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
A
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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Construction Startup Competition 2020 – The power of five construction industry leaders CLICK TO WATCH
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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
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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.”
APPLY BEFORE JULY 26TH
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