Cemex Ventures Leaplab Joins Global 2024

This year, Cemex’s exclusive acceleration program was selected and invited to attend Startup Grind Global 2024 as a delegation in the heart of technological innovation, Silicon Valley.

What is Connection Day? 

Connection Day is the final step in the Cemex Ventures Leaplab’s program, where the cohort gets the opportunity to expand their strategic connections in a world-class event within the entrepreneurial ecosystem & takes place at the Startup Grind Global Conference 2024 on April 23rd & 24th.

The event brought together thousands of entrepreneurs and investors, plus 150 exhibiting startups from over 30 countries. Among them, all 5 startups from Leaplab's 2nd edition cohort showcased their solutions to potential clients and eager investors, marking a golden opportunity provided by our Leaplab accelerator.

The participation of these startups in the Leaplab program has marked a before and after in their trajectory. The journey through Cemex Ventures' acceleration program increased their opportunities to connect with other relevant players in the sector and exponentially raised the chances of scaling their solution.

Here are the high-potential Leaplab startup solutions that were highlighted:

• Introid: (Mexico) Has created innovative solutions in AI & computer vision to enhance safety and efficiency across sectors including industry 4.0, mobility, retail, security, and smart cities.
• Mixteresting: (Austria) Has designed a software tool that uses mathematics & AI to digitally simulate the mixing process and suggest optimized concrete mixtures. This results in less time for developing new concrete mixtures at lower cost and CO₂ footprint.
• Movener: (Chile) Has developed & patented the "E-Power", an electric technology system that converts diesel engine trucks into hybrid units, reducing fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.
• Verusen: (United States) Has created an AI platform that assists global enterprises in their MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) inventory management.
• Waterplan: (United States) Has developed an all-in-one climate platform to measure, respond to, and report on organizations' evolving water risks to accelerate the transition to a water-secure world.

The 2023 cohort relished 3 action-packed days, featuring pitches, one-to-one meetings with investors, roundtables, founder education workshops, and networking with potential clients. 

What Happened at Global 2024?

Accelerate Summit

Pre-event: Learning and connecting

Leaplab startups got the opportunity to participate in the Accelerate Summit, an exclusive event for Global’s exhibiting startups and investors. Activities included talks, roundtables, workshops on founder education, and networking opportunities. The highlight of the day was a fireside chat with Spenser Skates, Amplitude’s CEO & Co-Founder, where he provided relevant insights on building a US$1.4B software giant from seed stage to IPO.

The Conference

Day 1: Pitching and exhibiting

On the first day of the conference, Introid, Mixteresting, Movener, Verusen, and Waterplan displayed their exhibition stands and brought their technology-based value propositions to the forefront of investors and potential partners’ minds with their 1-minute pitches. Check them out here!

• Introid – René Padilla (Co-Founder & CEO) : René Pitch
• Mixteresting – Florian Spinkler (Co-Founder & Head of Development): Florian Pitch
• Movener – Héctor Novoa (Head of Design): Hector Pitch
• Verusen – Scott Matthews (CEO): Scott Pitch
• Waterplan – Augusto Cordero (VP of Operations & Strategy): Augusto Pitch

Day 2: Networking with investors

The startups focused on multiplying their networking efforts and expanding their knowledge by meeting with potential investors and attending educational sessions and talks. Notable discussions included:

• "Striking a balance: Revenue and Venture Funding for Startups" by Sangeeta Chakraborty, Chief Revenue Officer of Miro & Michael McBride, General Partner of Google Ventures. This discussion centred on the challenge of balancing revenue generation with a strategic utilization of venture capital. Sangeeta explored how startups can achieve equilibrium by focusing on operational profitability through strong unit economics while using VC funding strategically to accelerate growth, all without becoming overly dependent on external capital.
• "Building Tomorrow: Shaping the Future of Innovation, Technology, and the Economy" by Garry Tan President, CEO of Partner Y Combinator & Derek Andersen CEO and Co-founder of Startup Grind. Tan discussed the vital role that startups play in driving future innovations and economic expansion, emphasizing the significance of community, and highlighting the transformative impact of technology, especially AI, in enhancing human well-being.

Leaplab Testimonials

Don’t just take our word for it, this is what Leaplab’s 2^nd edition cohort had to say:

“Startup Grind Global 2024 has been incredible. We have taken full advantage of both investor meetings and the possibility of getting in contact with many startups that share the same desires and growth expectations as us.” - Héctor Novoa, Head of Design at Movener

“We met lots of business connections, lots of potential partnerships, different startups, and met some very interesting investors. We scheduled some meetings with them... overall a great experience.” - Florian Spinkler, Co-Founder & Head of Development at Mixteresting

“I enjoyed Startup Grind Global. Especially if you are an entrepreneur, I think it's an amazing experience. I have enjoyed a lot the exposure and getting to network with all these amazing entrepreneurs, investors, and venture capital representatives.”- René Padilla, Co-Founder & CEO at Introid

“Cemex Ventures is committed to shaping the entrepreneurial landscape and fostering strategic connections within the open innovation ecosystem. I'm enthusiastic about the value captured by the Leaplab’s 2^nd edition cohort in this event as they forged stronger ties with the Silicon Valley vibrant community.” - Karla Arrambide, Cemex Ventures Manager

Join the upcoming 3^rd Edition of Leaplab!

At Cemex Ventures Leaplab, Cemex’s exclusive acceleration program, we're seeking high-potential startups that address strategic challenges in the construction industry.

By joining the program, you can participate in real-scale pilots across Cemex’s global operations, receive qualified solution validation and mentoring from experts in the industry, expand your network, and be able to connect with Cemex post-program as either a supplier or partner.

Leave us your contact to be considered for the program’s 3^rd edition!