Last Week in ConTech - 14 April 2025
Why cutting the OCED puts clean energy infrastructure innovation at risk
Deep Insight: Why cutting the OCED puts clean energy infrastructure innovation at risk
This week it was announced that the Trump Administration is proposing to cut the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED).
While not widely known outside energy circles, the OCED plays a critical role in funding and de-risking first-of-a-kind (FOAK) projects like advanced nuclear reactors and other innovative infrastructure that can reshape our energy future.
This matters as the OCED helps startups cross the ‘Valley of Death’, the gap between proving a technology works and scaling it commercially.
This stage is particularly tough: private investors are hesitant, and few banks or VC firms have the in-house technical expertise to underwrite the risk.
FOAK projects are essential. If a startup does manage to cross that gap (e.g. by building a functioning fusion reactor), the payoff is massive, unlocking economy-wide benefits and often demanding large-scale construction to bring the solution to life.
To address this funding gap, the Department of Energy was restructured in 2021/22. OCED became the bridge between lab-scale tech and full-scale deployment, working to collaborate with the private sector to spur investment.
As CTVC describes it, the OCED supports companies at the moment “you’ve de-risked your primary technology and are entering market adoption.”
Their goal is to:
“Commercialize clean energy technologies… validate these technologies in real-world conditions and provide confidence that the technology works as intended.”
It means they don’t just write checks, they bring a 300-person team of project managers, grants specialists, and engineers to validate technologies in real-world conditions, build confidence in their performance, and accelerate follow-on private investment.
Cutting this office could create a structural gap in the clean energy deployment pipeline. Without this funding mechanism it may be unclear how these technolgoeis will be scaled and deployed which has ripple effects for every sector impacted by them, including construction.
In this issue there are:
10 Startup Fundings
1 Startup emerged from stealth
15 Policy and Regulatory Changes
10 New National Infrastructure Projects & Priorities
0 New investment funds
1 Acquisitions
5 News articles
14 new jobs posted - view here
Reading time: 13 mins
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Startup Funding
Building Design
Adaptis, a Canadian startup, raised $4m in Seed funding from investors including Building Ventures. They are building a scenario analysis and optimization platform for the sustainable design of buildings. It operates across the building lifecycle (design, operation and end-of-life) allowing users to simulate hundreds of design scenarios and optimize them on metrics such as carbon or cost benefit as well as sequence retrofits for a building. More here.
Land Development
Algoma, a New York startup, raised Seed funding (undisclosed) from investors including Zacua Ventures. They are building a pre-construction automation platform for single / multi-family residential developers providing them with capabilities for multi-site feasibility studies approval processes such as zoning reviews, construction estimates and dynamic site studies with an initial focus on light-steel and wood/timber-framed buildings. More here.
Supplier Management
Vestigas, a German startup, raised €8m in funding. They are building a digital delivery note processing solution for the construction industry, which automatically creates digital delivery notes in a structured format for review by stakeholders, allows digital signature and verifies invoice data. More here.
[View open jobs - 2 roles in Software]
Notes:
Vestigas’ solution has built-in virality within the construction ecosystem.
The product requires buy-in from three key stakeholders: the end customer (GC), freight forwarders (dispatchers), and material suppliers (quarries).
If one stakeholder adopts the solution, they naturally bring others into the fold.
For example, a GC might require all their freight forwarders to use it.
If freight forwarders like the experience, they’ll introduce it to other GCs and suppliers they work with.
When this network effect kicks in, it’s powerful, but the challenge lies in breaking into the market in the first place.
I’d be curious to know which stakeholder segment Vestigas initially focused on when building their feature set, and how they entered the value chain.
I also like to think about products like this through an offensive vs. defensive lens:
Offensive features create a 10x improvement over the status quo, it’s the hook that drives initial adoption.
Defensive features are the necessary infrastructure that enables buy-in and adoption across the rest of the value chain.
Sustainability Reporting
Tracera, a New York startup, raised $12m in Series A funding. They have developed a platform to automate the collection, verification and auditing of sustainability data offering services to the construction industry supporting easy access to Environmental Product Declarations shared by suppliers, management and identification of at-risk suppliers and per project sustainability tracking. More here.
[View open jobs - 1 role in AI / Machine Learning, 1 role in Customer Success]
Waste Management
Sourgum, a New Jersey startup, raised $12.5m in Series A funding from investors including Suffolk Technologies. They provide a haul sourcing platform for the waste management industry providing recurring services as well as one off including providing dumpster rental. More here.
[View open jobs - 2 roles in Sales, 3 roles in Software, 1 in Design, 2 roles in Customer Success]
Notes:
Sourgum has traction in the construction sector noted by their websites marketing towards the construction industry and Sufollk’s investment.
They also appear to be a marketplace provider for waste services, mentioning they operate a curated network of over 5000 trusted vendors.
Soil Rectification
Remedy Scientific, a Califronian startup, raised $11m in funding. They have developed sensing and cleaning robotic units that can rapidly clean up toxic dirt, making a site ready for development in days and weeks rather than months or years initially focusing on PFAS. More here.
[View open jobs - 1 role in Operations]
Notes:
Soil rectification is of increasing importance on construction sites.
The reason why is the presence of forever chemicals (polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS) which are incredibly challenging to break down.
On sites I’ve worked on, when PFAS is found the material is hauled off site and stockpiled in perpetuity and replaced with new soil as clean up is expensive.
Remedy Scientific says it is pricing the cost of its cleanup similar to the cost of hauling toxic dirt.
They are initially addressing contaminated sites critical for infrastructure, defense, and industrial development.
Green Materials
Progressive Planet, a Canadian company, received $1.14m in Grant funding. They develop low carbon solutions and the funding will be used to develop their PozGlass pilot plant which is a high-performance supplementary cementitious material made from post-consumer glass. More here.
Logistics
Podfather, a Scottish startup, raised £3.4m in funding. They are building logistics software to streamline fleet operations including features such as route planning and optimisation, proof of delivery, real time tracking and vehicle checks operating across multiple industries including building materials and construction. More here.
Building Decarbonization
Enpal, a Berlin startup, raised €110m in funding (private equity led). They provide energy saving solutions for homeowners such as solar panels, batteries and heat pumps including offering installation. More here.
Notes:
Similar to 1Komma5, Enpal has their own in house installation (self-perform) service.
Real Estate / Services Management
Appwork, a New Jersey startup, raised $13m in Series A funding. They have built a platform to support maintenance operations in multifamily property management providing solutions such as work order tracking, make ready boards, inspection and technician management tools. More here.
Out of Stealth
Primepoint, a Californian startup, emerged out of stealth. They are building a construction AI workflows tool that can be used from preconstruction to closeout and can be trusted with a precise drawing and spec paper trail. Check out their website here.
ConTech Meetup in Melbourne, Australia
We finally have a construction tech focused meetup in Melbourne!! (my hometown)
Zacua Ventures and Superseed Ventures (the CVC of Reece Group) are co-hosting an event in Collingwood for startups, industry professionals and investors in construction. Check it out if you’re in town. Link to the event here.
Policy and Regulatory Changes
US
What it means to cut the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations
A decision to shut down the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) could be coming as early as next week.
OCED, established in 2021, provides up to 50% of the funding for first-of-a-kind projects.
It is focused on helping critical technologies get steel in the ground.
Notes:
The OCED was funded as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provided $21 billion for large-scale demonstration projects.
It has helped derisk specualative projects providing funding for Direct Air Capture Hubs, the Clean Hydrogen Hubs, and the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program.
US robotics companies push for national strategy, including a central office, to compete with China
American robotics companies are pushing for a national robotics strategy.
This includes establishing a federal office focused on promoting the industry as China is making intelligent robots a national priority.
The Association for Advancing Automation said a national strategy would help U.S. companies scale production and drive the adoption of robots as the “physical manifestation” of AI.
China has approved a state-backed venture capital fund of $138 billion to focus on robotics, AI and other cutting-edge innovations.
Notes:
If enacted, this would have downstream impact on the deployment of robotics in construction.
President Trump Issues Executive Order Targeting State Climate Programs
The order aims at "unleashing American energy" by removing legal restrictions imposed by state laws and policies related to climate change that are unconstitutional or preempted by federal law.
This includes laws and regulations burdening the identification, development, siting, production or use of domestic energy resources.
Notes:
Policies which impact fossil fuel production could be targeted.
Additionally it calls out New York and Vermont for their climate change superfund laws that require fossil fuel companies to pay for their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions.
It also mentions California’s carbon cap-and-trade system.
Keep Only ‘Mission-Critical’ Vehicle Charging Stations, GSA Tells Agencies
The General Services Adminstration has told agencies to remove all but “mission-critical” charging stations in space they lease from GSA.
The directive says that generally no new charging station installations are authorized, although exceptions will be allowed if an agency makes a case to the GSA.
Trump orders agencies to ‘sunset’ environmental protections
Trump ordered energy agencies to add provisions ensuring regulations expire within five years unless actively renewed.
Impacted agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Energy Department, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and Fish and Wildlife Service.
The order applies to all regulations issued under laws governing areas like energy appliance standards, mining and offshore drilling.
The intent is to make agencies reexamine their regulations periodically to ensure that those rules serve the public good.
FEMA Pulls Plug on Popular Adaptation Program
US$882mn of funding authorized as part of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program would be returned to the Treasury or reapportioned by Congress next year.
BRIC takes on around 75% of the cost of climate-proofing projects, and up to 90% of those in disadvantaged communities.
It has allocated US$5bn in grants since it began in 2020.
Chicago asks city contractors to cut invoices by 3%
A copy of the letter, signed by Chicago’s chief procurement officer, asked vendors for a price reduction of at least 3% off all invoices sent to the city for the next 12 months regarding any contracts they currently hold as a prime contractor.
The request went to firms that had already signed contracts.
One company mentioned their profit margin was 3%.
Trump aims to boost coal, in part by ordering power plants to stay open
One executive order directs DOE Secretary to develop a process within 90 days for issuing emergency orders to keep power plants operating in areas of the country deemed to have potential grid reliability problems.
Austin building code will now require all homes to have working air conditioning
The code makes it so no habitable rooms, including rental homes, apartments and houses, should ever rise above 85 degrees.
Maine updates building codes for new residential and commercial construction
Municipalities with more than 4,000 residents are required to enforce the codes.
The biggest change is requirements for for more insulation in floors and walls.
Additionally it provides more options to meet energy efficiency standards.
Mountain View launches express building permits for small businesses, single-family homes
The express permit service is currently only for small building projects.
It covers:
Single-family remodels of 600 square feet or less
Single-family additions less than 500 square feet
Commercial tenant improvements of 5,000 square feet or less
The permit process is designed to take about three weeks or less.
City of Houston paying to remove bike lanes in Midtown, which Harris County paid for
The department is turning the designated bicycle lanes along Austin Street into sharrows.
Sharrows are shared lanes for cars and bicycles.
The department is also ripping out the concrete barriers that once separated the lanes.
The City of Houston agreed to take over maintenance for the bike lanes from the county.
India
Chennai to use AI, drones to map 408km of roads for encroachments, repairs
The AI-driven survey will compare road dimensions with official records to identify encroachments.
It will help assess damaged roads, pavements, street lights, and disconnected medians so repairs could be taken up.
New Zealand
New legislation to cut red tape for overseas building products
The Government has now passed the Building (Overseas Building Products, Standards, and Certification Schemes) Amendment Bill.
The legislation is expected to make up to 250,000 products available to New Zealanders this year.
It does so by providing another pathway to compliance in New Zealand for products certified in trusted overseas jurisdictions.
This includes the recognition of overseas standards and standards certification schemes.
New procurement rules urge wool use in government buildings
Government agencies have been directed to use wool in the construction and refurbishment of their buildings "where practical and appropriate".
This is to show the government's support for the wool industry and farmers.
National Infrastructure Projects & Priorities
US
SoftBank to Invest $1 Trillion in AI-Powered Robot Factories in US
The factories will be located in industrial parks across the country.
The robots will be designed to provide a solution for American manufacturers that are facing labor shortages.
This amount is higher than the $500 billion investment SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son announced in January.
Trump administration to speed up construction of California-Mexico border wall
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem eased environmental restrictions to fast- track construction of about 2.5 miles of border barrier.
This is the first waiver of environmental laws for the border wall of Trump’s second term.
Amazon Seeks Partners for $15 Billion Warehouse Expansion Plan
Amazon is considering a plan which would result in nearly 80 new logistics facilities in US cities and rural areas.
The properties are expected to be mostly delivery hubs, where vans and trucks are loaded for the final leg to shoppers’ homes.
Some would be large, multi-story fulfillment centers packed with robots.
China
Sinopec and CATL Join Forces to Build 10,000 Battery Swap Stations
The partnership between Sinopec and CATL aims to establish a nationwide battery swap network.
This year, the collaboration targets the construction of no fewer than 500 battery swap stations.
The aim is to create a seamless "swap-as-fast-as-refueling" experience for electric vehicle (EV) owners in China.
To secure exports to Europe, China reconfigures its rail links
Work officially began on a multi-billion-dollar railway through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan that will link China more closely with Europe, bypassing Russia.
China’s main rail links with Europe ran north through Russia, often via Kazakhstan.
Freight companies began to avoid routes through Russia due to safety and rising insurance costs.
EU
EU sets action plan to establish global lead in AI
As part of the action plan, the European Commission expects to at least triple its data center capacity in the next five to seven years.
India
Japan lends $520m for Delhi metro upgrade
The money will fund extensions which will have 39 stations, 29 above ground, nine underground and one at grade.
A metro depot will also be built and 178 cars purchased.
UK
London Clears Final Hurdle for More High-Speed Trains to Europe
A report released today by the UK’s Office For Rail and Road found that the East London depot of Eurostar has potential space to store more trains.
British train operator Virgin said there were “no more major hurdles to overcome” for new services using the Channel Tunnel.
This could mean fast service to new cities across northwestern Europe in the near future, including to destinations in Germany and Switzerland and to French cities south of Paris.
Direct high-speed rail from London currently runs to Paris, Brussels, Lille, Rotterdam and Amsterdam.
Notes:
Europe is priortizing rail for climate reasons.
An example of this is France banning short-haul flights where train alternatives exist in 2023.
Finland
Finland's last active coal-fired power and heat plant shuts down
Finland's last coal-fired power and heat plant in active production will shut down permanently.
The previous government in 2019 passed a law to ban coal from 2029.
Australia
Albanese’s $2.3 billion discount battery program pledge for homes with solar panels
If re-elected and the policy is enacted, the program would save about $4000 from the upfront cost of an 11.5 kWh battery.
One in three Australian households now have solar, but only one in 40 has a battery.
Acquisitions
Urbint, a Miami company providing a platform to identify and mitigate threats to critical infrastructure, acquired StormImpact, an Ohio compay which predicts the risk of storms, wildfires and floods for utility infrastructure. More here.
News
Italy’s €25 Billion Rail Plan Is a Model for EU Spending
US Solar’s Hoarding Habit Will Help Blunt Sting From Trump Tariffs
Developers have been amassing piles of solar panels for more than a year.
Analysts estimate there’s roughly 50 gigawatts worth of the equipment in warehouses.
That’s enough panels to power about 8.6 million homes.
US developers are projected to build about 54 gigawatts of total solar capacity this year.
Much of that will be for big solar farms, but most of what’s in warehouses are panels designed for rooftops.
Dissecting the cross-border M&A exit route for European proptech (Pi Labs)
New Poll Shows Americans View Water That’s Safe to Drink and Reliably Supplied as Top Issues
New polling shows Americans view ensuring a reliable water supply as their top issue, beating out inflation, healthcare reform and others.
Most Americans polled also expect the federal government to make investments to improve and maintain water infrastructure.
Tariffs, trade wars, and climate tech
This article breaks down the impact of the US tariffs ad what it means for the clean energy supply chain.
If I missed anything this week, please reply and let me know! I’ll make sure to include it next week.