immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Finanzierung

  • Sika invests in Cidra Concrete Systems

    Sika invests in Cidra Concrete Systems

    Sika is expanding its collaboration with Cidra Concrete Systems. According to a press release, the Zug-based construction chemicals company has signed an agreement to finance growth with equity capital. This agreement complements the global partnership that has existed since the beginning of 2019 with the North American expert for monitoring and information systems in concrete mixing vehicles. It was closed for the introduction of this data service in the USA and Canada.

    Cidra Concrete Systems, headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, manufactures high-precision on-board systems that measure concrete quality during transport from the concrete plant to the construction site. Concrete manufacturers can use a cloud-based data portal to call up information on concrete quality such as workability or air volume for every vehicle in their fleet in real time. Now this partnership between the two companies is to be extended to other countries. "We are pleased to be able to offer this offer worldwide thanks to Sika's position as market leader," said Cidra boss Scott Anderson.

    "With this IoT-based technology we can provide our customers in the concrete industry with new digital solutions", Phillippe Jost, Head Construction Sika, is quoted in the press release. “Optimizing the mix design of concrete” enables Sika customers “to improve the performance of their concrete and their profitability by reducing the number of rejected truck loads”.

  • Innosuisse promotes Blackstone Resources

    Innosuisse promotes Blackstone Resources

    The Swiss innovation agency Innosuisse will subsidize the development project of Blackstone Resources AG , which is estimated at 1.3 million francs. She has promised a grant of 50 percent. According to a media release from Blackstone Resources, this commitment will help finance the development of solid-state electrolytes and a “sophisticated” production simulation of 3D-printed solid-state batteries.

    The Baar-based company relies on lithium-ion batteries with solid-state electrolytes. Their industrial production is based on Blackstone's own 3D printing process, the press release said. A research consortium consisting of Blackstone Resources, the Eidgenössische Materialprüfungs- und Forschungsanstalt ( Empa ) and the Bern University of Applied Sciences will upscale the synthesis of solid-state electrolytes developed by Empa.

    Because the electrolyte, i.e. the conductive part of the battery, is solid, solid-state batteries have several advantages: They are non-flammable and cannot leak. They manage without cooling, which increases their energy density and thus their storage capacity. And theoretically they can be loaded faster. Car manufacturers in particular are hoping for them because they could solve the range problem of electric cars.

    Against this background, Blackstone Resources AG sees “solid electrolytes as a key component for the next generation of battery technology” and will produce this technology “independently” in the future.

  • Houzy gewinnt die Baloise als Investorin

    Houzy gewinnt die Baloise als Investorin

    Die Baloise investiert laut einer Medienmitteilung in das Zürcher Proptech-Start-up Houzy. Damit will der Basler Versicherer sein Portfolio an innovativen Technologien rund um das Wohnen erweitern.

    Houzy betreibt eine digitale Plattform, die Daten intelligent verknüpft und daraus Empfehlungen für Wohneigentümer ableitet. Sie kann beispielsweise errechnen, wann die Heizung saniert und wie viel Geld dafür auf die Seite gelegt werden soll. Sie kann Eigentümer aber auch mit passenden Partnern für den Unterhalt oder andere Aufgaben verknüpfen. Dabei zahlen die Anbieter eine Fixgebühr pro Jahr, um auf der Plattform gezeigt zu werden. Für die Nutzer ist die Plattform kostenlos.

    Mit der Investition von Baloise schliesst Houzy eigenen Angaben zufolge seine Serie-A-Finanzierungsrunde ab. Im Rahmen der Runde habe das Start-up „mehrere Millionen“ Franken für das weitere Wachstum in der Schweiz gesammelt. Neben der Baloise konnte sich Houzy im Sommer auch eine Investition von der Zürcher Grossbank UBS sichern. Die Aktienmehrheit halten nach wie vor die Gründer.

    „Wir haben gezielt Partner gesucht, die nicht nur in Houzy investieren, sondern als strategische Partner zu uns passen. Mit der Baloise und ihrem Home-Ökosystem werden zahlreiche Synergien entstehen, die unsere Entwicklung schneller vorantreiben, worauf wir uns alle sehr freuen“, sagt Stefan Schärer, CEO von Houzy.