In 2024, artificial intelligence dominated Contech (construction technology) investments, claiming 37% of total funding and larger-than-average deal sizes. Artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just generating buzz, it’s the cornerstone of evolution, reshaping the Contech investment landscape and propelling a pivotal shift in the digitalization of the construction industry. 

OPTIMITIVE has ridden the AI wave, enhancing efficiency and sustainability in processes across heavy-intensive industries—and construction is no exception. The Spanish company is now part of our investment portfolio, redefining real-time construction process optimization with analytics & visionary AI technology. 

Keep scrolling to learn more about this hot-off-the-press partnership! 

Press Release

Cemex Ventures invests in company pushing boundaries of real-time industrial process optimization with AI technology

Madrid, Spain. April 22, 2025. Cemex Ventures, Cemex’s corporate venture capital (CVC) and open innovation unit, announced today that it has executed an investment agreement with OPTIMITIVE, a Spanish company that provides high-tech solutions through advanced analytics & artificial intelligence (AI) to optimize efficiency and sustainability in processes within energy-intensive industries.

Founded in 2008, OPTIMITIVE has developed proprietary artificial intelligence software to enhance efficiency across heavy industries. It offers advanced solutions for process improvement, maintenance, and services, with a strong focus on the cement industry during the last years. The Spain-based company has developed one of the most far-reaching solutions on the market, featuring real-time and closed-loop process optimization—which means it can autonomously learn and adjust optimal set points in autopilot mode. Among its additional competitive advantages is its no-code visual design—which enables large-scale adoption without requiring specific AI expertise—and continuous operation—24 hours a day, 365 days a year. OPTIMITIVE is currently commercializing two main products: Optibat Studio – a tool for historical data analytics, modeling, and optimization used by process engineers – and Optibat RTO – a tool for real-time operation used by process operators.

“OPTIMITIVE has a robust customer base across a large number of sectors, making it an ideal partner that reinforces Cemex’s commitment to transforming the industry through collaboration with breakthrough technologies,” said Alfredo Carrato, Investment and Open Innovation at Cemex Ventures. “We are excited about this partnership with OPTIMITIVE, given the impressive results they have already achieved in Europe and the United States in projects to date with Cemex.”

“Since our first engagement with Cemex some years ago, we have always been confident that our relationship would be long-lasting. “Now, thanks to their strong technological vision and commitment to reducing their carbon footprint, they have chosen to continue supporting OPTIMITIVE through this investment”, commented Fernando de la Prida, CEO at OPTIMITIVE. “This decision reflects the high level of satisfaction among our clients and the competitive advantages that OPTIBAT brings to their operations.”

Cemex seeks to scale OPTIMITIVE’s solution across its operations as part of its Digital Innovation in Motion ecosystem, with the goal of agile large-scale deployments in the near future. By integrating this groundbreaking solution, the construction giant aims to significantly reduce energy consumption at its production facilities while simultaneously increasing (production) efficiency by up to double digit percentage points. Energy efficiency plays a crucial role in reducing Cemex’s operational carbon footprint, in line with the Future in Action program to become a net-zero CO₂ company. This collaboration is a clear example of how cutting-edge technologies are transforming the building materials sector of the future.

About OPTIMITIVE

OPTIMITIVE delivers advanced technology solutions for operational optimization through Advanced Analytics and Artificial Intelligence. Their systems work in real-time, analyzing process data and recommending the most appropriate adjustments in each case to minimize energy consumption while improving production, quality, safety, and equipment health. OPTIMITIVE is rooted in Álava, Spain, and has expanded globally. They operate in the Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia, with over 10 years of experience in process industries. For more information, please visit: https://optimitive.com/

About Cemex Ventures

Launched in 2017, Cemex Ventures focuses on helping overcome the main challenges and capitalizing on the opportunity areas in the construction ecosystem through solutions that consider sustainability. Cemex Ventures has developed an open collaborative platform to lead the revolution of the construction industry, engaging startups, entrepreneurs, universities, and other stakeholders to tackle the challenges in the construction environment and shape the industry’s future. For more information on Cemex Ventures, please visit: www.cemexventures.com

About Cemex

Cemex is a global construction materials company that is building a better future through sustainable products and solutions. Cemex is committed to achieving carbon neutrality through relentless innovation and industry-leading research and development. Cemex is at the forefront of the circular economy in the construction value chain and is pioneering ways to increase the use of waste and residues as alternative raw materials and fuels in its operations with the help of new technologies. Cemex offers cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and urbanization solutions in growing markets around the world, powered by a multinational workforce focused on providing a superior customer experience enabled by digital technologies. For more information, please visit: www.cemex.com

What does OPTIMITIVE do? 

OPTIMITIVE has developed proprietary artificial intelligence software efficiency in heavy industries, with a strong focus on the cement industry. The Spanish company offers one of the most comprehensive solutions on the market, featuring real-time, closed-loop process optimization –which means it can autonomously learn and adjust optimal set points in autopilot mode. One of its major competitive advantages is its no-code visual design, enabling large-scale adoption without requiring AI expertise, along with continuous, 24/7 year-round operation. 

These are OPTIMITIVE’s main products: 

• Optibat Studio: A tool that enables flexible and easy-to-setup autonomous AI optimization in a closed-loop system, used by process engineers for historical data analytics, modeling, and optimization, and designed for industrial companies aiming to enhance efficiency and sustainability. 

• Optibat RTO: A tool that uses AI to improve industrial processes and recommend optimum set-points in real-time, designed for real-time operation and used by process operators. 

Why has Cemex invested in OPTIMITIVE? 

As the open innovation arm of Cemex, we are committed to continuously seeking high-potential startups focused on enhancing sustainability and driving digital transformation in the building industry. With a strong emphasis on decarbonizing the built environment and promoting energy efficiency principles, Cemex Ventures is eager to collaborate with startups aligned with these objectives. OPTIMITIVE stands out as an ideal partner, offering cutting-edge technology and one of the most far-reaching solutions on the market, which has already delivered impressive results in projects across Europe and the United States with Cemex. 

Put simply: By integrating OPTIMITIVE’s solution, Cemex aims to significantly reduce energy consumption while simultaneously increasing production efficiency. 

But let’s dive a little bit deeper… 

How will OPTIMITIVE and Cemex help each other achieve their objectives? 

In this partnership, Cemex aims to take OPTIMTIVE’s technology to the next level, scaling its solutions across its operations and helping fulfill its mission of transforming industrial processes globally, making them more efficient and sustainable using AI, thus contributing to a better world to live in. 

Cemex helps OPTIMITIVE raise additional capital to fuel its growth while leveraging Cemex Ventures’ expertise in growth strategies and Cemex’s knowledge of construction and building materials. Through this partnership, Cemex aims to achieve agile, large-scale deployments of OPTIMITIVE’s solution in the near future. 

OPTIMITIVE helps Cemex through its robust presence across a wide range of sectors, reinforcing Cemex’s commitment to transforming the industry through collaboration with breakthrough technologies. 

This partnership is closely aligned with one of Cemex’s top priorities: Digital Innovation in Motion. By integrating its solution, the construction giant will reduce its energy consumption while simultaneously increasing production efficiency by up to double-digit percentage points. 

Moreover, this agreement is closely tied to Cemex’s strategic priority of Future in Action sustainability program, as energy efficiency plays a fundamental role in reducing Cemex’s operational carbon footprint on its path to becoming a net-zero CO₂ company. 

Who is OPTIMITIVE?

Founded in 2008, the Spain-based startup made its first steps with Cemex Ventures—although it had already worked with Cemex—appearing in the Top 50 Contech Startups & Cleantech Construction Map in 2024 under the Decarbonization Alternatives vertical. Now, in 2025, we’re betting on OPTIMITIVE through this investment. 

The Basque startup—present in the Americas, Asia, Africa and Europe—specializes in optimizing efficient services for businesses and serves clients in the cement, oil, and chemical industries, among other sectors. OPTIMITIVE has a… 

• Mission: They are committed to transforming heavy industry processes and contributing to a more sustainable and efficient world. 

• Vision: They envision a future where any complex system is complemented by an “Optimization Brain” that ensures its effective operation under all circumstances. 

What’s next? 

Like all our portfolio companies, we’ll keep you updated with all the news about OPTIMITIVE through our digital channels: blog, social media, and our Contech Tacos biweekly newsletter (we also send memes ). 

At Cemex Ventures, through our exclusive acceleration program, Leaplab, we are shaping the next generation of startups, empowering businesses to expand and grow. This third edition featured an open call, bringing in high-potential solutions and top-tier mentors to join the new cohort. After a huge number of applications and months of evaluation, we can finally say—a new chapter begins!   

Let’s welcome Leaplab’s latest cohort: six extraordinary startups from four countries tackling global strategic challenges and unlocking business opportunities with their groundbreaking solutions: EarthTrack, Emidat, FuelHub, Guidewheel, Optocycle, and Sodex. 

If you want to learn more, dive into this 5-minute read as we break down the key points from Leaplab’s 3rd edition!  

A Closer Look at the Acceleration Program 

The 3^rd edition of Leaplab will feature six startups working intensively for 16 weeks on real-scale pilots, deploying their solutions in close to 40 sites impacting all Cemex business lines:  

• Cement 

• Ready-Mix 

• Aggregates 

• Urbanization Solutions 

The new Leaplab cohort will receive support from the expertise of approximately 80 specialists, both from Cemex and external partners. These experts will play a crucial role in offering piloting guidance, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help startups refine and scale their solutions. Upon successfully completing the program, the startups and their Cemex pilot teams will showcase their results and key learnings to Cemex Executive Committee in the Demo Day 2025 – an event that represents a prime opportunity for startups to demonstrate their ability to create value and forge strategic collaborations with Cemex. 

Major highlight: Graduates of the Cemex Ventures Leaplab Program have the potential opportunity to secure Commercial Agreements with one or more Cemex business units. Moreover, if there are positive pilot results and scalability potential, it could open the door to investment considerations from Cemex Ventures. 

Say Hello to the New Cohort 

• EarthTrack (Singapore) has developed a solution that connects with the client’s existing enterprise resource planning (ERP), unlocking automation and capacity, and empowering workers by putting technology directly into their hands, transforming digital warehousing processes. The Singapore-based startup will run its pilot with Cemex in Mexico, within the Cement business line.
• Emidat (Germany) has created a tool that enables AI-powered generation and verification of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), making environmental impact assessments faster and more cost-effective for building material manufacturers. Emidat will conduct its pilot with Cemex in Germany and the UK, within all business lines. 
• FuelHub (United States) is a managed service provider that delivers optimized solutions for diesel procurement, payment terms, inventory management, and support invoice reconciliation. The American startup will carry out its pilot with Cemex in the US within the Cement, Concrete, and Aggregates business lines. 
• Guidewheel (United States) provides AI-powered FactoryOps solutions that optimize productivity, predict maintenance needs, and enhance energy efficiency through real-time operational insights. Guidewheel will execute its pilot with Cemex in the United States within the Cement business line. 
• Optocycle (Germany) combines next-generation optical sensor technology in real-time with advanced AI to transform construction demolition waste into sustainable building materials through its characterization. The German startup will develop its pilot with Cemex in Germany and France within the Urbanization Solutions business line. 
• Sodex: (Austria) automates surveying through laser scanners and camera technology installed directly on heavy mobile equipment. Sodex will run its pilot with Cemex in the US and UK within the Cement and Aggregates business lines.   

Why Join Cemex Ventures Leaplab?

Piloting, testing, and scaling a startup demands significant resources and time, with even greater challenges in a capital-intensive industry like construction. Cemex Ventures Leaplab tackles these obstacles by connecting high-potential startups with Cemex’s extensive expertise and infrastructure, accelerating their growth path. 

Here’s why Leaplab is the right opportunity for your innovative company: 

• Access to Cemex’s global network and connection with a world leader in sustainable building solutions. 

• Full-scale pilot to demonstrate impact in real-world environments. 

• Growth supported by insights and tailored mentorship from top industry and business experts. 

• Partnership opportunities for long-term collaboration with Cemex & Cemex Ventures. 

Leaplab is much more than an accelerator—it’s the ultimate platform to grow and shape the future together. Big things are happening as each participant takes their #Leap, and we can’t wait to share their progress. Stay tuned for what’s next!  

Press Release

Cemex Ventures Drives Construction Innovation with the 3rd Leaplab Edition  

Madrid, April 9, 2025. Cemex Ventures, Cemex’s corporate venture capital and open innovation unit, launches the third edition of Leaplab, its intensive acceleration program designed for startups with the potential to revolutionize the construction industry. This year, six startups from four countries will join the cohort, bringing disruptive solutions addressing strategic challenges and unlocking business opportunities. 

Leaplab offers startups the unique opportunity to connect and closely collaborate with Cemex global operations for this 16-week program. In addition to running a real-scale pilot, during this period, the selected companies will receive personalized mentorship from 80 industry experts and business advisors from Cemex and beyond who will enhance their solutions and support them to scale.  

This edition’s startups have developed promising value propositions deeply connected to sustainability, operations efficiency and productivity. “The construction industry is at a turning point where technological innovation plays a crucial role, and at Cemex, we are determined to face this by betting on the talent of these startups,” says Karla Arrambide, Cemex Ventures Leaplab Manager. “Leaplab is a program that drives the sector’s transformation by connecting high-potential startups with Cemex’s experience and resources.”  

Throughout the program, the startups will work closely with Cemex pilot teams, validating their technologies in Cemex sites across all business lines, presenting results at the program’s conclusion, and sharing key learnings with the Cemex Executive Committee. The Demo Day event represents a unique opportunity for startups to showcase their capacity to generate value and establish strategic collaborations with Cemex.  

Participation in Leaplab not only offers startups an exceptional platform to scale their businesses. Upon successful graduation, these companies have the potential to sign commercial agreements with various Cemex business units, opening doors to long-term collaboration. Furthermore, Cemex Ventures can also consider strategic investments in those that demonstrate positive results and a high potential for scalability, thus consolidating their growth, expansion, and inclusion in the current market.  

Without further ado, we are proud to formally announce the extraordinary startups that will make up the Leaplab 2025 Cohort.  

• EarthTrack (Singapore)  

• Emidat (Germany)  

• FuelHub (US)  

• Guidewheel (US)  

• Optocycle (Germany)  

• Sodex (Austria)  

About Cemex Ventures  

Launched in 2017, Cemex Ventures focuses on helping overcome the main challenges and capitalizing on the opportunity areas in the construction ecosystem through solutions that consider sustainability. Cemex Ventures has developed an open collaborative platform to lead the revolution of the construction industry, engaging startups, entrepreneurs, universities, and other stakeholders to tackle the challenges in the construction environment and shape the industry’s future. For more information on Cemex Ventures, please visit: www.cemexventures.com  

About Cemex  

Cemex is a global construction materials company that is building a better future through sustainable products and solutions. Cemex is committed to achieving carbon neutrality through relentless innovation and industry-leading research and development. Cemex is at the forefront of the circular economy in the construction value chain and is pioneering ways to increase the use of waste and residues as alternative raw materials and fuels in its operations with the help of new technologies. Cemex offers cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and urbanization solutions in growing markets around the world, powered by a multinational workforce focused on providing a superior customer experience enabled by digital technologies. For more information, please visit: www.cemex.com  

##### 

Cemex Ventures BV is an indirect subsidiary of Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V. Except as the context otherwise may require, references in this press release to “Cemex,” ”we,” ”us,” ”our,” refer to Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) and its consolidated subsidiaries. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Cemex intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements reflect Cemex’s current expectations and projections about future events based on Cemex’s knowledge of present facts and circumstances and assumptions about future events, as well as Cemex’s current plans based on such facts and circumstances, unless otherwise indicated. These statements necessarily involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from Cemex’s expectations, including, among others, risks, uncertainties, and assumptions discussed in Cemex’s most recent annual report and detailed from time to time in Cemex’s other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Mexican Stock Exchange (Bolsa Mexicana de Valores), which factors are incorporated herein by reference, which if materialized could ultimately lead to Cemex’s expectations, expected results, and/or the investment and projects referred herein not producing the expected benefits and/or results. Cemex assumes that the startups referenced in the list referred to in this press release have the rights to their corresponding projects. Cemex is not responsible for any ownership or rights issues that any startup may have with respect to their corresponding project. Forward-looking statements should not be considered guarantees of future performance, nor the results or developments are indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. These factors may be revised or supplemented, and the information contained in this press release is subject to change without notice, but Cemex is not under, and expressly disclaims, any obligation to update or correct this press release or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. Any or all of Cemex’s forward-looking statements may turn out to be inaccurate. Accordingly, undue reliance on forward-looking statements should not be placed, as such forward-looking statements speak only as of the dates on which they are made. The content of this press release is for informational purposes only, and you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Cemex is not responsible for any third-party information referenced in this press release. 

There is currently no single globally recognized or accepted, consistent, and comparable set of definitions or standards (legal, regulatory, or otherwise) of, nor widespread cross-market consensus i) as to what constitutes, a ‘green’, ‘social,’ or ‘sustainable’ or having equivalent-labeled activity, product, or asset; or ii) as to what precise attributes are required for a particular activity, product, or asset to be defined as ‘green’, ‘social,’ or ‘sustainable’ or such other equivalent label; or iii) as to climate and sustainable funding and financing activities and their classification and reporting. Therefore, there is little certainty, and no assurance or representation is given that such activities and/or reporting of those activities will meet any present or future expectations or requirements for describing or classifying funding and financing activities as ‘green’, ‘social’, or ‘sustainable’ or attributing similar labels. We expect policies, regulatory requirements, standards, and definitions to be developed and continuously evolve over time. 

This is a wake-up call: Without any abatement measures from the building materials sector, global demand for concrete – the most widely used material in the world – is projected to generate 3.8 gigatons of CO2 emissions annually by 2050. Cement production—one of concrete’s key components—accounts for 8% of global CO₂ emissions yearly.  

The future competitiveness of the global cement industry will hinge on who can reduce their carbon footprint the most.  A groundbreaking innovator is reshaping cement production in construction with sustainability leading the charge and has now made its way into our investment portfolio to stay: Say hi to Terra CO2. 

What does Terra CO2 do? 

Simply put: Terra CO2 is a Colorado-based startup that has developed a scalable, low-carbon alternative for replacing cement in concrete.  

The American startup produces supplementary cementitious materials and carbon-neutral cement to meet the vast demand, making decarbonized concrete a practical and accessible solution for the construction industry. Terra CO2 offers two standout products:  

1. OPUS SCM: An engineered Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) that can be locally produced to address the fly ash shortage. It is derived from plentiful, cost-effective silicate rock feedstock and can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 70% when partly replacing clinker or other conventional cementitious materials. 

2. Next Gen OPUS ZERO: This visionary product is a full substitute for clinker, resulting in true zero CO2 emissions. It is an advanced cement based on proven inorganic polymer chemistry—a game-changer for the ready-mix industry. 

Why is Cemex committing investment to Terra CO2?

As the open innovation arm of Cemex, we are dedicated to actively identifying high-potential startups focused on advancing green construction and driving sustainability within the sector. With a strong emphasis on decarbonizing the built environment, promoting circular economy principles, and integrating renewable energy solutions, Cemex Ventures is eager to collaborate with startups that align with these objectives. Terra CO2 stands out as an ideal partner, thanks to its sustainable materials solution alternative to traditional SCMs and cement, which plays a critical role in accelerating Cemex’s decarbonization initiatives. 

In simple terms, Cemex is partnering with Terra CO2 to reduce harmful emissions from its production processes, driving the construction industry’s progress toward CO2 neutrality. 

So, let’s dive a little bit deeper… 

How will Terra CO2 and Cemex help each other achieve their objectives?   

In this partnership, Cemex aims to integrate Terra CO2’s solutions across its operations in the Americas and Europe, helping it fulfill its mission of becoming the global leader in carbon reduction within the construction materials industry. This agreement seeks to help Terra CO2 with the following benefits: 

• Tactical investment: The startup gains smart capital to support its continued development. 

• Partner for one of the world’s top construction firms: Cemex Ventures aims to accelerate the growth of the American startup by linking it with Cemex’s vast network and resources, creating synergies, and promoting startup-corporate collaboration. 

• Expertise & specialized knowledge: Leveraging Cemex Ventures’ expertise in progress strategies and the construction industry expertise of Cemex. 

That said, this collaboration is a two-way street: Terra CO2’s technology could help position Cemex as a leader in cutting emissions within the construction industry. This partnership also strengthens Cemex’s ambitious climate action goals outlined in its sustainability program, Future in Action, which aims to reduce Cemex’s greenhouse gas emissions generated by its production processes through its Innovation & Partnerships pillar.  

Who is Terra CO2? 

Founded in 2016, Terra CO2 Technologies is a disruptive startup dedicated to producing sustainable alternatives for cement replacement. Based in Golden, Colorado, United States, Terra CO2 is at the forefront of the sustainable materials industry.

Interesting facts: In 2024, Terra CO2 was granted by the United States Department of Energy (DoE) for the deployment of its clean technology in Utah, United States. That same year, it was named the winner of the “Decarbonization Solution of the Year” award at the inaugural Cleantech Breakthrough Awards program. 

Terra CO2’s team is a group of experts dedicated to deeply decarbonizing the concrete industry, consisting of diverse professional profiles, including scientists, engineers, geologists, plant operators, and more. 

What is their mission? Their mission is to revolutionize cement production and decarbonize concrete, aiming for zero clinker and, ultimately, zero CO2 emissions. 

What’s next?  

As with all our portfolio companies, we’ll keep you informed with all the latest news about Terra CO2 through our digital channels:  blog, social media: LinkedIn & X, and our biweekly Contech Tacos newsletter. 

But if you’re an entrepreneur with an innovative solution that’s addressing critical pain points in green construction (water efficiency, waste management, CCUS, sustainable materials, alternative fuels, and more!), we invite you to contact us! 

Press Release

Madrid, Spain. March 25, 2025. Cemex announced today its most recent investment in climate-friendly & zero carbon cement company, Terra CO2, carried out through its corporate venture capital (CVC) and open innovation unit, Cemex Ventures. Concrete is the world’s second most used material, next to water. The production of cement—a key component of concrete—is responsible for a significant share of global CO₂ emissions annually, thus reducing related emissions in its production process is a critical climate priority for the building sector. 

Terra CO2, an American-based company, produces supplementary cementitious materials and carbon-neutral cement that are scalable to meet the massive demand, making decarbonized concrete a practical and affordable solution for the construction industry. Terra’s first product, OPUS SCM, is an engineered Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM) made from abundant and cost-effective silicate rock feedstock, capable of reducing up to 70% CO₂ emissions when partially replacing clinker or other traditional cementitious products. Their second product is OPUS ZERO, a 100% cement replacement solution now in full concrete trials. The breakthrough company was granted additional support in 2024 by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), for the deployment of its clean technology. 

“Our path to carbon neutrality is stronger than ever. Terra CO2 has emerged as one of the most relevant technologies in today’s market for reducing the carbon footprint at a competitive cost, making it the ideal partner for Cemex,” said Alfredo Carrato, Investment and Open Innovation at Cemex Ventures. “We are thrilled to highlight the synergy with this high-potential Cleantech solution validated by key industry players, as we continue driving the revolution in construction and leading it toward a more sustainable future.” 

“Having one of the world’s leading cement producers invest in Terra CO2 validates our technology and its role in decarbonizing the industry,” said Bill Yearsley, CEO of Terra CO2. “Our approach has always been that to achieve decarbonization of cement; we need to create solutions that work as seamlessly as possible within the existing industry infrastructure. We look forward to working alongside Cemex to integrate sustainable solutions that do not disrupt our industry.” 

Following this initial investment, Cemex aims to integrate Terra CO2’s portfolio of solutions across its operations in the Americas and Europe, positioning the global building materials company as a leader in carbon reduction within the building materials industry. The American startup aims to help Cemex reduce its Scope 1 CO₂ emissions, targeting the direct greenhouse gas emissions generated by its production processes. This investment bolsters the ambitious climate action goals set out by Cemex’s sustainability and decarbonization program, Future in Action, through its Innovation & Partnerships pillar.  

About Terra CO2 

Terra is the standard for cement decarbonization. We enable our partners to unlock real zero cement from source to deployment. As the critical component in creating concrete, the foundation of modern infrastructure, cement is responsible for 8% of the world’s CO2 emissions. The CO2 and NOx emissions associated with cement make finding an alternative to current solutions a climate imperative. 

Unique to Terra CO2 is their capability to work across a diverse range of silicate rock mineralogy, not constrained by feedstock availability. Terra’s technology allows the company to create sustainable construction materials with the most abundant and accessible raw materials on earth from already approved and open mines.  

Terra’s first product, OPUS SCM (Supplementary Cementitious Material), is ready for commercial deployment, capable of replacing up to 50% OPC (Original Portland Cement) and solving the industry’s carbon emissions and dwindling feedstock challenges. Terra’s OPUS ZERO, a complete, real zero cement alternative, is in full concrete trials. Both leverage Terra’s “drop-in” reactor solution, which seamlessly integrates with existing infrastructure and sets the foundation for the transition to real zero cement. 

Validated by third parties, Terra’s materials perform equal to or better than traditional cementitious products. 

Terra CO2 is headquartered in Golden, Colorado, and is led by a team of industry experts. For more information, please visit: https://terraco2.com/ 

About Cemex Ventures 

Launched in 2017, Cemex Ventures focuses on helping overcome the main challenges and capitalizing on the opportunity areas in the construction ecosystem through solutions that consider sustainability. Cemex Ventures has developed an open collaborative platform to lead the revolution of the construction industry, engaging startups, entrepreneurs, universities, and other stakeholders to tackle the challenges in the construction environment and shape the industry’s future. For more information on Cemex Ventures, please visit: www.cemexventures.com 

About Cemex 

Cemex is a global construction materials company that is building a better future through sustainable products and solutions. Cemex is committed to achieving carbon neutrality through relentless innovation and industry-leading research and development. Cemex is at the forefront of the circular economy in the construction value chain and is pioneering ways to increase the use of waste and residues as alternative raw materials and fuels in its operations with the help of new technologies. Cemex offers cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and urbanization solutions in growing markets around the world, powered by a multinational workforce focused on providing a superior customer experience enabled by digital technologies. For more information, please visit: www.cemex.com 

Communications – Cemex Ventures 

Paloma Hernández 

+34 647 38 34 76 

paloma.hernandez@cemexventures.com 

Media Relations – Cemex 

Jorge Pérez 

+52 (81) 8259-6666  

jorgeluis.perez@cemex.com 

##### 

Cemex Ventures BV is an indirect subsidiary of Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V. Except as the context otherwise may require, references in this press release to “Cemex,” ”we,” ”us,” ”our,” refer to Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) and its consolidated subsidiaries. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Cemex intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements reflect Cemex’s current expectations and projections about future events based on Cemex’s knowledge of present facts and circumstances and assumptions about future events, as well as Cemex’s current plans based on such facts and circumstances, unless otherwise indicated. These statements necessarily involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from Cemex’s expectations, including, among others, risks, uncertainties, and assumptions discussed in Cemex’s most recent annual report and detailed from time to time in Cemex’s other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Mexican Stock Exchange (Bolsa Mexicana de Valores), which factors are incorporated herein by reference, which if materialized could ultimately lead to Cemex’s expectations, expected results, and/or the investment and projects referred herein not producing the expected benefits and/or results. Cemex assumes that the startups referenced in the list referred to in this press release have the rights to their corresponding projects. Cemex is not responsible for any ownership or rights issues that any startup may have with respect to their corresponding project. Forward-looking statements should not be considered guarantees of future performance, nor the results or developments are indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. These factors may be revised or supplemented, and the information contained in this press release is subject to change without notice, but Cemex is not under, and expressly disclaims, any obligation to update or correct this press release or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. Any or all of Cemex’s forward-looking statements may turn out to be inaccurate. Accordingly, undue reliance on forward-looking statements should not be placed, as such forward-looking statements speak only as of the dates on which they are made. The content of this press release is for informational purposes only, and you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Cemex is not responsible for any third-party information referenced in this press release. 

There is currently no single globally recognized or accepted, consistent, and comparable set of definitions or standards (legal, regulatory, or otherwise) of, nor widespread cross-market consensus i) as to what constitutes, a ‘green’, ‘social,’ or ‘sustainable’ or having equivalent-labeled activity, product, or asset; or ii) as to what precise attributes are required for a particular activity, product, or asset to be defined as ‘green’, ‘social,’ or ‘sustainable’ or such other equivalent label; or iii) as to climate and sustainable funding and financing activities and their classification and reporting. Therefore, there is little certainty, and no assurance or representation is given that such activities and/or reporting of those activities will meet any present or future expectations or requirements for describing or classifying funding and financing activities as ‘green’, ‘social’, or ‘sustainable’ or attributing similar labels. We expect policies, regulatory requirements, standards, and definitions to be developed and continuously evolve over time. 

This year, we launched a call for the most innovative startups to make a difference and shape the industry’s future with their breakthrough business models to Build Something Bigger Together.  

Construction Startup Competition 2024 called on startups worldwide to submit solutions that make construction more sustainable, efficient, on time, and disruptive.    

The competition’s 8th edition – hosted this year by Cemex Ventures, Caterpillar, Dysruptek by Haskell, Ferrovial, Hilti, VINCI Group’s Leonard, NOVA by Saint-Gobain, Trimble, and Zacua Ventures – saw an impressive response with hundreds of applications from impressive technology startups worldwide. Selecting only 8 winners was definitely a challenge. 

Finally, after months of intense evaluation, we’re thrilled to unveil the 8 winning startups! 

The Winners

Green Construction – Sustainable:

• MIXTERESTING (Austria): Mixteresting’s software enables its customers to develop CO2-efficient concrete by digitally simulating the mixing process, accelerating the development cycle by up to 10 times. This allows them to achieve 5-7% higher margins through more efficient and innovative concrete mixes and reduce CO2 emissions by up to 20% through performance-based optimization: http://www.mixteresting.com
• revitalyze (Austria): The Austria-based startup provides a solution to reduce waste in the construction industry by matching valuable materials from demolition and dismantling projects with the demand for secondary materials from building material manufacturers. They are faster and more cost-effective than existing solutions in building inventory analysis, as they focus solely on identifying materials that can be repurposed: https://www.revitalyze.io 

Enhanced Productivity – Efficient:

• Kraaft (France): Kraaft’s mission is to reconcile field & office teams, which often have difficulty communicating. Their take is to start with what’s already the cornerstone of day-to-day field management: simple chats and to augment those with construction-focused modules so that data gets structured semi-automatically. Their first focus is utility & infrastructure sub-contractors, and we’re starting to expand in the vertical building segment. They have 600+ customers, 15k+ active users in Europe & North America: https://www.kraaft.co 
• GOLD WINNER – Sodex Innovations (Austria): Sodex Innovations improves surveying in construction by installing hardware such as laser scanners, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), and cameras directly on the construction machine. This enables the machines to deliver digital twins of construction sites to our cloud solution in real time. This means the current status can be accessed quickly, reducing manual data collection and processing, saving time, and cutting costs. Their solutions increase transparency, improve documentation, and support project management: https://sodex-innovations.com/ 
• BRONZE WINNER – Trunk Tools (United States): The American startup has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) platform to organize mountains of unstructured data, automate workflows, and augment worker productivity. From identifying data discrepancies to tracking schedule misses, their AI agents are augmenting construction professionals’ intelligence and productivity. Their flagship agent, TrunkText, allows field workers to ask questions about their project documents, receiving answers and supporting documentation in seconds: https://www.trunktools.com 

Construction Supply Chain – On Time:

• Kaya AI (United States): Kaya’s supply chain intelligence platform reduces supply chain risks & minimizes delays to project execution by enabling data-driven lead times, breaking down communication silos & accelerating the coordination between the project team & suppliers. Their proprietary model learns from project data & incorporates progress updates from trades & suppliers to provide a more realistic view of when materials will arrive onsite, enabling a centralized view of end-to-end supply chain activities: https://usekaya.ai/

Future of Construction – Disruptive:

• SILVER WINNER – Raise Robotics (United States): Raise Robotics is a leading construction robotics company specializing in autonomous high-precision fastening solutions for on-site construction. With a deep understanding of the construction industry’s safety, accuracy, and productivity demands, Raise Robotics develops advanced robotic systems that work seamlessly with existing customer workflows, achieving unparalleled results. Their current focus is on deploying robots with contractors to handle the installation and inspection of facade brackets: https://raiserobotics.ai/ 
• GScan (Estonia): GScan uses cosmic rays (muons) to look inside critical infrastructure like bridges, tunnels, buildings, and nuclear reactors. This is the only tech capable of seeing more than 40cm into concrete or steel.  With 30x higher accuracy than industry standards (and only technology capable of scanning concrete deeper than 50cm, their 3D models help asset owners and operators to significantly cut costs by (a) extending infrastructure lifecycle and (b) reducing renovation budgets w/o increasing the risk level: https://www.gscan.eu/ 

Pitch Day 2024

But there’s still one last stop in the competition! 

These 8 winning startups are headed to the ultimate milestone of the competition: Pitch Day to compete for the chance to become the gold, silver, and bronze trophies and receive cash prizes! This year, Pitch Day 2024 will take place at Trimble’s Dimensions User conference on November 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada (USA). 

What is Pitch Day?

Pitch Day is the final stage of Construction Startup Competition, where winning startups are invited to pitch their solutions to a jury made up of executive representatives from the competition host companies – some of the top tier players in the construction industry!   

The winning startups have the gold opportunity to pitch their solutions directly to investors and attend Dimensions, one of the industry’s leading conferences, where they can meet with startup peers, innovators, and investors. Check out all the Construction Startup Competition benefits here. 

Coming up

Just like the competition’s theme, we need to BUILD SOMETHING BIGGER TOGETHER, so stay tuned for the 2025 collaboration opportunities we’ve got in store: 

• January 2024: As we kick off the new year, we’ll be announcing the Top 50 2025 Contech Startups. If you participated in the Construction Startup Competition 2024, your startup could make the list! 

• Spring 2024: The next challenge for construction startups is set to be bigger than ever. If you applied this year, we highly recommend reapplying. Many of our past winners also applied in previous competitions and earned spots in the Top 50 Contech Startups. 

Be sure to follow us on LinkedIn & X to stay up to date on all Cemex Ventures news! 

Press Release

Construction Startup Competition 2024 Names the Eight Startup Winners Revolutionizing the Construction Industry 

• The hosts of the competition – venture capital and construction companies Cemex Ventures, Caterpillar, Dysruptek by Haskell, Ferrovial, Hilti, Leonard by VINCI, NOVA by Saint-Gobain, Trimble and Zacua Ventures – have named the eight winning startup solutions advancing innovation in the construction sector. 

• The eight startup winners will compete for the gold, silver and bronze medals at Pitch Day, taking place at Trimble Dimensions User Conference in Las Vegas on November 12, 2024.  

MADRID, October 22, 2024 – Today the partners of Construction Startup Competition 2024, Cemex Ventures, Caterpillar, Dysruptek by Haskell, Ferrovial, Hilti, Leonard by VINCI, NOVA by Saint-Gobain, Trimble and Zacua Ventures, have announced the most promising startup solutions from this year’s competition with the potential to transform the construction industry.  

The annual competition, now in its eighth edition, received a large number of startup applications from over 70 countries. Startup solutions were categorized into four focus areas that correspond to current pain points in the construction value chain: Green Construction (sustainability), Enhanced Productivity (efficiency), Construction Supply Chain (timeliness), and Future of Construction (disruption). The most promising startup solutions from each focus area were named Construction Startup Competition 2024’s champions: GScan [Estonia], Kaya AI [US], KRAAFT [France], MIXTERESTING GmbH [Austria], Raise Robotics [US], revitalyze [Austria], Sodex Innovations GmbH [Austria] and Trunk Tools [US]. 

The eight aforementioned winners will advance to the competition’s final milestone, Pitch Day 2024, and present their solutions to executive representatives from the competition’s partner companies, industry investors and potential business partners at Trimble Dimensions User Conference on November 12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The three startups with the best pitches will receive cash prizes, be named the gold, silver and bronze medalists, and continue to be evaluated for potential partnership opportunities with the host companies.  

Over the last eight years, Construction Startup Competition has been a launching pad for more than 3,500 startups to network, validate their solutions through pilots and deployment projects, gain industry recognition, and facilitate fundraising with the mission to advance innovation in construction and promote the adoption of startup technologies. 

As the construction sector undergoes a technological revolution, the competition hosts are saying to startups, “Let’s build something bigger together!” Contech & Cleantech startups looking to meet with investors, pilot their solutions and make a significant impact in the construction industry can join the competition partners and winners at Trimble Dimensions User Conference.  

About Construction Startup Competition 

Since its first edition in 2017, startups from more than 80 countries have participated in the biggest challenge aimed at startups in the construction industry, the Construction Startup Competition. Many entrepreneurs have gone on to collaborate with the participating companies after applying to the Competition. Given the global outreach of its partners, the 2024 edition received an increase in the number of startup applications to identify the most innovative solutions around the world, continue growing the Contech ecosystem and begin agile adoption of applicants’ innovative technologies and business models.   

About Cemex Ventures 

Launched in 2017, Cemex Ventures focuses on helping overcome the main challenges and capitalizing on the opportunity areas in the construction ecosystem through sustainable solutions. Cemex Ventures has developed an open collaborative platform to lead the revolution of the construction industry, engaging startups, entrepreneurs, universities, and other stakeholders to tackle the challenges in the construction environment and shape the industry’s future. For more information on Cemex Ventures, please visit: www.cemexventures.com  

About Caterpillar 

With 2023 sales and revenues of $67.1 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments – Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation – and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at https://www.caterpillar.com/en/news/social-media.html 

About Dysruptek 

Formed in 2018, Dysruptek is the venture investment arm of The Haskell Company. Dysruptek seeks to invest in disruptive Architecture, Engineering and Construction technologies reshaping the built world. Dysruptek acts as an agent of change and partner to innovators driving meaningful impact across the industry. Invest. Invent. Innovate. For more information, please visit: www.dysruptek.com   

About Ferrovial 

Ferrovial is one of the world’s leading infrastructure companies. The Company operates in more than 15 countries and has a workforce of over 24,000 worldwide. Ferrovial is triple listed on Euronext Amsterdam, the Spanish Stock Exchanges and Nasdaq and is a member of Spain’s blue-chip IBEX 35 index. It is part of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and FTSE4Good, and all its operations are conducted in compliance with the principles of the UN Global Compact, which the Company adopted in 2002. For more information on Ferrovial, please visit: www.ferrovial.com  

About the Hilti Group  

The Hilti Group supplies the worldwide construction and energy industries with technologically leading products, systems, software and services. With about 34,000 team members in over 120 countries the company stands for direct customer relationships, quality and innovation. Hilti generated annual sales of more than CHF 6.5 billion in 2023 and invests approximately 7 percent of sales in research and development each year. The company is privately owned by the Martin Hilti Family Trust, which ensures its long-term continuity. The Hilti Group’s purpose is making construction better, based on a passionate and inclusive global team and a caring and performance-oriented culture. With more than 280,000 daily interactions with customers, Hilti knows that the most innovative ideas are born on the jobsite. To learn more about Hilti, please visit: www.hilti.group   

About Leonard by VINCI 

Leonard is the innovation and foresight platform set up by VINCI, a global player in concessions, energy and construction businesses, employing more than 280,000 people in more than 120 countries. Leonard was created to imagine the future of the Group’s business lines and is tasked with watching emerging trends in VINCI’s areas of expertise and markets, identifying new growth opportunities, and setting up incubation and acceleration programs for Group employees as well as start-ups. Each year, Leonard supports the acceleration and development of over 40 of the best innovative projects in construction, mobility, energy and real estate. To house these programs and start conversations with all the people blazing new trails in VINCI’s business lines, Leonard opened Leonard: Paris, a 4,500 square meters lab in Paris. Since 2020, Leonard has been expanding operations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Latin America. To find out more about Leonard: https://leonard.vinci.com/en/  

About NOVA by Saint-Gobain 

NOVA by Saint-Gobain, the external venture arm of Saint-Gobain, identifies forward-thinking startups around the world whose philosophies align with Saint-Gobain’s focus on sustainability. It helps those startups nurture their ideas and grow their companies to scale through partnerships and investment. With a presence in Asia, Europe and North America, NOVA by Saint-Gobain connects the global startup community with the power, resources, and experience of Saint-Gobain to address the needs of today and challenges of tomorrow. Learn more by visiting https://nova-saint-gobain.com and www.saint-gobain.com 

About Trimble Ventures 

Launched in 2021, Trimble Ventures is a corporate venture capital fund focused on investing in early and growth-stage companies that align with Trimble’s mission of transforming work in the agriculture, construction, geospatial and transportation industries. The fund deploys strategic capital to accelerate the growth of innovative companies and partners that complement Trimble’s products, technology platforms and support its customer’s work. Trimble Ventures targets investing in companies with technologies and solutions related to hardware and software applications; artificial intelligence; augmented, virtual and mixed reality; autonomy and robotics; blockchain; the Internet of Things (IoT) and analytics; and sustainability. For more information on Trimble Ventures, visit: ventures.trimble.com 

About Trimble 

Trimble is transforming the ways people move, build and live. Core technologies in positioning, modeling and data analytics connect the digital and physical worlds to improve our customers’ productivity, quality, safety, transparency, and sustainability. For more information about Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB), visit: www.trimble.com    

About Zacua Ventures 

Zacua Ventures is a dynamic, early-stage venture capital fund dedicated to tackling the most pressing challenges in Sustainability, Productivity, and Urbanization within the built environment, on a global scale. With our strategic footprint in North America, Europe, Latam and Asia, Zacua Ventures actively supports the most visionary and forward-thinking entrepreneurs. Our mission is to not only fortify their value propositions but also facilitate the global expansion of their ventures, leveraging extensive corporate networks. Zacua has a robust backing from industry-leading corporations worldwide, across the entire value chain of the industry, establishing a distinctive value proposition for our portfolio startups by fostering direct relationships with leading building material manufacturers, contractors, engineering companies, developers, and software companies. Zacua is led by partners with over three decades of combined industry expertise, who, for the past decade, have been at the forefront of investing in cutting-edge construction technology. Discover how Zacua Ventures is shaping the future of the built environment by empowering visionary entrepreneurs at www.zacuaventures.com 

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) is just one way the construction industry is transforming emissions into sustainable solutions. A game-changing innovator is reshaping the landscape of green construction and now has made its way into our investment portfolio to stay. Meet KC8. 

The Australian-based startup is driving sustainability innovation within the industry, paving the way towards a carbon-neutral future. With a team with more than 20 years of experience, KC8 has developed an unrivaled carbon capture solution.

Keep scrolling for a deep dive into KC8 & how our investment is making a significant impact in the construction industry! 

What – does KC8 do? 

KC8 Capture Technologies has developed an affordable carbon capture solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the use of fossil fuels in heavy industries. Their innovative solution is a direct response to the continuous increase in carbon pricing over time. As a result, industry processes that emit CO2 have an unprecedented chance to embrace KC8’s environmentally friendly carbon capture process, which not only aligns with their green objectives but also significantly reduces operational costs. 

To better understand its technology, it’s important to note that traditional solvents used in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) often pose environmental hazards. However, KC8 offers an unparalleled value proposition with its proprietary non-toxic, non-volatile solvent that has zero environmental impact. This has resulted in the safest and most tolerant solvent for CO2 removal available in today’s market.  

KC8’s cutting-edge technology enables up to 95% CO2 capture, enhances energy efficiency by 15%, and reduces overall operating costs by 50% for partners in heavy industries compared to conventional amine solvents.   

Why – invest in KC8? 

As the open innovation arm of Cemex, we are committed to continuously seeking out high-potential startups focused on green construction that enhance sustainability in the sector. With a focus on decarbonizing the built environment, advocating for circular economy principles, and embracing renewable energies, Cemex Ventures is keen to collaborate with startups aligned with these objectives. KC8 emerges as an ideal partner due to its CCUS technology, which acts as a pivotal tool in accelerating Cemex’s decarbonization efforts. 

Put simply: Cemex is partnering with KC8 to affordably reduce CO2 emissions originating from its production processes, advancing the construction industry’s journey towards CO2 neutrality. 

So, let’s dive a little bit deeper… 

How – will KC8 and Cemex help each other achieve their objectives? 

In this partnership, Cemex aims to take KC8’s technology to the next level in the largest project of its kind to date for the startup, helping it fulfill its mission of becoming the global leader in CO2 capture techniques. This agreement seeks to help KC8 with the following benefits: 

• Strategic investment: The startup obtains smart money for its ongoing development. 

• Supplier for one of the world’s biggest construction giants: Cemex Ventures seeks to foster the growth of the Australian startup by connecting it to Cemex’s extensive network and resources, aiming to forge synergies and foster startup-corporate collaboration. 

• Expertise & specialized knowledge: Leveraging Cemex Ventures’ expertise in growth strategies and the construction industry expertise of Cemex. 

However, the benefits of this collaboration are bidirectional – it’s a win-win! KC8’s disruptive clean technology has the potential to position Cemex as a leader in carbon capture in the construction industry. Cemex, by investing and partnering with this sustainable solution, intends to pilot its technology in one of its leading cement plants, to capture 100 tons per day of CO2, an ambition that is 10 times greater than the current project scopes. 

This partnership strengthens Cemex’s ambitious climate action goals outlined in its sustainability program, Future in Action, which aims to reduce Cemex’s carbon footprint in its production process by 2030 through its Innovation & Partnerships pillar. Also, this investment aligns with Cemex’s sustainability roadmap, pushing it closer to achieving net-zero CO2 emissions status by 2050. 

Who – is KC8? 

In 2021, KC8 Capture Technologies Ltd acquired UNO Technologies, a company with extensive experience, and subsequently changed its name. KC8 is an Australian-based startup that operates in Australia and the United States. The company is at the forefront of the Carbon Capture, Utilization & Storage industry, spearheading efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in hard to abate industries.  

In 2023, KC8 was awarded funding through the ARPA-E Phase 2 Flexible Carbon Capture and Storage program by the United States Department of Energy (DoE). Also, it was featured in our Cleantech Construction Map 2023 under the CCUS vertical. In 2024, the startup was named a Top 50 Contech Startup for 2024, in the Green Construction focus area. 

KC8’s team has extended experience and a diverse background in the chemical and processing industries that has allowed them to take an innovative approach to the carbon capture problem: 

What is their mission? Their mission is to commercialize the low-cost and environmentally friendly CO2 capture processes that form the foundation of KC8’s technology. 

Their challenge is to address the growing climate change issue through their solution to lowering emissions across all sectors – both energy and industrial – around the world.  

What’s next?  

Like all our portfolio companies, we’ll keep you updated with all the news about KC8 through our digital channels: blog, social media: LinkedIn & X, and our biweekly Contech Tacos Newsletter. 

But if you’re an entrepreneur with a solution that’s addressing critical pain points in green construction (carbon tools, circular construction, CCUS, sustainable materials, alternative fuels, and more!), we invite you to contact us! 

Press release

Cemex Ventures invests in acclaimed CCUS startup to become front runners in carbon capture 

Madrid, Spain. July 8, 2024. Cemex announced today its most recent investment in frontrunning carbon capture startup, KC8 Capture Technologies (KC8), carried out through its corporate venture capital and open innovation unit, Cemex Ventures. This investment in KC8’s technology has the intention of scaling such technologies to new heights in the largest project of its kind to date for KC8. 

KC8, which is an Australian-based startup, provides the construction industry with an affordable pathway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the use of fossil fuels. Traditional solvents used in Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) rely on solvents that can present an environmental hazard, but KC8’s value proposition is their proprietary non-toxic, non-volatile solvent designed to have no impact on the environment. Moreover, the startup’s breakthrough technology is designed to enable up to 95% CO₂ capture, optimize energy efficiency by 15%, and cut down overall operating costs by 50% for partners in heavy industries, such as Cemex, in comparison to conventional amine solvents. 

Following this initial investment, Cemex seeks to test KC8’s technology in a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study at one of its leading cement plants with the aim to capture more than 100 tons per day (TDP) of CO₂, an ambition that is 10 times greater than current project scopes. 

“The path to carbon neutrality is paved by not only sustainable investments, but also active and aggressive clean technology adoption by industry leaders who are producing on a global scale with a considerable impact within construction”, said Gonzalo Galindo, Head of Cemex Ventures. “We are thrilled to help promote the growth of KC8 by connecting the startup to Cemex’s extensive network and resources and to find synergies in order to foster the construction industry revolution.” 

“As a global supplier in carbon capture technologies, we are very excited to be working with the global Cemex organization in the further development of our technology supporting the cement industry,” said Greg Ross, Executive Director.  “The support of Cemex Ventures will undoubtedly be a major part of our success and we look forward to further collaboration as we implement larger scale projects.” 

This technology has the potential to position Cemex as a leader in carbon capture in the construction industry. It aims to help Cemex reduce its Scope 1 CO₂ emissions to reduce the direct greenhouse gas emissions derived from its production processes. This investment bolsters the ambitions climate action goals set out by Cemex’s sustainability program, Future in Action, through its Innovation & Partnerships pillar.  

About KC8 Capture Technologies 

KC8 Capture Technologies Ltd (www.kc8capture.com) is a process licensing company developing carbon capture technologies. KC8 is an Australian based and operates in Melbourne, Perth and now has an office in the USA. The company has developed carbon capture technologies which are currently going into a commercial demonstration phase in both cement kiln flue gas and gas turbine flue gas. Through research and development, it controls 11 patent families with over 40 awarded international patents and many more pending. 

About Cemex Ventures 

Launched in 2017, Cemex Ventures focuses on helping overcome the main challenges and capitalizing on the opportunity areas in the construction ecosystem through solutions that consider sustainability. Cemex Ventures has developed an open collaborative platform to lead the revolution of the construction industry, engaging startups, entrepreneurs, universities, and other stakeholders to tackle the challenges in the construction environment and shape the industry’s future. For more information on Cemex Ventures, please visit: www.cemexventures.com 

About Cemex 

Cemex is a global construction materials company that is building a better future through sustainable products and solutions. Cemex is committed to achieving carbon neutrality through relentless innovation and industry-leading research and development. Cemex is at the forefront of the circular economy in the construction value chain and is pioneering ways to increase the use of waste and residues as alternative raw materials and fuels in its operations with the help of new technologies. Cemex offers cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and urbanization solutions in growing markets around the world, powered by a multinational workforce focused on providing a superior customer experience enabled by digital technologies. For more information, please visit: www.cemex.com 

### 

Cemex Ventures B.V. is an indirect subsidiary of Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V. Except as the context otherwise may require, references in this press release to “Cemex,” ”we,” ”us,” ”our,” refer to Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) and its consolidated subsidiaries. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Cemex intends these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the U.S. federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements reflect Cemex’s current expectations and projections about future events based on Cemex’s knowledge of present facts and circumstances and assumptions about future events, as well as Cemex’s current plans based on such facts and circumstances, unless otherwise indicated. These statements necessarily involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from Cemex’s expectations, including, among others, risks, uncertainties, and assumptions discussed in Cemex’s most recent annual report and detailed from time to time in Cemex’s other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Mexican Stock Exchange (Bolsa Mexicana de Valores), which factors are incorporated herein by reference, which if materialized could ultimately lead to Cemex’s expectations, expected results, and/or the investment and projects referred herein not producing the expected benefits and/or results. Forward-looking statements should not be considered guarantees of future performance, nor the results or developments are indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. These factors may be revised or supplemented, and the information contained in this press release is subject to change without notice, but Cemex is not under, and expressly disclaims, any obligation to update or correct this press release or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. Any or all of Cemex’s forward-looking statements may turn out to be inaccurate. Accordingly, undue reliance on forward-looking statements should not be placed, as such forward-looking statements speak only as of the dates on which they are made. The content of this press release is for informational purposes only, and you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Cemex is not responsible for any third-party information referenced in this press release. There is currently no single globally recognized or accepted, consistent, and comparable set of definitions or standards (legal, regulatory, or otherwise) of, nor widespread cross-market consensus i) as to what constitutes, a ‘green’, ‘social,’ or ‘sustainable’ or having equivalent-labelled activity, product, or asset; or ii) as to what precise attributes are required for a particular activity, product, or asset to be defined as ‘green’, ‘social,’ or ‘sustainable’ or such other equivalent label; or iii) as to climate and sustainable funding and financing activities and their classification and reporting. Therefore, there is little certainty, and no assurance or representation is given that such activities and/or reporting of those activities will meet any present or future expectations or requirements for describing or classifying funding and financing activities as ‘green’, ‘social’, or ‘sustainable’ or attributing similar labels. We expect policies, regulatory requirements, standards, and definitions to be developed and continuously evolve over time. 

Imagine a solution with the potential to solve one of the construction industry’s biggest pain points. A lack of real-time visibility is a major challenge for construction companies, with 70% agreeing that it’s their biggest problem. ObraLink has tackled this issue with a leading-edge solution that’s revolutionizing the industry. 

That’s why we’ve made a 2^nd investment in this startup from our investment portfolio, which enhances productivity by automating construction progress measurements and planning. Additionally, the same technology provides full visibility of the on-site concrete curing process, improving efficiency and reducing human intervention, errors, and costs. 

Keep scrolling to discover the exciting details of this collaboration! 

What does ObraLink do? 

The Chilean startup has developed an innovative technology that is easy to install and automates complicated processes and manual tasks in construction projects, such as progress tracking, planning, and concrete strength monitoring. ObraLink’s platform monitors concrete as it is poured and cures, predicting its strength in real time during construction. This reduces the labor intervention, potentially reducing a project’s structural costs by 10% and shortening construction time by up to 20%. 

The solution comprises 3 key elements:  

1. Software – A 100% automated BIM software that enables contractors to understand project changes and improve decision-making in real-time. 

2. Hardware – Patented hardware technology based on the Internet of Things (IoT), computer vision, and BIM to generate real-time information that can be fitted to any construction site. 

3. Data module – A specialized module for the concrete supplier that automatically shares key data to optimize mixer coordination and control concrete quality. 

Why has Cemex increased its investment in ObraLink? 

ObraLink’s solution has completely transformed the construction sector through digitalization, addressing the lack of automation in onsite progress and concrete maturity tracking processes. 

Cemex Ventures initially invested in ObraLink in 2022. The startup’s scalable technology perfectly complements Cemex’s services, digitalizing manual processes, and improving both execution efficiency and project completion time. Cemex tested ObraLink with a sample of customers in Mexico during an initial roll-out phase.  

Currently, Cemex has made this follow-on investment in ObraLink because of its significant success in the LATAM region and the competitive value it brings. The construction giant aims to invest in solutions with the potential to digitize construction and improve efficiency within the sector together with ObraLink. 

But let’s dive a little bit deeper… 

How will ObraLink and Cemex help each other achieve their objectives? 

Cemex helps ObraLink raise additional capital to fuel its growth while leveraging Cemex Ventures’ expertise in growth strategies and Cemex’s knowledge in construction and building materials.  Through this partnership, Cemex aims to help position ObraLink and expand its reach in the Mexican market and, enter the United States by 2025. 

ObraLink helps Cemex by addressing two crucial industry challenges: data collection & standardization and product delivery logistics. By making construction processes more visible and digital, ObraLink’s solution permits concrete suppliers to anticipate decisions and orders and coordinate logistics, while it helps developers and contractors reduce fixed costs, time, and human error. 

This partnership is closely aligned with one of Cemex’s top priorities: Digital Innovation. It enhances the overall productivity of construction projects and complements Cemex’s core value proposition by digitizing the concrete journey. 

Moreover, this agreement is closely linked to Cemex’s strategic priority of Customer Centricity. By incorporating ObraLink, Cemex enhances the range of services it offers to its customers. 

Who is ObraLink? 

Founded in 2019, the Chilean and UK-based startup made its first steps with Cemex Ventures, appearing in the Top 50 Contech Startups in 2020, under its previous name, SIDCODX. A year later, in 2021, it won the Construction Startup Competition. Now, in 2024, two years after our first investment in the leading startup, we’re betting on ObraLink again with this follow-on investment. 

ObraLink has built a technically robust team of thirty-three members with extensive market and construction knowledge, improving the success rate of the commercial funnel. The company has been very well received in the construction market, attracting well-known global and Chilean construction companies, with a 90% re-purchase rate for its services in successive projects.  Its mission is to enrich and transform construction work through technology. 

Now what?

Like all our portfolio companies, we’ll keep you updated with all the news about ObraLink through our digital channels: blog, social media, and our Contech Tacos biweekly newsletter (we also send memes). 

But if you’re an entrepreneur with a solution that addresses critical pain points in the construction industry, we invite you to apply to Construction Startup Competition 2024 – ONLY 5 DAYS REMAIN! 

Press release

Cemex Ventures invests in the digitalization of construction through second investment in ObraLink 

Madrid, Spain. June 25, 2024. Cemex Ventures, the corporate venture capital and open innovation unit of Cemex, the Mexican multinational building materials company, is doubling down on their commitment to digitalize construction and improve industry efficiency through a follow-on investment in the Chile and UK based startup ObraLink. Following its US$2.0 million pre-series A funding round, ObraLink plans to further integrate itself within the Mexican ready-mix concrete market. 

Lack of real time visibility is a pervasive challenge for construction project planning and efficient execution. ObraLink’s easy to install and operate solution speeds up the construction process by fully automating construction progress, planning and tracking concrete strength on the job site in real-time without the need for human intervention, typically a time-consuming and error prone task. Comprised of 3 main elements, their solution is a 100% automatic BIM software complemented with patented AI hardware technology that generates information in real-time. Key data is then automatically shared in a specialized data module for concrete suppliers to optimize product quality according to the parameters required by the client.  

“Two of the most troublesome pain-points in the construction industry are data collection and standardization, and the logistics of product deliveries. ObraLink has developed a solution that addresses both of these challenges, contributing to a more visible and digital construction industry,” said Gonzalo Galindo, Head of Cemex Ventures. “We are recommitting to ObraLink because of the impressive success they have already amassed in the LATAM region and are looking forward to working closely with them on future projects.” 

“The only way to improve results in the construction industry is through the automation of daily and repetitive tasks during project execution. Digitalization alone is not sufficient to transform the industry. Given the complexity and the number of interconnected tasks and data in project execution, automatic systems are required to reduce the dependence on manual labor in construction,” said Emiliano Pinto, CEO of ObraLink. “We are thrilled to have found a major industry player like Cemex, which shares our vision for the future of construction.” 

This follow-on investment in Obralink is related to Cemex’s Digital Innovation priorities and commitment to customer centricity. Obralink’s competitive solution linked to Cemex’s service offering helps developers and contractors reduce fixed costs by around 10% and avoid logistics complications such as booking changes. Cemex intends to continue to roll out projects with ObraLink to complement its services and product offering to customers.    

About Obralink 

ObraLink is a technological company that automates processes and manual tasks in the execution of construction projects to reduce human dependency, lower costs, and shorten timelines in the industry. ObraLink began its development at the end of 2019 in Chile and the United Kingdom. Currently, the service monitors projects in Chile, Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. 

About Cemex Ventures  

Launched in 2017, Cemex Ventures focuses on helping overcome the main challenges and capitalizing on the opportunity areas in the construction ecosystem through solutions that consider sustainability. Cemex Ventures has developed an open collaborative platform to lead the revolution of the construction industry, engaging startups, entrepreneurs, universities, and other stakeholders to tackle the challenges in the construction environment and shape the industry’s future. For more information on Cemex Ventures, please visit: www.cemexventures.com  

About Cemex  

Cemex is a global construction materials company that is building a better future through sustainable products and solutions. Cemex is committed to achieving carbon neutrality through relentless innovation and industry-leading research and development. Cemex is at the forefront of the circular economy in the construction value chain and is pioneering ways to increase the use of waste and residues as alternative raw materials and fuels in its operations with the help of new technologies. Cemex offers cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and urbanization solutions in growing markets around the world, powered by a multinational workforce focused on providing a superior customer experience enabled by digital technologies. For more information, please visit: www.cemex.com  

###  

Cemex Ventures BV is an indirect subsidiary of Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V.. Except as the context otherwise may require, references in this press release to “Cemex,” ”we,” ”us,” ”our,” refer to Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: CX) and its consolidated subsidiaries. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the “safe harbor” provisions for forward-looking statements within the meaning of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect Cemex’s current expectations and projections about future events based on Cemex’s knowledge of present facts and circumstances and assumptions about future events, as well as Cemex’s current plans based on such facts and circumstances, unless otherwise indicated. These statements necessarily involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from Cemex’s expectations, including, among others, risks, uncertainties, and assumptions discussed in Cemex’s most recent annual report and detailed from time to time in Cemex’s other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Mexican Stock Exchange (Bolsa Mexicana de Valores), which factors are incorporated herein by reference, which if materialized could ultimately lead to Cemex’s expectations, expected results, and/or the investment and projects referred herein not producing the expected benefits and/or results. Forward-looking statements should not be considered guarantees of future performance, nor the results or developments are indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. These factors may be revised or supplemented, and the information contained in this press release is subject to change without notice, but Cemex is not under, and expressly disclaims, any obligation to update or correct this press release or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. Any or all of Cemex’s forward-looking statements may turn out to be inaccurate. Accordingly, undue reliance on forward-looking statements should not be placed, as such forward-looking statements speak only as of the dates on which they are made. The content of this press release is for informational purposes only, and you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Cemex is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims responsibility for, the content of any third-party website or webpage referenced to or accessible through this press release, nor for any quote, expectation, or projection from any third-party contained herein. 

There is currently no single globally recognized or accepted, consistent, and comparable set of definitions or standards (legal, regulatory, or otherwise) of, nor widespread cross-market consensus i) as to what constitutes, a ‘green’, ‘social,’ or ‘sustainable’ or having equivalent-labelled activity, product, or asset; or ii) as to what precise attributes are required for a particular activity, product, or asset to be defined as ‘green’, ‘social,’ or ‘sustainable’ or such other equivalent label; or iii) as to climate and sustainable funding and financing activities and their classification and reporting. Therefore, there is little certainty, and no assurance or representation is given that such activities and/or reporting of those activities will meet any present or future expectations or requirements for describing or classifying funding and financing activities as ‘green’, ‘social’, or ‘sustainable’ or attributing similar labels. We expect policies, regulatory requirements, standards, and definitions to be developed and continuously evolve over time.