures.com/questions-innovation-construction/ Wed, 18 Sep 2024 08:56:06 +0000 https://www.cemexventures.com/?p=108090

The innovation race in the construction sector isn’t slowing down soon! Proof of this is that the global construction technology market, valued at US$5.28 billion in 2023, is set to grow to US$22.78 billion by 2030 — more than 3x in size. 

The building industry is undergoing an ever-evolving evolution fueled by innovation, driving a new era of enhanced efficiency, sustainability, and safety. And who better to unlock its impact, the challenges it presents, and the top technologies making waves in the sector than our Investment & Open Innovation Advisor, Ibon Iribar! 

Discover Ibon’s insights in his podcast interview with William Rundle, Co-Founder of Soil Link.   

Construction industry challenges: The role of innovation 

Snippet: The challenges can vary depending on the region — whether it’s Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, or LATAM. However, I would highlight sustainability as a key challenge, specifically making the industry more [environmentally friendly] & achieving decarbonization targets. 

A major focus is reducing CO2 emissions across different stages of the construction value chain. This is especially relevant for us at Cemex, as a materials manufacturing company, since we have a big say in this as one of the industry’s biggest CO2 emitters. 

Snippet: Introducing the factor of innovation into this equation could be one of the solutions and key supports to overcoming the sustainability challenges. For example, there are significant opportunities to enhance material recycling, shifting from the current linear model to a more circular flow. 

Another area is making the construction fleet, specifically within the supply chain, more sustainable. This could involve using alternative fuels or transitioning to electric vehicles. 

Cemex Ventures: Innovating for sustainable construction 

Snippet: In our case, we’re focusing on our internal value chain but also looking at the entire construction value chain from an innovation perspective. We’re addressing the sustainability issue not only for our internal needs but also by providing solutions that benefit the entire industry. 

As key trends & technologies, we’re seeing a significant focus on artificial intelligence (AI), and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage technologies (CCUS). These are crucial not only for our industry — the materials manufacturing sector — but also for other kinds of materials like steel, chemicals, additives, and so on.   

Advancements in waste management solutions and digital platforms for sourcing new materials, components, and products are turning heads in the industry. We are also seeing some interesting developments in the pre-construction phase, such as the increasing use of sustainable materials during the design and planning stages. 

What’s more, alternative fuels such as electrification and the use of hydrogen for various operations could be pivotal technologies that may disrupt this industry. 

Concerning this matter, I think we have the technology available, but in most cases, we don’t know how to fully utilize it. We understand that these technologies could save a lot of time, money, and resources, but we lack the flexibility — or productivity — to identify and say, “Let’s give it a try”. 

As an industry, we are often quite focused on daily tasks, and opening our mindset to new technologies, approaches, or even new practices can be challenging. I would say that this is one of the main hurdles we face from an innovation adoption perspective. 

Pro tips for adopting construction tech innovations 

Regarding the development of certain technologies, in some cases, such as in earlier development stages, we do have MVPS — Minimum Viable Products — or initial products that could be tested. The feedback might be to decline these products, as they are not sufficiently developed and do not address the whole problem we’ve over the table. 

From our perspective, the advice would be to maintain an open mindset and be willing to test new technologies because, as mentioned earlier, technology is already available on the market. Unlike 7,8,9 or 10 years ago, when solutions were limited and very specific, we now have a wide range of options. 

Another tip is not to try testing everything at once. A more effective approach would be to identify and prioritize the top 4 or 5 out of the 20 challenges you face and begin with those. This facilitates the process of embracing and implementing innovation, particularly within big corporations. 

It’s clear that a platform like Soil Link, along with similar digital solutions, has a significant digital component. In our case, we aim to partner with companies like Soil Link to validate not only the digital value of these solutions but also their potential to address specific challenges faced by Cemex and other large corporations. 

We then explore how these partnerships can lead to investment opportunities. The goal is to create mutually beneficial collaborations that support the growth of these companies while also addressing our internal needs. 

Soil Link’s platform facilitates the sourcing of new aggregates and recycled materials, which traditionally takes a considerable amount of time in the industry. This process is further complicated by regulatory pressures. 

Such a digital solution is valuable not only for materials manufacturers but also for contractors and others involved in construction projects who must comply with regulations requiring the use of a certain percentage of recycled components. 

In summary, digitizing the sourcing process can save significant time and money and drive innovation within the construction industry. 

Quick note: Soil Link is the UK’s first AI-based platform for exchanging heavy construction materials. It connects suppliers, enabling the cost-effective and sustainable reuse and distribution of materials. 

Hit play to watch the full interview

Whether you are a startup, SME, corporate, building professional, media journalist, or just want to find out more, we encourage you to contact us through our website or follow us on LinkedIn & X.  

You can also keep up to date with the newest Contech deals and news by subscribing to our biweekly Contech Tacos newsletter!     

]]> Q2 & H1 2024 Industry Insights: Contech & Cleantech  https://www.cemexventures.com/q2-industry-insights/ Wed, 31 Jul 2024 06:00:00 +0000 https://www.cemexventures.com/?p=107503

You don’t need us to tell you that time flies! As we enter the 2nd half of 2024, we’re bringing you the top deals and investment stats from the 1st half of the year.  

In the last 3 months of H1 2024, the construction industry experienced more activity than in the first quarter, with technologies focused on sustainability and efficiency leading the investments. Here are some insights from Cemex Ventures’ investment team who have gathered the most relevant insights from 2024 thus far. 

Q2 2024 Summary 

From April to June, investments totaled US$554 million over 79 deals. Comparing Q2 to Q1 (2024), the overall number of US$ invested decreased slightly by 18%. However, the number of deals increased by 20%. 

  • Total investment: $554M 
  • Total number of deals: 79 

Taking a big-picture view of H1 2024, this period experienced a total investment volume of US$1.226 billion, marking a 1.6% decrease compared to the same period in 2023. Another sign of growth is that the total number of deals reached 145, which is 18% higher than in the first half of 2023. 

Investment by Focus Area 

Technologies focused on sustainability and productivity improvement are receiving the most attention in 2024 so far. The breakdown by investment amount in Q2 2024 across Cemex Ventures’ four market-driven opportunity areas was: 

  • Green Construction: 35% 
  • Construction Supply Chain: 20% 
  • Enhanced Productivity: 30% 
  • Construction’s Future: 15% 

In terms of the amount of money invested (%), Green Construction (35%) emerged as the dominant Focus Area, covering Carbon Capture Utilization & Storage (CCUS), water efficiency, alternative fuels & new energy resources, circular business models, sustainable materials, and other solutions that enhanced construction’s sustainability.  

Following closely behind was investment in Enhanced Productivity (30%), which includes solutions like geotechnical analysis, project tendering, BIM (Building Information Modeling) & digital twins, and health and safety tools, among others. 

Compared to Q1, these results show little deviation. In the first quarter, Enhanced Productivity led, followed by Green Construction. Yet, in Q2 we can see a more even distribution of investment across all areas of interest. It’s important to highlight that investment in Green Construction has grown significantly more than in other categories because each year the race to become green is more competitive. 

Investment by Region 

The majority of Contech and Cleantech investments in Q2 were concentrated in North America, continuing a trend observed since last year and persisting into the first two quarters of 2024, closely followed by Europe, which has doubled its investment compared to Q1. 

Following is the breakdown by investment amount in Q2 2024 across various regions: 

  • North America: 55% 
  • Europe: 30% 
  • Asia & Oceania: 13% 
  • Middle East: 0% 
  • Latam: 1% 
  • Africa: 1% 

Below is the investment breakdown comparison by region for Q1 & Q2 2024: 

Top Deals

In Q2

Every month, our investment team tracks and compiles the top deals in Contech & Cleantech. Here are our top 3 deals for Q2 2024: 

  • Infra.Market raises $50M in funding: In May, Infra.Market, the building and construction materials supplier, closed a US$50 million funding round from Mars Unicorn Fund at a US$2.5 billion valuation. Read more! 
  • Chevron Corporation invests in ION Clean Energy: In April, Chevron Corporation announced its role as one of the newest equity holders in the innovative carbon capture firm, ION Clean Energy. Read more! 
  • AssetWatch closes $38M in Series B funding: In May, AssetWatch, a leading condition monitoring and predictive maintenance organization, announced closing its Series B financing round of US$38 million. Read more! 

Check out the top deals of April & May in case you missed them! 

In June & July

And as a sneak peek, we’re giving you a heads-up on the hottest deals that took place in the first two months of Q3: 

June: 

  • Tenderd raises $30M in Series A funding: Tenderd, a Copenhagen, Denmark-based company that specializes in digital transformation for heavy equipment management and operations, raised US$30M in Series A funding. Read more! 
  • Materrup secures €26M in Series A funding: Eurazeo, via its Smart City fund, alongside the EIC Fund and existing investors, is supporting Materrup with a €26m fundraising effort to expand its low-carbon cement technology across France and Europe. Read more! 
  • Clearstory closes $16M in Series B funding: Clearstory, a Walnut Creek, CA-based provider of a construction change order communication platform, raised US$16M in Series B funding. Read more! 
  • Climate X raises $18M in Series A funding: Climate X has raised US$18M to accelerate its global expansion and help the world’s leading financial organizations price the impact of climate change across their physical asset portfolios. Read more! 
  • Neustark announces $69M in funding: Neustark, a Switzerland-based carbon removal provider, has raised US$69 million in a funding round to underpin its rapid scale-up in the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) market. Read more! 
  • Plancraft obtains €12M in Series A funding: Plancraft, a Hamburg, Germany-based company providing a software solution for the digitalization of work processes in the craft industry, raised €12M in Series A funding. Read more! 

July: 

  • Adaptative closes $19M in Series A funding: Adaptive, a NYC-based provider of a financial automation platform for the construction industry, raised US$19M in Series A funding. The round, which brought the total amount to US$26.4M. Read more! 
  • HERO Software secures €40M in Series B funding: the leading SaaS platform has closed a €40 million Series B financing round. The round was led by Eight Roads Ventures, with existing investor Cusp Capital also participating again. Read more! 
  • Vantem announces $30M in Series C funding: Vantem Global raised US$30M in Series C funding to expand the manufacturing of energy-efficient modular homes, planning to build 20 factories in 7 years. Read more! 
  • HammerTech obtains $70M in growth funding: HammerTech, a Melbourne, Australia- and Menlo Park, CA-based construction safety software company, raised US$70M in growth funding. The round was led by Riverwood Capital. Read more! 
  • Buildots raises $15M in funding: The Israeli startup’s platform provides a performance-driven approach that measures individual tasks, increasing overall efficiency, and lessening costs while reducing delays by up to 50%. Read more! 
  • Alcemy closes $10M in funding: Cement and concrete decarbonization startup Alcemy has raised a US$10 million funding scale for its cement decarbonization solution.  Norrsken VC led the funding which will be used for continued research and development. Read more!

Key conclusions from our Investment Experts 

Closing out H1, these are our key takeaways: 

  • Activity continues to rise, particularly in early-stage funding rounds, ranging from pre-seed to Series A. 
  • Regarding regions, North America and Europe lead compared to others, accounting for 90% of all deals. 
  • More financial entities are joining the investment rounds (more diversity in terms of investors). 
  • Sustainability & productivity deals account for over three-quarters of the total funding. 
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a hot topic – 30% of startups who raised capital have AI-related solutions. 

Whether you are a startup, SME, corporate, building professional, media journalist, or just want to find out more, we encourage you to contact us through our website or follow us on LinkedIn & X. 

You can also keep up to date with the newest Contech deals and news by subscribing to our biweekly Contech Tacos newsletter!    

]]> Industrialized construction (IC), the key to reducing the environmental impact of industry https://www.cemexventures.com/industrialized-construction/ Tue, 26 Sep 2023 09:00:08 +0000 https://www.cemexventures.com/?p=98322
By: Mateo Zimmermann, Investment Manager at Cemex Ventures Mateo has over 15 years of professional experience working with consulting firms, private equity, and industrial companies. He seeks to enhance productivity in the construction industry through innovation and technology.

Imagine a new world: a world where construction work takes a fraction of the time (think days not months), and unnecessary costs are avoided entirely because of better material organization and new technologies (think houses that cost up to 45% less). Advanced technologies are making our modern lives easier, quicker, and expanding our horizons, so why shouldn’t one of the most demanded and growing industries follow suit?

The construction industry is undergoing a paradigm shift with the advent of new industrialized construction technologies and methodologies that are replacing traditional construction processes and tools. Early adoption of these technologies is crucial, so let’s learn about industrialized construction and how its benefits are building a greener future.

Industrialized construction (IC), the key to reducing the environmental impact of industry

What is Industrialized Construction?

Industrialized construction (IC) is a building methodology that aims to optimize the construction process by integrating automation and mechanization in a factory production environment. It involves the use of precision technology and lean production methodologies to fabricate building components with high accuracy and quality.

Industrialized construction shifts the focus from being project-based to product-based, replicating the ethos of many manufacturing processes.

Industrialized construction is the secret ingredient for companies in our industry to prioritize both sustainability and efficiency at the same time – it is no longer one or the other.

IC vs. traditional construction methods

The traditional construction industry has long been plagued by inefficiencies, cost overruns, delays, and quality issues. Unlike traditional construction, industrialized construction shifts the focus to technology and processes, which allows for better control within and across different construction phases, as well as the ability to construction more quickly and eliminate potential manmade errors.

Due to the complex nature of our industry, where each building and each floor requires specific designs, dimensions or adaptations, IC has to provide “mass customization”. Mass customization means standardizing processes to gain efficiencies through economies of scale, while providing enough customization in the products to fit most of the project needs.

An example of industrialized construction, modular houses in a factory.

Some examples of IC

Industrialized construction is an umbrella term that consists of different elements, such as:

  • Offsite construction, prefabrication & modular construction: Offsite construction refers to the manufacturing of building components in a factory. It’s similar to prefab, although prefab is the historical terminology associated with low quality housing solutions. construction falls under the offsite construction umbrella but is often referred to as a specific building system of volumetric units, such as entire rooms.
  • Additive manufacturing: Also known as 3DCP, uses 3D printing technology to save time, reduce material waste, and increase design flexibility.
  • Advanced robotics: Robotics are another example of industrialized construction that helps alleviate construction’s workforce issues, while also improving accuracy and efficiency.
  • Digitalization as an Enabler: New technologies and methodologies, such as Building Information Modelling, allow for IC since designs are made to manufacture and assembly (DfMA) and can be translated from design to factory/machine for production.

How does IC help reduce the environmental impact of construction?

Industrialized construction not only offers improved efficiency and cost-effectiveness through automation and standardization, but it also creates a positive impact on the environment.

One of the key environmental impacts of industrialized construction is the reduction of construction waste. As we know, construction and demolition waste makes up more than a third of all waste generated in the EU.

Since IC methodologies and technologies improve accuracy, materials can be used more efficiently and waste can be minimized. Also, materials in a factory environment can be better recycled or repurposed. This leads to a significant reduction in the number of raw materials required to be extracted and transported, as well as the amount of construction debris sent to landfills post-construction.

Furthermore, industrialized construction techniques often utilize sustainable and eco-friendly materials since continuous improvement practices are more common in product-based processes than in project-based ones. By choosing materials that have a lower environmental impact, industrialized construction helps us create both a greener built and natural environment.

Image showing industrialized construction through 3D printing.

Other benefits of IC

Industrialized construction offers a wide range of benefits that extend beyond its positive environmental impact. The automation of processes and standardization of building components results in the following benefits:

  • Improved safety.
  • Reduced labor costs.
  • Enhanced productivity and better project control.
  • Cost-effectiveness.
  • Better quality constructions.
  • Solution for the global housing crisis.
  • Better working conditions for the workforce

But it’s not all advantages…

While industrialized construction offers numerous benefits, it also presents some challenges and limitations that need to be addressed.

  • Transportation and logistics of large technologies and prefabricated parts.
  • Volatility and delayed starts within factory environments.
  • Requires a change in cash flow management and building completion certifications for payment releases.
  • Different design limitations.
  • Lack of compliance and regulatory support.
  • Slow industry acceptance due to risk-aversion in our industry.

How Cemex Ventures helps improve the world through industrialized construction

Industrialized construction is paving the way for a greener future in the construction industry, and it is projected that by 2035 a much larger share of buildings will be constructed using IC.

We are seeing strong drivers that favor industrialized construction. Macroeconomic drivers like labor shortage, housing shortage and increasing prices are calling for new solutions. On the other hand, social and government pressure to increase sustainability of construction and increasing the output of new housing solutions. And technology and digitalization are the enablers to make it happen. The time to test and scale these technologies and methodologies is now.

We are looking for startups with IC solutions that will redefine the Future of Construction, such as COBOD and Modulous.

BIM is another example of industrialized construction that exists.

COBOD

We invested in the global leader in construction-grade 3D printers in 2022. COBOD’s mission is to disrupt the global construction industry through world class multifunctional construction robots based on 3D printing systems. In addition to our investment, in 2021 Cemex and COBOD introduced D.fab, the first ever 3D printing solution that utilizes conventional ready-mix concrete in the building process. The solution is universally applicable, economically viable and industrialized.

Modulous

In 2021 we invested in Modulous, a startup dedicated to transforming the global construction process as it’s known nowadays. Modulous has created a unique approach to relieve the global housing crisis by profoundly redefining how houses are designed and built, leveraging on innovative technologies like modular construction.

The company has developed a highly engineered kit of parts than enables third-party local builders to assemble and install high quality, sustainable and truly affordable homes, at scale and on time. Modulous’ digital platform TESSA instantly creates building designs based on their kit of parts, making accurate benefit and cost estimations, and giving reliable construction plans. The software platform includes the use of artificial intelligence, generative design and 5D BIM modelling, providing a fully integrated supply chain solution.

As we move towards a more sustainable future, it’s crucial that we embrace industrialized construction and explore its full potential. Is industrialized construction a synonym for the future of construction? You tell us!

Does your startup have an industrialized construction solution that can make the industry more sustainable? Contact us today to discuss how your startup can contribute to a greener future together with Cemex.

]]> TOP 50: 2023 Industry Insights https://www.cemexventures.com/top-50-2023-industry-insights/ https://www.cemexventures.com/top-50-2023-industry-insights/#respond Thu, 26 Jan 2023 09:49:52 +0000 https://www.cemexventures.com/?p=93349

CEMEX VENTURES TEAM, January 2023 – Forecasting investment is no easy feat, especially in the wake of volatile macroeconomic and non-market forces desolating even the most absolute of projections. Nonetheless, perhaps almost as important as reviewing Contech activity is projecting it, which is why CEMEX Ventures’ team of investment specialists have analyzed the market, extracted key insights, and summed up their prospects for the industry in 2023 along with their presentation of the 50 most promising startups that will redefine the ecosystem in 2023.

TOP 50: 2023 Industry Insights

2022 Contech performance

2022 marked a critical turning point after a series of challenging and unprecedented years. We experienced the beginning of the end of the Covid-19 pandemic and the return of temporarily limited markets and closed borders, and witnessed increasing commitment to curb temperature increases and shift toward a green, zero-waste economy.   

And yet despite record-breaking spending in recent years, total Contech investment in 2022 flatlined–representing a less than a 1% drop from the year prior (2021: $5.4Bn, 2022: $5.38Bn)–due to unfavorable macroeconomic forces, which are expected to continue throughout this year.  

However, compared to investment in other innovation-oriented segments, such as Fintech and Proptech, which experienced drastic declines of 30% and 38% respectively, we expect Contech investment to continue its resilience amidst the current macroeconomic conditions. Why? Because Contech is an emerging sector with a less crowded marketplace brimming with opportunities for ambitious entrepreneurs. There are many scopes within construction technology that we expect to evolve and see amplified in 2023, and later in the year we hope to start seeing a light recovery as the sector continues its path towards growth.

Looking ahead: Investment in 2023

Enhanced Productivity

Enhanced Productivity received the majority of total Contech investment in 2022, 53%, and will remain an important and large part of Contech innovation in 2023. This is largely because it requires less upfront capital, has a high ROI in the short term, and is one of the most accessible and “straightforward” operational areas to attack. 

Enhanced Productivity will always be a popular area for investment because of the high demand for digital solutions that modernize the industry, however, there are also a lot of solutions currently available, meaning the marketplace is quite crowded. With new innovations we expect to see more consolidation at the same time as less successful players disappear.

Green Construction

On the Green Construction front, as governments enforce stricter environmental regulations worldwide and corporations set ambitious environment targets, there will be heightened demand for new processes, products, and services that reduce the negative environmental impacts in the construction industry. We should expect to see not only an increased number of Cleantech deals in this operational area, but also an increase in the amount of money invested in these projects.  

Due to the nature of these technologies, there is a certain disparity between the valuations and amount of capital raised between Cleantech and Contech startups because usually pilots of the former are simply more expensive. To keep up with these high valuations, we will see more competition in the early stages of funding, as well as in the search for grants. Heightened pressure to comply with climate targets will undoubtedly fuel the growth of Green Construction in 2023.

Future of Construction

Likewise, past data reveals a promising year ahead for advanced building materials, industrialized construction methodologies, and robotics and machine assisted applications, such as 3D printing robots, BIM, and autonomous equipment. These technologies all fall under the Future of Construction investment vertical. Global labor shortages, the lack of a skilled workforce, project delays and cost overruns, and sustainability targets will fuel the growth of this operational area in 2023.  

More specifically, we will see off-site construction as a category of interest. Off-site construction in its different forms, such as industrialized, modular, and panelized construction, will certainly experience growth in 2023.

Construction Supply Chain

Finally, although the projected investment in Construction Supply Chain solutions is positive, we can expect to see it grow at a slower rate. This is because it’s the most difficult operational area to solve. Pain-points in the supply chain are some of the hardest to change given the diversity and large number of stakeholders involved (e.g., distributors, suppliers, trucking, etc.).

Geography

Contech innovation is global in nature, however, we can expect North America and Europe to continue as the main beneficiaries of Contech investment. Having said that, we are starting to see concentrated Contech innovation in Latin America and Asia Pacific. However, many of the startups that come out of these emerging markets (e.g., Chile, Colombia, etc.) end up moving to larger markets early on, such as North America, due to their size and maturity.

Deals

Most investors in the Contech industry prefer to enter in early-stage funding rounds, and as a result Seed and Series A funding will predominate in 2023 again. This is especially true for corporate venture capitals (CVC) that seek to link startup solutions with their core products, which is one of the most difficult tasks of a CVC but is more likely to be achieved during the early stages of any startup.  

In 2023, we will also see co-investing as another mechanism of industry collaboration. There is no doubt that partnerships are necessary to drive long-lasting and sustainable innovation and solve the most critical challenges of the industry. By the same token, co-investing is another way that different stakeholders can bring together their expertise to drive change.  

While investing will certainly always be financial in motive to achieve a favorable economic return, co-investing provides many other tangible benefits to startups. With a diverse lineup of co-investors (e.g., venture capital funds, large corporates, etc.), startups can combine financial capital with other valuable benefits such as industry know-how, new networks, and extensive resources. Co-investing will provide real value to the quantity and quality of solutions developed in the upcoming year, which is why its benefits should not be overlooked.

Our recommendation to entrepreneurs

As a corporate venture capital (CVC), we believe in the importance of prudence and collaboration in the year to come. Although we remain hopeful for the upturn of the market late in 2023, be prudent with your cash and valuations for the entire year, but especially in the first half of the year. We are not out of the current macroeconomic environment yet, so stay ambitious while preparing for the worst.  

Collaboration is the bedrock of our industry. Look for ways to include your end-user in the design of new products and services, as well as their continual improvements. Collaboration also might be unexpected, look outside of your circle to see what new opportunities or synergies can be leveraged. 

In 2023, expect the unexpected.

To download the full TOP 50 report, click below, and follow the TOP 50 campaign on LinkedIn and Twitter.

]]> https://www.cemexventures.com/top-50-2023-industry-insights/feed/ 0 3D printed houses, everything you need to know https://www.cemexventures.com/3d-printed-houses/ https://www.cemexventures.com/3d-printed-houses/#respond Tue, 11 Oct 2022 09:12:21 +0000 https://www.cemexventures.com/?p=87832

Hindsight is 20/20, but many thought leaders categorically agree that we are currently on the brink of a fourth industrial revolution. The first industrial revolution brought us mechanized production, the second, mass production, and the third, automated production. Now, we find ourselves at another juncture in history.  

So, what will the fourth industrial revolution bring? With the current speed of technological R&D, it’s hard to imagine what our future will be like 10, 20, even 50 years from now. What is certain, however, is that the appearance of these new technologies will disrupt every industry in all geographies – including one of the most notoriously slow to digitize, the construction industry. In fact, advancements in robotics have led to the appearance and adoption of new technologies in construction such as 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, in commercial and residential construction.  

One of the most popular uses of this technology is 3D printed houses. These structures have numerous benefits, not only for the companies that construct them, but also for society at large. 3D printing in construction can save businesses 60% in time and 80% in labor spent, so the advantages for early adaptors are numerous. 

And who better to give us an in-depth look into 3D printed houses than Henrik Lund-Nielson,  Founder & General Manager of COBOD International, the world leader in 3D construction printing solutions and startup in CEMEX Ventures’ investment portfolio, and Ibon Iribar, Investment and Open Innovation Advisor at CEMEX Ventures.  

3D printed houses, everything you need to know

For our audience who may not be familiar, what is a 3D printed house and how is it built?

Ibon: Construction 3D printing (aka additive manufacturing) is the technology used in the construction industry to build houses, building components, or elements for infrastructures such as bridges. 3D-printed houses have already revolutionized the industry bringing cheaper, faster, and more sustainable housing solutions.   

Before switching on the machine to print the desired house, there is a process that needs to be followed when it comes to this building technique: 

  • Creation of a prototype: An initial blueprint of the object to be printed is needed in a 3D printed construction. Indeed, there are several software programs that can be used to explore and identify how to satisfy the needs of the customer. 
  • Preparation of the 3D printer: The blueprint is shared with a 3D printer supplier, who will charge and process the design with the machine. In this preparation phase the raw materials needed to print the prototype are also identified and sourced.  
  • Printing: The machine starts printing layer by layer to make the foundations and the main walls of the house. In this process, also known as material extrusion, the material is heated and finally extruded layer by layer. 
  • Additional finishings: Once the main structure of a house is built, additional installations are needed to deliver a complete housing solution, such as plumbing, electrical installations, painting, windows, and doors, among others. 

Generally, the basic structure of a house can be built in approximately 24h using 3D printing technology (the foundation and the structural walls).

Is this technology already available? Are there 3D printed houses for sale?

Ibon: In recent years, this building methodology has quickly transitioned from its demo stage to become a fully commercial product. There are already examples of 3D printed houses and projects developed in five continents, not only housing solutions themselves, but also bridges and components to railways, among others.  

Even though there are several projects of 3D printed houses developed globally, there are still very few houses for sale. This is due to many different reasons, but in principle, to have a habitable 3D printed house, it must fulfill similar standards such as those buildings built by conventional methodologies. Only a select number of countries in the world have established the basis of the regulation and building codes for this type of 3D printed solution.

How much does it cost to build a 3D printed home?

Henrik: 3D printable concrete has the advantage that it is highly cost efficient, but a specific price cannot be given as it depends on the location of the print, the size of the building, the local building code requirements, and a lot of other factors. 

The cost efficiency of 3D printable concrete comes from the automation of processes that leads to much, much fewer labor costs, as well as the fact that low-cost real concrete can be used without any cost of formwork. Never before has it been possible to use low-cost concrete without the cost of formwork, which traditionally implies excessive costs. Now, with 3D printing, this cost is removed from the mix. 

The ability to print with low-cost real concrete was jointly developed by COBOD and CEMEX. The solution is called D.fab, short for digital fabrication. With the D.fab solution, 99% of the materials (cement, sand, and gravel) are locally sourced and only 1% of the D.fab admixtures, which comes from a central source, are required to make the material printable. This solution has a cost 5x-10x lower than dry-mix mortars, which all other 3D printing companies are working with. 

In addition to the low cost, 3D printing speeds up execution of building projects significantly and allows much more freedom in terms of design.

What are the advantages of 3D printed houses? How do they solve certain pain points in the industry?

Ibon: Since 3D printing technology can cover almost all phases of the construction value chain, it can offer great benefits to the whole industry, revolutionizing the way houses are built. In this regard, it brings the following advantages: 

  • Time reduction: Using traditional methods, a project can take many months to complete, with most large projects taking 20% longer than expected and adding up to 80% in cost overruns over the initial budget. However, 3D printing can reduce time by 70%, since a project can be completed in just hours or days, depending on its magnitude. 
  • Cost effectiveness and sustainability: 3D printing emits a precise amount of material to be used to lift a structure, resulting in up to 60% less waste generated at the jobsite. Likewise, 3D printing means there is no surplus in the purchase of materials, which leads to a reduction in costs both in their purchase and subsequent storage. 
  • Reduction of labor costs: By reducing time and costs, companies will see an exponential increase in the benefits of this technology, which is also of great help in locations where there is a need for projects and a shortage of labor. By automating the creation of a structure through 3D printers, companies can see a reduction in labor costs of up to 80%. 
  • Safety: One of the most important benefits that 3D printing has brought to construction is in the health and safety of employees onsite. By knowing how to work effectively with printers, workers can do their jobs more easily and reduce injuries in the field. 
  • Design flexibility: Last-minute changes to the design will no longer be a problem, nor will they delay the construction process. 3D printing allows you to customize your work and make last-minute changes up until the start of printing of the structure, eliminating all the headaches that these changes usually entail.

In your opinion, what is the future of 3D printed houses?

Henrik: 3D printing is one of the world’s most promising technologies. 3D printed homes can combine design, functionality, low costs, and environmental benefits. 3D printing technology is a gamechanger in construction due to its low cost and speed of execution, at the same time as it brings new architecture to life that would otherwise not have been possible by conventional brick and mortar methods. Due to these advantages, 3D concrete printing in construction will be the go-to technology for more and more projects.

What are some examples of 3D printed housing projects?

Henrik: Together, CEMEX and COBOD have introduced the proprietary admixtures family called D.fab, which allows conventional concrete raw materials to be made into 3D printable concrete. This admixture innovation has lowered the price of the 3D printed buildings significantly compared to conventional methods and the other 3D printing solutions out there.

House printed by Power2Build in Luanda, Angola. The total cost of the material for the concrete walls was less than $1,000 USD

D.fab has been used for several projects in multiple countries like Canada, the U.S., Japan, Malaysia, Oman, Angola, Ireland, and Denmark. The very first project with the D.fab solution was completed in Luanda, Angola, in a small prototype home of around 570 square feet by tech startup, Power2Build. The D.fab solution allows builders to print homes anywhere using locally available concrete. 

Tiny 3D House printed by 3DCP group in Holstebro, Denmark. The total cost of the concrete for the walls was $1,600 USD

Another project is this house in Holstebro, Denmark printed by the 3DCP group. 3DCP Group printed a 37m2 tiny house, the first of its kind in Europe. The house is a masterpiece in terms of creating a fully livable house on as few square meters as possible, and the design was only really made possible due to the form freedom of 3D printed construction. To drive down the cost of the walls, the roof and the foundation were 3D printed using the D.fab low-cost real concrete solution. 

CEMEX Ventures and 3D printing: Making the future a reality today

CEMEX Ventures recognizes the potential that 3D printing houses can have on the construction industry and society more generally. That’s why CEMEX Ventures has invested in 3D printing technology and continues to explore new avenues related to additive manufacturing.

Do you have an idea that will bring the future of construction to our fingertips today? If so, get in touch with us and let’s find synergies together!

]]> https://www.cemexventures.com/3d-printed-houses/feed/ 0 Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage, the solution to the climate crisis https://www.cemexventures.com/what-is-carbon-capture-technology-storage/ https://www.cemexventures.com/what-is-carbon-capture-technology-storage/#respond Wed, 28 Sep 2022 09:17:50 +0000 https://www.cemexventures.com/?p=87100

How we commute to work, use transportation, go on vacation, and even how we shop at the grocery store, influence the size of our carbon footprint, the total amount of greenhouse gasses produced by our actions. And perhaps more than ever before, is the pressing urgency to reduce such footprint, from individuals, businesses, and governments alike. Today, market leading companies across all industries are making public commitments to reduce their carbon emissions, with some major players like CEMEX, Siemens AG, American Airlines or Ford taking it a step forward with future net-zero CO2 targets.

International treaties such as the Paris Agreement push specific goals to limit the increase of global warming by at least 1.5°C. And because CO2 production from human activities is the largest driver of global warming, the only way to slow down or mitigate this phenomenon is to reduce emissions and aim at net zero targets at a global scale. To accomplish this titanic task, however, global cooperation from individuals, entrepreneurs, multinational companies, and governments is required.

Recently, technologies related to the reduction, reuse, and storage of carbon emissions have been developed and applied in industrial processes to push forward these aforementioned objectives. Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) is just one such process that seeks to separate and trap CO2 before it’s released into the atmosphere. And don’t think of Carbon Capture as the latest buzz in the industry, since it is certainly more than a trend that is here to stay. Get ahead of the curve, keep reading and learn (more) about CCUS.

Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage, the solution to the climate crisis

What is Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage?

Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage is a set of processes that reduce carbon emissions in industrial operations before they are emitted into the atmosphere. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) mainly consists of three key stages, whereas carbon capture and utilization (CCU) would be compressed in just two.

The first stage is common to both approaches and consists of capturing carbon dioxide from the gasses produced in industrial processes. This could include the emissions from fossil fuel combustion or the production of industrial materials, such as steel, oil & gas or cement.

Secondly, once the CO2 has been successfully separated and isolated from industrial emissions, CCS-like solutions must transport it safely to a pre-established storage site. This is usually done through pipelines, but ships, trains and other industrial vehicles can also be used in the transportation. Finally, once the extracted CO2 reaches its final destination, it is injected into a suitable storage site. These locations are often rock formations deep within the earth, or former oil and gas reservoirs.

Alternatively, in CCU schemes carbon can be converted into new products or services. Carbon utilization refers to the different technologies that use recycled CO2 as a raw material in the synthesis of green solutions that can replace fossil-based alternatives. In this sense, CCU helps businesses and governments comply with objectives related to the circular economy and the lowering of CO2 emissions.

According to the Global CCS Institute, plants currently in operation or under construction have the potential to capture around 40 million metric tons of CO2 per year. Although this represents a substantial amount of captured carbon, in 2019 nearly 43.1 billion tons of CO2 from human-related activities were released into the atmosphere. Therefore, in order to make carbon-neutral targets a reality, the application of CCUS initiatives and other alternatives must increase across the board. But first, let’s take a closer look at how carbon is captured.

How can we capture carbon?

There are several different ways to capture carbon. The main methods are:

  • Post-combustion
  • Pre-combustion
  • Oxy-fuel combustion carbon capture.

Generally, post-combustion is used in existing industrial facilities, while oxy-fuel carbon capture is more often employed in greenfield projects.

In the post-combustion method, carbon dioxide is separated from the emitted flue gas, which is produced from the combustion of fuel or other materials. Alternatively, pre-combustion capture involves turning the fuel into a gas prior to combustion, and separating the CO2 from such transformed gas. With oxy-fuel combustion, carbon is collected from an almost pure oxygen environment. Because fuel isn’t burned in regular air, the result is more concentrated and makes carbon dioxide capture easier. 

Considering the above, the most widely used method for capturing carbon today is post-combustion. This is because it is extremely costly to retrofit an existing factory with pre-combustion technology, and because the oxy-fuel combustion process requires more energy and has higher costs than a traditional-air plant. However, with the future development of electrical and industrial infrastructure, we expect to see an increased use of new carbon capture methods.

And how do we store it?

Although reducing associated costs is an ongoing aim in CCS, the greatest challenge lies in the storage of CO2 once it is successfully captured. Captured CO2 must be stored in a secure location where it will remain for many years. Typically, there are two locations where carbon dioxide can be stored:

  • Deep geological formations
  • Mineral storage sites

When carbon dioxide is stored in formations deep within the earth, it first needs to be compressed and chilled into a fluid. This liquid can then be injected into different types of geological rock formations. The North Sea and Gulf Coast regions are thought to have the most available space for carbon storage. According to the IPCC, if storage sites are properly chosen, maintained and designed, the captured carbon dioxide can be trapped for millions of years, making it an almost-permanent solution.

And how do we use it?

Carbon dioxide is an essential compound in many industrial processes, and thus, can be utilized through direct use or by first transforming it. Such CO2 can be put to direct use in the production of carbonated consumables or mineralized solutions. Alternatively, it can be transformed to later be used in the manufacture of chemicals, materials, and synthetic fuels.

Businesses around the world have adopted many different carbon utilization routes from previously captured carbon. To name a few examples, CCU has applications across a variety of applications in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), plastics, coatings, adhesives, battery and pharmaceutical industries.

It is true that many of the aforementioned applications have not yet been commercialized on a large scale, however many governments and stakeholders in the private sector are already beginning to invest heavily and expand these practices. Alfredo Carrato, Venture Capital Advisor at CEMEX Ventures adds, “We are undeniably facing the challenge of our time, so innovation combined with collaboration across public and private stakeholders is critical to ensure that it is still feasible to close the loop on carbon and meet net zero targets.”

Advantages and disadvantages of this technology

As with every new technology, there are benefits and drawbacks of CCUS. However, with greater investment in the technology and wider application, the pros are believed to significantly outweigh the cons.

Advantages

The advantages of CCUS are both economic and environmental in nature. First and foremost, Carbon Capture and Storage is the most effective method to date to remove carbon emissions from the environment.

Carbon Capture technology undoubtedly helps to mitigate the effect of CO2 on climate change, because it results in a reduction of the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, which is one of the leading causes of the destruction of the ozone layer. Hence, CCS is a highly valuable tool in the fight against climate change.

Additionally, the availability of geological formations worldwide plays a large role in the success and greater adoption of CCS. In the short- to medium-term, there is no shortage of space to be used in the safe storage of CO2.

Industries that adopt Carbon Capture and Storage technologies can also see economic benefits. As is the case with new technologies, local economies can benefit from CCS because of the skilled workers that are required to operate and manage CO2 and such related technologies.

Carbon utilization also opens a world of possibilities downstream for carbon capture. Carbon dioxide captured from these processes can be used in the manufacturing of other products and services in a variety of different sectors, such as the battery, pharmaceuticals, and plastics industries.

Disadvantages

Capturing the biggest contributor to global warming and climate change sounds ideal, but you might be wondering what the catch is. Despite its many advantages, there are still a few disadvantages of CCUS. First, CCS is expensive. The costs associated with buying the equipment and generating the energy to conduct carbon capture at industrial scale are massive.

Also the transportation of the sequestered carbon incurs a heavy cost, and since there are currently not enough regulatory incentives to subsidize at scale the overall cost of capturing, transporting, and permanently storing CO2, the high cost of this technology plays a significant role.

Furthermore, when CO2 is moved to its predetermined storage site, a significant amount of energy is required to ensure that it remains chilled and liquified. Public concerns about the pipelines needed to transport CO2 affecting local communities and landscapes is also a substantial barrier to the widespread adoption of CCS. Moreover, some have argued that CCS isn’t a solution to the problem, since it does not nothing to stop the burning of fossil fuels. Some critics have asserted that CCS slows the necessary shift to renewable energy sources.

Finally, although studies indicate that there is sufficient space for CO2 storage, specifically in the United States, there are concerns regarding the long-term storage of captured carbon. Additionally, the risk of leaking presents a concern for many, whether during the transportation or the storage of CO2.

The enormous impact of carbon capture for the world

Now that you understand in detail how carbon is captured and stored, it’s easy to see the positive impact these processes can have on the environment at large. One of the most important effects of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage is the ability to slow down or prevent the further worsening of global warming.

CCUS is considered a ‘greener way’ to operate the power stations and heavy industries that play an integral role in our daily lives, as society progresses toward lower-carbon activities.

Some examples of CCUS worldwide

Carbon Clean

Carbon Clean is a global leader in low-cost CO2 capture technology. The company’s patented technology significantly reduces the costs and environmental impacts of CO2 separation when compared to existing techniques.

Carbon Clean’s technology has been proven at scale in over 10 independent locations, including the UK, USA, Germany, India, Norway and the Netherlands, and is currently in use at the world’s largest industrial-scale carbon capture and utilization plant in Tuticorin, India.

As proof of their success, the UK Government has supported Carbon Clean’s development of its technology through competitive grants. Carbon Clean has also received much global recognition. They were awarded a ‘Technology Pioneer’ award by the World Economic Forum in 2015 and featured in the ‘BGF 10 Green Tech to Watch’ list in The Sunday Times in 2020. Carbon Clean is headquartered in London, UK and operates offices in India, Spain, Germany, and the United States (and soon in the Netherlands too).

Carbon Upcycling Technologies

An example of carbon utilization technology, Carbon Upcycling Technologies (“CUT”) was formed to use the pollution of today to build the materials of tomorrow by converting CO2 gas into solid products. The startup manufactures advanced solid products derived from greenhouse emissions and cheaply available solids.

Since 2014, it has scaled its ability to capture CO2 emissions from point sources, such as power plants, by over a million times. Through its portfolio of CO2-derived solid nanoparticles, CUT has technically validated its solutions for use in the plastics, coatings, epoxy, adhesives, concrete, lithium-ion battery, pharmaceutical industries, and consumer products. In 2017, CUT became the youngest CO2 utilization company to generate commercial revenue (<2.5 years since inception) and has since been confirmed as one of the top CO2 utilization companies in the world as Carbon XPRIZE X-Factor awardee.

In short, CUT’s enhanced Supplementary Cementitious Materials can improve the compressive strength of concrete by up to 40%, allowing for a greater substitution of emission intensive materials with CO2-embedded alternatives.

CEMEX Ventures’ commitment to clean the air we breathe

We understand that reducing emissions is not enough. Removing carbon from industrial activities and finding alternate uses for it is fundamental if we want to transform the construction industry, tackle climate change, and stop global warming in its tracks.

At CEMEX Ventures, we are looking for partnerships and opportunities to support startups that focus on Green Construction to bring the sector closer to the low-carbon economy. Our investment in startups that seek to decarbonize the built environment, promote a circular economy, and adopt renewable energies help us achieve this objective.

Are you an entrepreneur and have a solution related to Green Construction? Let’s talk. Get in touch with us today!

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