CRH Ventures is accepting applications from Seed- and Series A or B-stage construction or climate technology companies through mid-December for its latest accelerator, Sustainable Building Materials. The accelerator program enables the investment arm of Dublin-based CRH Plc to identify innovative materials and practices to lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduce waste and improve energy use in the built environment. Top Sustainable Building Materials candidates are startup businesses developing:
- CO2-mineralized materials, where processing and chemical transformation yield binders, fillers, aggregates or building products capable of utilizing and storing carbon dioxide gas.
- Sustainable binder solutions improving traditional cement or concrete materials’ carbon performance and/or circularity characteristics.
- New novel materials or existing-material applications representing non-traditional solutions for cement and concrete.
The accelerator will identify startups poised to capitalize on the significant market opportunity construction decarbonization represents and support them as they develop and scale their operations. CRH Ventures will arrange one or more pilot programs for each shortlisted applicant, providing commercial users for products and facilitating technology refinement and engagement with selected partners. Startups will also realize broader access to CRH’s network of 200+ operating companies in North America, Europe and Australia, gaining insight from cement, aggregate and concrete production experts and exploring synergies as they test and prove their technologies. Accelerator participants will also be eligible for potential CRH Ventures investments.
“We’re uniquely positioned to support the development of sustainable and innovative solutions and technologies to meet the changing needs of construction,” says CRH Ventures Head Eduardo Gomez. “In launching the Sustainable Building Materials accelerator, we plan to identify the most impactful innovations and drive their commercial development through our network to support the construction industry and help CRH achieve its 2050 net-zero ambition.”
CRH Ventures will process applications submitted through a portal hosted at www.crhventures.com. Selection will continue through year end, enabling 10-12 startups to prepare for a live February 2025 pitch day.
Launched in 2022, the investment unit has established itself as a leader in construction innovation, with access to a $250-million fund and a growing group of portfolio companies innovating across the construction value chain. Sustainable Building Materials is CRH Ventures’ third accelerator. Earlier this year, the unit successfully launched the Roads of the Future accelerator to identify leading innovations with potential to impact the roads ecosystem. CRH Ventures kicked off the accelerator series in 2023 with Water Solutions.