Kompozite, the digital decision support platform for low-carbon building professionals

For Damien Cuny, co-founder of Kompozite: “We have built buildings for decades without thinking about carbon. Today, global warming is an urgent reality. The RE2020 environmental regulations, the various legislative measures and local public policies force players in the sector to build differently. »

This French start-up, created in 2020, incubated by the "CSTB Lab" and Station F, provides a unique solution for comparing construction systems that goes beyond the simple evaluation of materials. The digital and automated platform offers, via "generative design", optimized constructive combinations in construction and renovation, according to the technical constraints of the real estate project. And this, while calculating the carbon footprint of the systems generated by Kompozite.

Indeed, once the few data have been entered, the products that do not work are discarded and only the most suitable materials and combinations are offered. “In a few clicks, the user knows the carbon impact of any material but also its conditions of use,” adds Damien Cuny.

An objective and effective decision support tool

The Kompozite platform allows architects, design offices, project owners, lessors, developers and builders to be supported in their choice of design, independently, quickly and optimized.

Its advantages are multiple: the solution promotes technical decision-making right from the building design phase, while controlling regulatory constraints and insurability risks. This design aid makes arbitration between construction systems more reliable, by specifying the conditions for implementation with comparable performance. In addition, Kompozite enables low-carbon materials innovation to emerge, as it continuously collects data on new products on the market.

The solution hosts its own database of several thousand product references for facades and envelopes. It should very quickly extend to the structure and the roof in order to offer a complete offer for the whole building. Beyond the architectural lots, the technical lots will be inserted. Tomorrow, integration into the BIM will be proposed to allow data exchange, or to simplify entry entries.

The Kompozite platform is also distinguished by the elegance of its graphic design and a unique user experience, to simplify the daily life of professionals.

A project supported by public authorities, industry players and investment funds

The start-up, which is among the 40 most promising projects of 2022 named by Station F, has been labeled GreenTech Verte by the Ministry for Ecological Transition.

About fifty players in the sector tested and approved a beta version (including BE Pouget Consultant, Vinci Construction, Woodeum, etc.), which enabled its launch.

Investment funds committed to reducing climate-related risks are accelerating Kompozite's ambitions. The start-up has raised nearly 1,4 million euros from a consortium made up of historical investors and new entrants:

• Citizen Capital, the reference player in impact investing in France since 2008. Its mission is to mobilize funds to meet the social and environmental challenges of our time. Citizen Capital finances and supports high-potential projects and companies that meet basic needs and provide innovative solutions that transform their market. An independent company, Citizen Capital manages several investment vehicles dedicated to financing early stage, growth and agriculture. The company has the quality of a Company with a mission, is certified B Corp, is a member of the UN-PRI and a founding member of the community of companies with a mission.
• AFI Ventures, a new impact investment vehicle notably supported by the famous Ventech fund.
• Foundamental, a German investment fund specializing in the construction sector and of which Kompozite was the first investor in France.

In 2020, a first fundraising of 200.000 euros had already been made with five prestigious business angels from the world of finance and new technologies.

Beyond the depth of the problem, investors were won over by the team's innovative approach and ability to execute on its ambitions. A beta version had also already been tested and approved by around fifty players in the sector.

The funds made it possible to hire a team now made up of 9 people: construction engineers, web developers and two doctors: the first in applied mathematics, the second in materials physics. The ambition is now for a very wide distribution of the product on all trades of building design in France. Since January 2022, the platform has been accessible free of charge for the smoothed carbon data of construction products. Then count between 79 to 149 euros excluding tax per month for the subscription, depending on the formula chosen.

Great beginnings for this start-up which innovates for the carbon neutrality of buildings.