CEMEX Ventures - July 2020

CEMEX Ventures

Fostering the construction revolution

DIGITAL REPORT 2020

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Fostering the construction revolution

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CEMEX VENTURES

Gonzalo Galindo, Head of CEMEX Ventures, outlines the 2020 Construction Startup Competition and what his company hopes to achieve

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lthough construction might be amongst the oldest industries in history, CEMEX Ventures is dedicated to making sure

that it keeps its sights set firmly on the future.

Launched in 2017 as the corporate venture capital arm of Mexico-based building materi04

als company CEMEX, CEMEX Ventures takes a global view of the market and seeks to empower innovative entities in the construction sector via investment, engagement and shared expertise from its extensive network. Open to working with startups, entrepreneurs, universities and more, CEMEX Ventures takes small companies on a 14-step journey from basic evaluation all the way up to investment. We spoke with Gonzalo Galindo, Head of CEMEX Ventures, about the company’s drive to foster a revolution in the industry.

With a diverse background of skills, Galindo says that he was keen to combine his knowledge of the construction sector within a corporate venture context. “I have a lot of experience in the construction industry, especially the building

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CEMEX VENTURES

Construction Startup Competition 2020 – The power of five construction industry leaders CLICK TO WATCH

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2:14

06 materials. I think it’s a combination

to understanding your subject from

which works well together,” he

the bottom up, which in turn relies on

explains. Priding himself on a style

being open to new ideas and perspec-

of leadership which emphasises a

tives on well-known topics.

receptiveness to change, a passion

Perhaps nothing could have made the

for construction and an innovative

importance of this more abundantly

attitude, Galindo states that CEMEX

clear than the disruption caused by

Ventures fundamentally realises that

COVID-19. “CEMEX looks outside

adapting to new market conditions is

itself to the world and continues to

imperative for a thriving industry. “You

learn what is happening, about dif-

really need to be adaptive and keep

ferent trends and how construction

your core intact by supporting your

is evolving,” Galindo says. “It’s a very

people, learning from them, helping

challenging environment and it will

them and providing them with a clear

continue to be so. We all need to

vision to focus on.” This comes down

really push our limits to succeed.”

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The introspective nature of CEMEX

Part of this attitude can be

Ventures is partially the reason for its

accounted for by the uniqueness

success; acting with purpose and well-

of CEMEX Ventures itself: among

thought-out intention, the company

the first of its kind, Galindo says

goes beyond what most corporate

that because it was uncharted ter-

venture funds would consider neces-

ritory the team had no barriers or

sary. “We do a lot of insight-analysis

preconceptions to impede how it

on the industry to form a better overall

approached business. Now, as the

strategy. We’re also investing in con-

company continues to gain recognition,

cepts and business models which may

make investments and develop pro-

help CEMEX create additional sources

jects, Galindo believes that its track

of revenue for the future,” he adds.

record for success and efficiency will 07

E X E C U T I V E P R OF IL E :

Gonzalo Galindo Title: Head of CEMEX Ventures Company: CEMEX Ventures Industry: Venture Capital & Private Equity With over 20 years of experience in CEMEX, Gonzalo Galindo is the head of CEMEX Ventures, promoting a construction revolution by working with startups in construction, entrepreneurs, universities, and other entities interested in the industry.

Thanks to Gonzalo’s work and his team in CEMEX Ventures, he has been named the most relevant investor in the construction ecosystem for the second year in a row.

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CEMEX VENTURES

only grow with time. “CEMEX is probably

Competition’, an event designed

one of the most innovative companies

to identify and foster the newest

operating today, not only in terms

innovators in the sector. Beginning

of scientific innovation and product

three years ago, the competition has

development but also in the business

gained more and more traction on the

models that the company has applied in

world stage as a fruitful opportunity

order to grow. I think CEMEX has been

for newcomers to prove the worth

a game-changer for the building materi-

of their concepts. This year, CEMEX

als industry throughout these years.”

Ventures is joined by several global

CONSTRUCTION STARTUP COMPETITION 2020 08

leaders of the industry: Ferrovial, Hilti, VINCI Group’s Leonard and NOVA

by Sant-Gobain. With the quality of

The culmination of this focus is

the entering startups intensifying

its annual ‘Construction Startup

year-on-year, Galindo is confident

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Focus areas – construction startup competition 2020 CLICK TO WATCH

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09 that the 2020 event will be one for the record books. “We’re providing a robust proposition to the startup community. From the level of discussions occurring to the quality of the processes running the competition itself, it’s getting better and better,” he claims. Entrants have until 26 July to participate in the event.

With two trends seeming to pervade the contemporary construction industry – the introduction of digital tools in the building process and environmental considerations on the whole process – Galindo anticipates w w w. c o n s t r u c t io n gl o b a l . c o m

CEMEX VENTURES

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that the event will produce a satisfying cross-section of responses from innovators on these topics. Keen to stand at the forefront of a revolution that it hopes its actions will instigate, CEMEX Ventures warmly extends an invitation to all startups in the sector to take part and be part of the industry’s future. “I’d like the startup community to go to our website (https://www. cemexventures.com/startup-competition-2020/) and join an event filled with innovators working on great new business models,” Galindo concludes.

“CEMEX Ventures is willing to give them support and help make stronger startups and solutions.”

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