Yaroslavl, Russia, September 8, 2025
News Summary
Three sector developments signal near-term shifts in construction and building materials. A climate-tech cement developer secured venture debt to scale an alkali-fusion, AI-driven ultra-low carbon cement that claims up to 85% CO2 reduction versus traditional Portland cement. In Yaroslavl a multi-company team completed Europe/CIS’s first residential 3D-printed house, printed in parts and assembled on site, now connected to utilities and habitable. Separately, an investor programme published its Top 50 Contech startups and a market report showing strong deal activity and investor focus on productivity and green construction, informing priorities for contractors and funders.
Venture debt for low‑carbon cement, a landmark 3D‑printed house and a Top‑50 Contech list highlight industry shifts
The construction and cement sectors showed clear signs of change in recent industry reports. The biggest item is a new venture debt facility arranged for a UK‑based climate tech firm developing ultra‑low carbon cement, intended to speed commercial rollout of its first product. At the same time, a multi‑year project using 3D construction printing in Yaroslavl reached practical completion and is ready for occupancy, and an annual list of the most promising construction technology startups underlines investors’ continued interest in digital and green solutions.
Venture debt backs scale‑up of low‑carbon cement
A climate tech company focused on decarbonising cement has secured a venture debt arrangement from a bank unit that specialises in innovation banking for high‑growth businesses. The debt is meant to help the company scale its proprietary technology, which combines alkali fusion and AI‑powered design to produce an alternative binder marketed as MevoCem. The firm says MevoCem can cut CO2 emissions by up to 85% compared with traditional Portland cement production methods.
Management framed the financing as a move to add debt alongside existing grant and equity funding as the business matures and expands internationally. The facility is targeted at accelerating commercial traction and bringing pilot output closer to industrial scale. A senior director at the lender highlighted the deal as part of an ongoing effort to support climate tech companies as they grow.
The announcement was posted in late June 2025 and was presented alongside other sector updates and podcast material on decarbonisation and circular economy topics.
Europe/CIS’ first inhabited 3D‑printed house completes final stages
A construction group that began experimenting with additive building methods completed a 3D‑printed family home in Yaroslavl that was built for real life use rather than display. Work on the project started in 2015. The building frame was printed in parts, transported to site and assembled within about one month in December 2015. Roof and interior finishes were completed by the summer of 2017, and the house is now reported as connected to utilities and ready for occupation by an ordinary family.
The finished structure covers 298.5 square metres and is described as the largest building of its kind in Europe and the CIS region. Printing was carried out in a workshop using a portal‑type printer with a working field of roughly 3.5 x 3.6 x 1 m. Layers were laid at about 10 mm in height and 30–50 mm in width, with reported wall printing speeds up to 15 sq.m/h. The method shortened the time from design to production substantially, with reported reductions of up to 8–12 times compared with traditional workflows.
The project team emphasised that the parts were printed, transported and assembled much like a construction kit, and that the early model proved reliable even as equipment and process quality have since improved. The companies involved have continued to develop a range of portal printers for architectural elements through to multi‑storey structures.
Top‑50 Contech list shows funding focus on productivity and green tech
A venture arm that tracks construction startups published its sixth annual Top‑50 list, grouping selections across four strategic areas: Green Construction, Enhanced Productivity, Construction Supply Chain and the Future of Construction. The accompanying report reviewed 2024 industry data and set out trends expected in 2025.
Investment figures for 2024 show approximately US$3.1 billion deployed across 325 deals. Deal count rose by around 38% compared with 2023, while the total capital invested edged up by about 2.3%. The data were interpreted as a sign that investors remain selective but confident in the sector’s potential.
Deal breakdown for 2024 highlighted a tilt toward efficiency solutions: nearly 47% of deals related to Enhanced Productivity, while Green Construction accounted for about 24% of deals. The report underlined demand for digital and sustainable tools as the construction industry pursues productivity gains and long‑term carbon targets, including net‑zero ambitions by mid‑century.
The Top‑50 list and report were presented as a strategic snapshot of emerging tech and investor behaviour, with commentary from the venture group on how acceleration in selected innovations could reshape construction workflows.
Industry context and outlook
Taken together, the finance, technology and startup signals point toward a sector that is increasingly focussed on measurable carbon cuts and on software and process tools that boost output per worker or machine. Climate tech firms are beginning to add venture debt to their finance mix as they move from lab and pilot phases toward commercial volumes. Additive manufacturing continues to demonstrate potential for one‑off and repeatable housing elements, while startup scouting shows investor appetite for digital and green builders of productivity.
FAQ
What is the venture debt being used for?
The debt is intended to help the cement tech firm scale its production technology and grow commercial traction, moving from pilots toward wider market supply.
How much CO2 reduction does the new cement product claim?
The proprietary binder is reported to cut lifecycle CO2 emissions by up to 85% versus conventional Portland cement methods.
Is the Yaroslavl 3D‑printed house habitable?
Yes. The project completed key construction stages and utility connections and is reported as ready for occupancy by a family. The building underwent design, permitting and cadastral steps to meet housing norms.
How fast can the construction printer used on the Yaroslavl project print?
Reported printing speeds reached up to about 15 square metres per hour for walls, using layers around 10 mm high and 30–50 mm wide.
What do the Top‑50 startup figures tell us?
They indicate investors are favouring solutions that improve productivity and lower carbon, with steady funding levels and more deals than the previous year, suggesting selective but continued confidence.
Key features at a glance
| Topic | Key points | Data / figures |
|---|---|---|
| Venture debt for cement tech | Financing to scale an ultra‑low carbon binder using alkali fusion and AI design | Deal announced June 2025; product claims up to 85% CO2 reduction |
| 3D‑printed house (Yaroslavl) | First residential building of its kind in Europe/CIS built for real occupancy; printed in parts and assembled on site | Total area 298.5 m²; printing speed up to 15 m²/h |
| Top‑50 Contech startups | Annual list focused on Green Construction, Enhanced Productivity, Supply Chain and Future of Construction | 2024 investment ≈ US$3.1bn across 325 deals; 47% deals in productivity, 24% in green tech |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- WorldCement: Material Evolution secures venture debt from HSBC
- Wikipedia: Cement — Environmental impact
- VoxelMatters: First 3D‑printed live building in Europe unveiled (Yaroslavl)
- Wikipedia: 3D printing — Construction
- WorldCement: CEMEX Ventures unveils the Top 50 Contech startups of 2025
- Google Search: Contech startups 2025 Top 50
- WorldCement: Holcim UK launches construction industry roadmap
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Holcim (search)
- OpenPR: CIS Construction Chemicals in Europe market booms 2025
- Google News: CIS construction chemicals market 2025
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