Berlin-based cement and concrete decarbonization startup Alcemy has raised $10 million to scale its innovative cement decarbonization solution. Founded in 2018 by Leopold Spenner and Dr. Robert Meyer, Alcemy aims to transform the concrete and cement industry into a digital, greener age.
Alcemy’s AI platform directly addresses cement decarbonization by providing quality predictions throughout the clinker production process and at ready-mix concrete plants. By leveraging robust data and smart algorithms, Alcemy offers real-time insights along the entire value chain, from cement grinding to concrete processing on construction sites. This approach converts the handcrafted natural product into a data-based high-tech product.
With Alcemy’s solution, companies in the most emission-intensive industry benefit from higher quality, lower production costs, and significant CO2 savings. Alcemy’s software enables cement and concrete producers to gradually reduce clinker content, achieving up to a 65% reduction in emissions.
Recently, Alcemy partnered with Spenner, Germany’s fifth-largest cement manufacturer, to produce a low-clinker, low-carbon cement mixture in a commercial setting, marking a global first for the industry.
Norrsken VC led the funding round, which will be used for continued research and development and to support Alcemy’s expansion into multiple new markets in 2024, including the United States. Leading climate investors, including Galvanize Climate Solutions and AENU, also participated in the round.
“We launched Alcemy with a bold vision: together with the manufacturers, we want to achieve the decarbonization of the cement and concrete industry, which is responsible for 5-8% of CO2 emissions worldwide. What we have been able to achieve in commercial settings has only ever been done before in a lab,” said Leopold Spenner, CEO and co-founder of Alcemy. “With this nearly $10 million in additional funding and support from Norrsken VC, alongside our first-round investors, we’re paving the way to a low-carbon construction industry, one project at a time.”
Alexander Danielsson, partner at Norrsken VC, expressed enthusiasm for supporting Alcemy: “Their AI-driven software demonstrates remarkable stickiness in the market and holds immense global potential, making a tangible impact in combating climate change. With a clear vision, proven track record, and a great, growing team, Alcemy is poised to lead the charge in revolutionizing the cement and concrete industry worldwide.”
Additionally, Alcemy has secured a partnership with TITAN America, a subsidiary of the global leader Titan Group. The startup will begin its US activities by deploying its AI-powered quality control software at a Titan cement plant in Florida.
