REINVENTING HOW THE WORLDS BUILDS THROUGH INNOVATION AND COLLABORATION: INSIGHTS FROM SLUSH 2024
During our participation in three key panels at Slush, we shared valuable insights on how startups can collaborate with industry leaders like Holcim to drive meaningful change and scale their impact. The discussions also provided an opportunity to explore Holcim’s venture clienting approach, showcasing how strategic collaborations can accelerate innovation, create mutual benefits, and deliver real-world impact.
Panel 1: Startup Opportunities in the Construction Industry: Insights from Holcim’s Venture Client Unit
As the global construction industry progresses on its journey to reduce emissions, Holcim is leading the way with a firm commitment to achieving net-zero by 2050. During the panel discussion, business leaders emphasized the importance of implementing advanced technologies and innovative processes to modernize operations and minimize emissions across the value chain.
We are equally dedicated to fostering impactful partnerships that advance sustainability and drive commercial growth within the built environment. Startups are uniquely positioned to address critical gaps, offering agility and fresh, bold perspectives. By collaborating with innovative startups, Holcim aims to unlock transformative solutions that align with our mission to decarbonize the construction industry and accelerate green growth.
Business leaders further highlighted how startups can differentiate themselves by addressing key challenges across the value chain. Data was identified as a crucial enabler of transparency and efficiency, with opportunities in tracking material flows, reporting embodied carbon, and optimizing project execution. The panel also spotlighted Holcim’s exploration of alternative materials to replace clinker—an essential but high-carbon component of traditional cement. Beyond decarbonization, discussions focused on advancing circularity through the reuse of construction demolition materials (CDM) and leveraging digitalization to automate processes.
The message from the panel was clear: bold partnerships between corporates and innovative startups are essential to achieving a net-zero future. By collaborating with industry leaders like Holcim, startups have the unique opportunity to deliver breakthrough solutions in decarbonization, data transparency, and process optimization. Together, we can drive the innovation needed to create a sustainable future, for people and the planet.
Panel 2: Building Lasting Partnerships: Holcim MAQER Ventures’ Approach to Startup Engagement
At Slush 2024, one of the standout moments was an engaging panel discussion featuring Holcim MAQER Ventures and Paebbl. The conversation explored Holcim’s transformative approach to startup collaboration, offering valuable insights into how we foster innovation within the company and drive tangible impact through the venture clienting model.
Holcim’s venture clienting approach is central to collaboration with startups. This model enables Holcim to bring innovative startups solutions into its global operations while serving as an early client—a significant advantage for novel companies seeking to scale their impact.
The discussion highlighted the inspiring journey of Paebbl, a groundbreaking startup on a mission to repurpose CO2 into solid carbonate materials. Through Holcim’s venture clienting model, Paebbl progressed from pilot projects to scaled implementations, showcasing the potential for startups to create meaningful impact with the right partnership.
The panel provided practical advice for startups aiming to collaborate with industry leaders like Holcim:
- Building Trust: Meaningful partnerships are built on shared objectives, trust, and commitment to addressing key industry challenges.
- Open Communication: Transparent and consistent dialogue ensures mutual benefits and helps navigate the complexities of corporate-startup collaborations.
Panel 3: How to Do First-of-a Kind in Hard Tech – Are Offtake Agreements the Way?
During our panel discussion at the Impact Stage at Slush 2024 with Paebbl, we explored the importance of industry leaders like Holcim collaborating with novel startups to achieve a net-zero future. Recently, Holcim participated in Paebbl’s Series A financing to scale their advanced mineralization technology, designed to permanently store CO2 in concrete as a carbon sink. This collaboration highlights how strategic partnerships can help accelerate the deployment of decarbonization technology.
Offtake Agreements as Catalysts for Innovation
A central focus of the panel was financing First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) plants, with specific emphasis on offtake agreements. These agreements play a pivotal role in enabling hard-tech companies to bring their product to market, while also providing industry players with competitive and environmental advantages.
This, of course, underscores the willingess to take responsibility and certain risks to transform hard-to-abate industries like ours. A low-carbon future is not only necessary—it’s achievable and viable through bold, collaborative action.
Offtake agreements create a potential win-win scenario:
- Startups gain the opportunity to distribute their products through established corporate networks, accelerating market entry and derisking early commercial plants.
- Corporates benefit from early access to innovative materials that differentiate them in the market, offering commercial and environmental advantages.
Panel discussion: “Startup Opportunities in the Construction Industry: Insights form Holcim’s Venture Client Unit,” presented at the Venture Client Track.
Panel discussion: “Building Lasting Partnerships: Holcim MAQER Ventures’ Approach to Startup Engagement,” presented at the Venture Client Track.
Fireside chat with Paebbl: “How to Do First-of-a-Kind in Hard Tech – Are Offtake Agreements the Way?” presented at the Impact Stage.
The Holcim MAQER Ventures team extends its heartfelt gratitude to all speakers, startups, and participants who contributed to the resounding success of our participation at Slush 2024. The message from these conversations is clear: collaboration is key. By fostering a united effort across the entire value chain and embracing forward-thinking behavior and transformative partnerships, we can reinvent how the world builds, together.
