STRABAG – On the Way to Its Own CVC Fund
The Austrian construction group STRABAG is pursuing targeted individual investments and preparing the launch of its own corporate venture capital fund, which is expected to issue seed- to Series A tickets.
Previous individual investments indicate the strategic direction: in 2023, around €45 million was invested in the logistics platform Schüttflix. In the same year, STRABAG invested €100 million in battery storage manufacturer CMBlu Energy. In doing so, STRABAG links its core business with future technologies related to the energy transition.
HOCHTIEF – Venture Arm via U.S. Subsidiary Turner Construction
HOCHTIEF leverages its U.S. subsidiary Turner Construction Company—the largest construction company in North America—and launched its VC arm, Turner Ventures, in March 2025. The program invests without a rigid budget cap in ClimateTech as well as PropTech and ConTech solutions.
Three funding channels (“Ignite,” “Incubate,” “Invest”) integrate start-ups into Turner’s—and therefore HOCHTIEF’s—value chain depending on their maturity level. For the parent company based in Essen, this provides a lean bridge to U.S. innovation, with potential transferability to European projects.
Holcim – Innovation via Holcim MAQER Ventures
The Swiss building materials group operates Holcim MAQER Ventures as a three-pillar innovation platform: venture capital, venture clienting, and accelerator programs. Since 2018, more than 100 pilot projects have been implemented—ranging from AI tools for concrete optimization to recycling start-ups.
This year, Holcim invested in Swedish cleantech player SaltX Technology to scale up plasma-based, nearly emission-free clinker production. The investment is part of a portfolio of 17 minority stakes in start-ups.
Strategic Patterns (Admittedly a Small Sample!)
Venture activities are gaining traction in the construction industry. Are corporate VC and venture client programs no longer marketing gimmicks, but instead becoming an integral part of strategic development?
A look beyond the industry is revealing: In March of this year, the DGNB reported that more than 75% of construction companies rarely or never collaborate with start-ups. In contrast, according to an IW study, 60% of companies in the automotive sector had already worked with start-ups in 2023. A VDMA survey from 2019 showed that 44% of mechanical engineering companies had already cooperated with start-ups.
So there is still room for improvement in our industry!
