Molins Ventures will combine three investment approaches: direct investments in start-ups, indirect investments through specialised venture capital funds, and co-investments with other industrial companies. Operating on a global scale, it will target early-stage and growth-stage companies, with a particular emphasis on scalable solutions for Europe and Latin America, regions where Molins has an established presence.
The investment strategy will focus on four priority areas: the decarbonisation of processes, products and solutions; productivity and efficiency through automation, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and energy optimisation; circularity, traceability and sustainable supply chains; and the development of new materials and products for the construction sector.
In addition to providing capital, Molins Ventures will act as an industrial partner and early customer for its portfolio companies. The platform will give them access to Molins’ technical and sector expertise, innovation and engineering capabilities, and testing facilities, with the aim of testing, validating and scaling technologies in real-world environments. It will also promote partnerships with funds, accelerators, universities, research centres, public institutions and other players in the innovation ecosystem.
“The launch of Molins Ventures represents a significant milestone in our commitment to innovation and sustainability and is aligned with our long-term sustainable growth objectives,” said Marcos Cela, Chief Executive Officer of Molins. “Technological progress is essential to addressing the structural challenges facing our industry. Through Molins Ventures, we aim to work with pioneering companies, accelerate the adoption of transformative technologies and create value for our customers, stakeholders and the communities in which we operate. At the same time, start-ups will benefit from our industrial expertise, technical capabilities and global presence across 18 countries and four continents.”
Molins Ventures is led by Abhishek Bhattacharya, currently Head of Strategy at Molins, and will also take additional responsibility of the new corporate venture capital unit. The initiative will give Molins’ businesses access to emerging technologies and reinforce the company’s strategy in industrial innovation, operational efficiency and sustainability, in line with its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The first transactions reflect this operating model: a direct investment in a technology company offering a solution that can be applied to Molins’ industrial operations, and an indirect investment in a specialised fund that broadens the company’s access to new technologies, entrepreneurial teams and industry trends.
First strategic investments: Methanol Reformer
Barcelona-based Methanol Reformer develops modular, plug-and-play systems capable of converting methanol into high-purity hydrogen and on-demand electricity. Molins Ventures’ investment will focus on exploring the integration of these clean energy solutions into the company’s operations, in line with its decarbonisation roadmap.
Beyond financial investment, Molins and Methanol Reformer will work together to test and deploy the technology in industrial applications. The planned areas of collaboration include improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions, developing flexible and scalable energy solutions, and supporting the decarbonisation of industrial transport and logistics.
Zacua Ventures, meanwhile, is a global venture capital fund specialising in identifying and scaling early-stage companies transforming the industries that underpin modern life, including construction, energy, and manufacturing among others. The investment will give Molins access to its portfolio of companies and early visibility of emerging technologies in areas such as the decarbonisation of materials and processes, alternative energy, the circular economy, digitalisation, applied artificial intelligence and robotics.
The partnership will also create opportunities for Zacua Ventures’ portfolio companies to benefit from Molins’ technical expertise, testing facilities and capacity to pilot and scale solutions at an industrial level, as well as to access new customers and markets for the deployment of their technologies and products.
