Strong support for sustainable construction startups in INCUBA Next Level

In collaboration with INCUBA and Aarhus Center for Regenerative Building, the engineering consultancy Søren Jensen has helped establish an initiative that gives startups the opportunity to become part of a strong professional community with a focus on sustainability in the construction industry.

Søren Jensen, INCUBA, re-claim, DiFacto & Inviro

Frank Jensen, a third-generation owner-manager at Søren Jensen, is actively engaged in supporting the efforts to lend a helping hand to entrepreneurs working with new ideas and business models:

“The way we build, and the way we construct and operate buildings today, has a significant impact both now and far into the future. Globally, buildings that remain in use for long periods account for approximately 35 percent of CO₂ emissions and a corresponding share of resource consumption. We cannot continue doing things the way we do today.”

As part of the support, the companies are offered, among other things, 12 months of free rent at INCUBA Next Level, ongoing business development, access to events and networks within INCUBA’s community, as well as specialised advice and sparring with engineers and architects from Aarhus Center for Regenerative Building and Søren Jensen.

According to Frank Jensen, the interaction between established advisors, startups, and environments such as INCUBA plays a central role in the transformation of the construction industry:

“This trinity is crucial if the industry is to succeed in its transition. Our clients are seeking advice on how to move their businesses in a more sustainable and productive direction. However, we do not develop the new materials, products, and services ourselves. That is why we depend on new players, such as startups, to bring these solutions to the table.”

Re-Claim, DiFacto, and Inviro each contribute new perspectives on the challenges facing the construction industry and together form a strong core in the support of construction-focused startups:

“We believe that all three companies have something distinct and relevant to offer the construction sector. At the same time, we see clear potential for them to learn from one another and develop side by side in the early stages,” says Frank Jensen.

Different paths towards a more sustainable construction industry

The three startups represent different approaches to making the construction industry more sustainable.

Re-Claim is a Danish materials manufacturer that develops biogenic building materials with a low climate footprint and high aesthetic quality. The company works with residual bark from Danish sawmills and refines the material into façade and cladding panels using its own proprietary bio-binders.

At Re-Claim, the continued support from Søren Jensen is greatly appreciated:

“It means a great deal to us to have strong and experienced players around us. As a startup operating in a complex field such as construction and materials, it is crucial to have support that extends beyond the early idea phase and contributes both professional expertise and industry insight,” says Frederik Ankjær, COO at Re-Claim.

Frank Jensen, Frederik Ankjær & Alex Quach fra re-claim, og Flemming Jensen fra Søren Jensen A/S

DiFacto has developed a digital platform that reviews supplier invoices and cross-checks them against customers’ pricing agreements in order to document and identify discrepancies.

CEO Jeppe Østerby highlights INCUBA as an important framework for the company’s development:

“INCUBA is a strong place to build a startup. You gain access to a professional setup, a relevant network, and an environment that understands both technical and commercial challenges. For us, it has been crucial to be part of a place where there is room to think big while also receiving concrete, hands-on sparring along the way.”

Frank and Flemming Jensen from Søren Jensen A/S with Jeppe Østerby & Ivan Grant Petrus from DiFacto

At the same time, the group of startups in INCUBA Next Level is expanded with Inviro, a Danish software company developing a SaaS platform targeted at public building owners. The platform aggregates building data from internal systems and public data sources and translates it into prioritised action plans that support building operations, energy renovation, and work with climate and energy targets.

Founder Jeppe Nørskov looks forward to the collaboration with Søren Jensen:

“We expect a collaboration characterised by sparring, honest input, and dialogue on business, market, and scaling. The opportunity to draw on Søren Jensen’s experience and network provides us with valuable perspectives and can open doors that would otherwise be difficult to access as a startup.”

Jeppe Nørskov from Inviro with Frank & Flemming Jensen from Søren Jensen A/S

Through this initiative, Søren Jensen aims to strengthen the framework that enables more innovative startups to gain a foothold in the construction industry:

“We hope that the support can help move the companies further along in their development while also attracting more entrepreneurs with ambitions to launch new, innovative concepts for the construction sector,” Frank Jensen concludes.

Read more about INCUBA Next Level and construction-focused startups.