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How a global leader in building solutions invests in circular startups with Bengt Steinbrecher from Holcim Maqer Venture
Strategic venture capital, circularity, and scaling innovation in the construction industry
What does it take to invest in circularity in construction - an industry defined by waste, emissions, and long scaling cycles?
In this episode, Bengt Steinbrecher of Holcim MAQER Ventures shares how one of the largest building materials companies works with startups to decarbonise the sector. From reusing 10 million tons of demolition material to testing carbon-storing concrete across Europe, Holcim blends strategic relevance with clear circular KPIs.
The episode explores how corporate venture capital enables circular startups to scale in the construction industry - through market access, operational integration, and long-term collaboration.
This episode is part of VC for Circularity - the Venture Capital Perspective on Circular Economy Startups.
People
Bengt Steinbrecher, Head of Digital Partnerships and Startup Partner at Holcim Maqer Ventures
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengt-steinbrecher-maqer
Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:02 Bengt's career background
02:50 Circularity levers in the construction industry
03:55 Holcim MAQER’s investment focus: sustainability, productivity, and construction tech
08:07 Investments criteria and partnership success
12:09 Holcim MAQER approach investing in start-ups
15:57 Circularity evaluation framework
17:58 Example of a circular start-up within Holcim's portfolio - Neustark
19:50 Business models possibilites
21:43 Choosing which business models to invest in
23:26 Investing in asset-heavy businesses
25:17 VC investment patterns in the circular construction field
27:06 Circular Assessment - Where Strategic VC and Impact VC are alike
29:49 Advice for circular founders and future trends
32:07 Founders are invited to reach out to Holcim MAQER
About
Holcim MAQER Ventures is Holcim’s corporate venture capital and open innovation unit, designed to accelerate sustainable transformation in the construction industry. It invests in early-stage startups developing breakthrough technologies, provides a venture clienting program that enables startups to validate and scale their solutions within Holcim’s global operations, and runs a six-month accelerator program to foster innovation and collaboration across the construction value chain.
Through these approaches, Holcim MAQER Ventures connects startups with market access, technical expertise, and resources to drive decarbonization and reinvent how the world builds
Further Links
https://holcimmaqerventures.com/
https://www.neustark.com/
One-page Summary
Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/how-a-global-leader-in-building-solutions-invests-in-circular-startups-with-bengt-steinbrecher-from-holcim-maqer-ventures/
View all episodes
By Patrick Hypscher
5
11 ratings
Strategic venture capital, circularity, and scaling innovation in the construction industry
What does it take to invest in circularity in construction - an industry defined by waste, emissions, and long scaling cycles?
In this episode, Bengt Steinbrecher of Holcim MAQER Ventures shares how one of the largest building materials companies works with startups to decarbonise the sector. From reusing 10 million tons of demolition material to testing carbon-storing concrete across Europe, Holcim blends strategic relevance with clear circular KPIs.
The episode explores how corporate venture capital enables circular startups to scale in the construction industry - through market access, operational integration, and long-term collaboration.
This episode is part of VC for Circularity - the Venture Capital Perspective on Circular Economy Startups.
People
Bengt Steinbrecher, Head of Digital Partnerships and Startup Partner at Holcim Maqer Ventures
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bengt-steinbrecher-maqer
Patrick Hypscher, Circular Business Strategist, PaaS Expert https://www.linkedin.com/in/hypscher/
Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:02 Bengt's career background
02:50 Circularity levers in the construction industry
03:55 Holcim MAQER’s investment focus: sustainability, productivity, and construction tech
08:07 Investments criteria and partnership success
12:09 Holcim MAQER approach investing in start-ups
15:57 Circularity evaluation framework
17:58 Example of a circular start-up within Holcim's portfolio - Neustark
19:50 Business models possibilites
21:43 Choosing which business models to invest in
23:26 Investing in asset-heavy businesses
25:17 VC investment patterns in the circular construction field
27:06 Circular Assessment - Where Strategic VC and Impact VC are alike
29:49 Advice for circular founders and future trends
32:07 Founders are invited to reach out to Holcim MAQER
About
Holcim MAQER Ventures is Holcim’s corporate venture capital and open innovation unit, designed to accelerate sustainable transformation in the construction industry. It invests in early-stage startups developing breakthrough technologies, provides a venture clienting program that enables startups to validate and scale their solutions within Holcim’s global operations, and runs a six-month accelerator program to foster innovation and collaboration across the construction value chain.
Through these approaches, Holcim MAQER Ventures connects startups with market access, technical expertise, and resources to drive decarbonization and reinvent how the world builds
Further Links
https://holcimmaqerventures.com/
https://www.neustark.com/
One-page Summary
Sign-up for the Circularity.fm Newsletter and get a summary with the take-aways of this episode. Register here: https://circularity.fm/how-a-global-leader-in-building-solutions-invests-in-circular-startups-with-bengt-steinbrecher-from-holcim-maqer-ventures/