Investing in Ectos

Construction, waste management, and climate change—once considered separate domains—are now inextricably linked.

In Spain, the construction and demolition sector significantly contributes to waste, accounting for approximately 40% of the nation's total waste output, surpassing the European Union average.

Despite the potential for recycling materials such as concrete, ceramics, and asphalt, a substantial portion of this waste is not properly managed. Reports indicate that only about 25% of construction and demolition waste in Spain is processed by authorized waste-management companies, with the remaining 75% often ending up in illegal dumps. This mismanagement leads to environmental concerns and missed opportunities for material recovery, resulting in significant losses for construction businesses.

Addressing this challenge is Ectos, a Spanish ConTech startup on a mission to transform the construction industry's approach to surplus materials. Ectos offers an AI-powered inventory management platform that enables companies to efficiently track, organize, and trade leftover materials through a digital marketplace. This innovation helps reduce waste, recover lost income, and promote a circular economy by turning surplus materials into valuable resources, ultimately cutting CO₂ emissions and driving a more sustainable construction industry.

The timing for a solution like Ectos couldn't be better:

• Rising Material Costs and Housing Demand: The cost of construction materials is increasing, while the demand for refurbishments and new apartments is soaring due to housing shortages and EU regulations such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).
• Environmental Regulations: The construction industry is a major contributor to CO₂ emissions and faces increasing regulations aimed at reducing its carbon footprint. A practical tool like Ectos provides small and mid-sized companies with the means to monitor and reduce their carbon emissions effectively.
• Transparency in Public Tenders: The Spanish government increasingly requires transparent demonstration of carbon footprint reduction efforts in public tenders. Ectos offers SMEs a direct and efficient pathway to meet these evolving regulatory requirements.

When we first met Gloria, Oliver, and Xavi, the founders of Ectos, we were immediately impressed by their humbleness, dedication, and deep understanding of family-led construction businesses. Their innovative approach has not gone unnoticed; in late 2024, the team made their debut by winning the esteemed ESADE Business Angel Network competition in Barcelona. At STYX, we are proud to support these ambitious entrepreneurs in building their venture and contributing to a greener construction industry.