With Construction Startup Competition 2020, CEMEX Ventures exposes the need to find solutions to the industry’s most pressing challenges, promoting startups and the integration of new business models.
CEMEX Ventures, CEMEX´s open innovation arm and Corporate Venture Capital has one goal: to foster the construction revolution. This implies promoting innovation, the use of new technologies and new ways of doing business in construction, one of the least digitized industries in the world. How did the entrepreneurs of Construction Startup Competition plan on taking on such a challenging task?
“Through their constant innovation, CEMEX aims at being the world’s most efficient and innovative building materials company. With CEMEX Ventures, we get closer to startups and entrepreneurs working on disruptive solutions that fit this purpose, not only for our benefit, but to promote real change in the industry by implementing new technologies into it” expressed Gonzalo Galindo, Head of CEMEX Ventures.
With the expertise and worldwide presence of CEMEX, CEMEX Ventures identified the main pain points in the global construction value chain and designed a strategy that allows them to search for startups around the world that are working on solving these issues. Their very successful open call for startups, Construction Startup Competition, has contributed to the development of a construction technology ecosystem of over one thousand startups in 80 countries.
Solutions for Industry Needs
For Construction Startup Competition 2020, Ferrovial, Hilti, Vinci Group´s Leonard and Nova by Saint-Gobain joined CEMEX Ventures in one of the biggest alliances amongst industry leaders. Their global presence promises to bring the biggest edition of the competition to date.
“The industry needs to be more technological, less fragmented, more efficient, and promote sustainable ways of building. By coming together, we highlight the spirit of collaboration in the sector, and prove that big corporations are in the lookout of new business models to make sure we are answering to the current needs of the industry” said Cristina Aparicio, Insight and Business Development Director at CEMEX Ventures , who also leads the lookout for new startups with disruptive and innovative ideas in the company, year-round.
Construction Startup Competition 2020 is looking for startups that offer solutions to the industry’s most pressing challenges today:
- Optimization of the project design and engineering processes
- Supply chain management
- Digital solutions for project and jobsite management
- Innovative building materials and construction methods
- Smart and sustainable building and cities
Network, Pitch and Speed-Dating
The winners will have the opportunity to be a step closer to joining one of the participating companies´ investment portfolio, engage in activities and pilot projects that will help develop their business, have access to relevant contacts in the industry, and participate in Builtworlds Venture Conference in Chicago on December 2020. Aside from pitching their solutions to a board of industry leaders, decision makers and investors, during the event they´ll have the unique opportunity of partaking in dynamics similar to speed-dating rounds. This will allow them to network personally with key players within the Contech ecosystem, baring the possibility of connecting with other collaborators, establishing agreements, or even meeting someone interested in testing their solutions or getting their business to new markets.
“Previous editions have proven to be extremely successful, and this year, it´s not the exception. We are offering a unique opportunity for the participants and we can´t wait to see the results this fourth edition brings to the table”, added Aparicio.
Participants can apply through CEMEX Ventures´ website until July 26. For more information about CEMEX Ventures and Construction Startup Competition, visit cemexventures.com.
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