24th October 2024 5 min read

This week CRH launched its third accelerator program through CRH Ventures, which seeks to empower entrepreneurs who are committed to developing solutions that reduce carbon emissions and contribute to a more sustainable environment. Eduardo Gomez Mendoza, Head of CRH Ventures, shares the type of novel technologies he expects the program to accelerate.

What are the main objectives of the CRH Ventures team, and what drives its mission?

Our core objective is to invest in and partner with leading start-ups across the construction value chain that share our vision to develop sustainable solutions. We identify start-ups that have developed solutions that make our industry safer, smarter, more efficient and more sustainable. We also offer them an exceptional opportunity to pilot and scale these solutions in collaboration with our operating companies across the world. These strategic investments are a part of our ongoing commitment to reinvent the way the world is built.

Your team recently launched a new Sustainable Building Materials accelerator program. Can you tell us more about that initiative and what it hopes to achieve?
The Sustainable Building Materials accelerator is the third part of the CRH Ventures’ accelerator program. This accelerator was designed to identify and nurture start-ups and entrepreneurs who are developing breakthrough solutions in the realms of decarbonised materials, and we aim to leverage our extensive partnership network to test and implement emerging solutions in real-world scenarios and drive their commercial development.

What kind of technologies are you specifically hoping to see through the application process?
There are three categories in which to enter. The themes we are exploring include sustainable binder solutions, new materials and applications, and CO2 mineralised materials. Across these themes, we are looking for innovators who are developing more circular and lower-carbon traditional materials, such as concrete solutions that use recycled cementitious materials, and who are developing more sustainable, novel alternatives to concrete, such as clinker alternatives. We are also hoping to see applications from those developing materials such as binders, aggregates or products that also offer carbon storage. We are particularly interested in technologies that will have meaningful impacts on the reduction of carbon emissions and that boost the circularity of materials in our value chain.

What inspired you to launch an accelerator program focused on Sustainable Building Materials?
CRH is taking a diligent and proactive approach to reducing our carbon emissions. We are continuously pursuing opportunities for improvement and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to reduce our own emissions and provide lower-carbon solutions to our customers. Although we are proud of our developments to date, we recognise the role of partnerships and collaboration in accelerating our progress and that of the industry. This accelerator is an opportunity to catalyse innovation in this space by supporting startups that are developing solutions to redefine what’s possible, but that need support from a company like CRH, which has the scale, the network, and the financial stability to accelerate the commercial development and application of their solutions. We are committed to driving real change, not just in the materials space but in how we think about the future of construction. We recognise that to continue our progress, we simply can’t do it alone.

What kind of impact do you hope this accelerator will achieve?
Our ultimate goal is to accelerate the development and deployment of market-ready solutions that build, connect, and improve our world. That said, we don’t just provide capital – we foster long-term partnerships to help these start-ups grow and scale. The program is designed to identify new partnerships, scale their operations quite quickly and facilitate technology refinement and commercial use cases. However, we know the real impact will be felt once the solutions are adopted on a larger scale, and we begin to see their performance across the value chain.

Finally, why is CRH Ventures, a solid partner for start-ups and innovators?
The construction industry operates on a massive scale with strict standards and regulations, which can be daunting for start-ups with transformative ideas. They need help navigating the landscape and applying their solutions at scale. CRH is a leading provider of building material solutions and is a market leader across both North America and Europe. We are involved in some of the world’s greatest industrial construction products and have a vast network, footprint, and customer base across a diverse set of markets and geographies. Finally, we have strong financial success and regulatory expertise. Combined, this provides start-ups unique access to the scale, expertise and networks they need to succeed.