The Construction Start-up Competition recognises a range of construction innovation from eco-friendly materials and productivity-enhancing tools to advanced supply chain systems and robotics
The construction industry is evolving to meet new demands for sustainability, efficiency and improved project management.
Recognising the need for fresh approaches, Cemex Ventures, in partnership with industry leaders Caterpillar, Dysruptek by Haskell, Ferrovial, Hilti, Leonard by VINCI, NOVA by Saint-Gobain, Trimble and Zacua Ventures, will be showcasing the eight finalists of the 2024 Construction Start-up Competition.
This annual global event highlights innovative start-ups focused on tackling today’s most pressing construction-related challenges.
This year’s winners bring forward innovations ranging from eco-friendly materials and productivity-enhancing tools to advanced supply chain systems and robotics.
On 12 November, the eight start-ups presented their solutions at the Trimble Dimensions user conference in Las Vegas, pitching to a jury of executives from the host companies and leading players in the construction industry.
Following the event, the three top winners were announced, with Sodex Innovations as the gold winner, Raise Robotics as the silver winner and Trunk Tools as the bronze winner.
Green construction
Mixteresting (Austria) showcased its advanced software system that enables construction companies to create CO2-efficient concrete by digitally simulating and optimising the mixing process.
According to Mixteresting, this digital approach speeds up development by up to 10 times, allowing their clients to achieve 5%-7% higher profit margins through more efficient
formulations.
Additionally, the software enables a CO2 reduction of up to 20%, supporting a more sustainable construction industry that balances economic and environmental goals.
Revytalize (Austria) is addressing construction waste through an inventory analysis platform that connects reusable materials from demolition projects with manufacturers looking for secondary materials.
With an exclusive focus on identifying reusable materials, Revytalize aims to provide a faster, more cost-effective alternative to traditional inventory methods. Their approach reduces waste in the construction industry, helps lower material costs and supports a circular economy by keeping usable materials out of landfills.
With an emphasis on efficiency and sustainability, Revytalize seeks to reshape the industry’s approach to material reuse and waste reduction.
Enhanced productivity
Kraaft (France) is bridging the communication gap between field and office teams in construction, a longstanding challenge that often hinders project efficiency and coordination.
Kraaft’s approach centres on enhancing the basic communication tools that field teams already rely on, such as simple chat functions, by integrating construction-specific modules that semi-automatically structure essential data.
This streamlined approach enhances communication, simplifies data capture and strengthens project oversight without adding unnecessary complexity.
At present, their focus sector is utility and infrastructure subcontractors, with plans to later expand services into the vertical construction segment.
Sodex Innovations (Austria) aims to enhance construction site surveying by equipping machinery with laser scanners, satellite systems and cameras to generate real-time digital
twins accessible in the cloud.
This system provides instant site status updates, reducing the need for manual data collection, saving time and cutting costs.
Moreover, by automating data capture, Sodex Innovations aims to boost transparency and improve documentation. This approach allows construction teams to work more efficiently, with accurate, real-time data driving better decision-making and increasing efficiency across all project phases.
Trunk Tools (United States) has developed an AI-driven platform designed to organise unstructured data, automate construction workflows and boost worker productivity.
From identifying data discrepancies to tracking missed deadlines, their AI agents enhance the decision-making efficiency of construction professionals.
Their flagship tool, TrunkText, allows field workers to quickly ask questions about project documents and receive accurate answers with supporting materials in seconds.
This simplifies access to critical data, improves communication and enables teams to make more informed, timely decisions, ultimately driving greater efficiency throughout the construction process.
Construction supply chain
Kaya AI (United States) offers a supply chain intelligence platform that reduces risks and minimises delays in construction projects.
By providing data-driven lead times, the platform breaks down communication silos and accelerates coordination between project teams and suppliers.
Additionally, Kaya’s proprietary model learns from project data and integrates progress updates from specialised workers and suppliers to offer a more accurate view of material arrival times. This enables a centralised view of the entire supply chain, helping teams manage logistics more efficiently and ensuring timely project execution.
Future of construction
Raise Robotics (United States) is a leading construction robotics company that specialises in autonomous high-precision robotics designed to enhance safety, accuracy and productivity on-site.
Their advanced robotic systems integrate easily into existing workflows, helping contractors streamline operations.
Currently, Raise Robotics is focused on deploying robots for the installation and inspection of façade |brackets, offering a safer, more efficient alternative to manual labour.
By addressing critical industry demands, Raise Robotics is transforming the construction process, helping contractors achieve higher precision and faster turnaround times with reduced risk and labour costs.
GScan (Estonia) leverages cosmic rays (muons) to look inside critical infrastructure such as bridges, tunnels, buildings and nuclear reactors.
Capable of scanning more than 40cm into concrete or steel with 30x higher accuracy than industry standards, GScan provides highly detailed 3D models that offer deep insights into structural integrity.
This advanced technology extends infrastructure lifecycles and helps asset owners reduce renovation costs while maintaining safety, making it a powerful tool for improving asset management and minimizing risk without compromising quality or reliability.
Transforming construction
The innovations from this year’s Construction Start-up Competition reflect the industry’s commitment to addressing sustainability, efficiency and precision challenges.
From cutting-edge robotics to eco-friendly materials and enhanced supply chain management, these start-ups are transforming construction practices and shaping a future in which projects are safer, faster and more environmentally responsible.
