CRH unveils "Sustainable Building Materials" accelerator | HBS Dealer

CRH Ventures, the venture capital unit of building supply company CRH, is launching its latest accelerator, Sustainable Building Materials. Applications to the program are open until December 16.

CRH wants to lead the transition to "smarter, more sustainable" construction, and the Sustainable Building Materials accelerator will target promising Seed-, Series A- and Series B-stage companies in the realm of construction technology with market-ready products. The program aims to identify innovative materials and applications to lower emissions, reduce waste and improve energy use to drive forward innovative and sustainable solutions for the built environment.

The accelerator will focus on exploring three areas to enable more sustainable construction:

This accelerator will identify startups poised to capitalize on the significant market opportunity 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 in the construction space. Startups will also gain broader access to CRH’s network of 200+ operating companies, gaining insight from CRH experts and exploring synergies as they scale their technologies. Participants in the accelerator will also be eligible for potential investments from CRH Ventures at the conclusion of the pilot programs.

Eduardo Gomez, head of CRH Ventures, said: “There’s an incredible opportunity to reduce construction-related emissions and enhance circularity through innovation. At CRH, we’re uniquely positioned to support the development of sustainable and innovative solutions and technologies to meet the changing needs of construction. 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 to decarbonize and help CRH achieve its 2050 net-zero ambition.”

The accelerator will be accepting applicants via the CRH Ventures website through December 16. The selection process will continue throughout November and December and will culminate in a live pitch day in early February 2025 for the most promising 10-12 startups.