Molins Ventures Makes First Bets: Methanol Reformer and Zacua Ventures

Cementos Molins has completed the first two transactions through Molins Ventures, its corporate venture capital arm launched in March 2026: a direct investment in Methanol Reformer and an investment commitment in Zacua Ventures. The deals, announced on October 22, 2026, put the platform's strategy into action ahead of the company's stated goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

Neither the size of the stakes nor the financial terms were disclosed. What Molins did disclose is the logic: identifying and accelerating technologies capable of transforming construction and building materials, improving industrial efficiency and advancing decarbonisation.

How will Molins Ventures deploy capital?

The platform combines three approaches:

• Direct investments in start-ups;
• Indirect investments through specialised venture capital funds;
• Co-investments with other industrial companies.

It will operate globally, targeting early-stage and growth-stage companies, with a particular emphasis on scalable solutions for Europe and Latin America, regions where Molins already has an established presence.

Four priority areas anchor the strategy: 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 new materials and products for the construction sector.

Capital is only part of the offer. Molins Ventures will act as an industrial partner and early customer for its portfolio companies, providing access to Molins' technical and sector expertise, innovation and engineering capabilities, and testing facilities. The goal is to test, validate and scale technologies in real-world environments. The platform will also promote partnerships with funds, accelerators, universities, research centres, public institutions and other innovation players.

In plain words: Molins is offering its factories and engineers as a proving ground, not just its balance sheet.

What did the CEO say?

"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."

The "milestone" language is standard corporate fare; the concrete deliverables, so far, are two commitments of undisclosed size and a roadmap stretching to mid-century.

Who runs the unit?

Molins Ventures is led by Abhishek Bhattacharya, currently Head of Strategy at Molins, who takes on the additional responsibility of the new corporate venture capital unit. The company says the initiative will give its businesses access to emerging technologies and reinforce its strategy in industrial innovation, operational efficiency and sustainability.

The two first transactions mirror the operating model: a direct investment in a technology company with a solution applicable to Molins' industrial operations, and an indirect investment in a specialised fund that broadens access to new technologies, entrepreneurial teams and industry trends.

What are the two targets?

Methanol Reformer. The Barcelona-based company develops modular, plug-and-play systems that convert methanol into high-purity hydrogen and on-demand electricity. The investment will fund exploration of integrating these clean energy solutions into Molins' operations, in line with its decarbonisation roadmap.

Beyond money, Molins and Methanol Reformer will jointly test and deploy the technology in industrial applications. Planned collaboration covers improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions, developing flexible and scalable energy solutions, and decarbonising industrial transport and logistics.

Zacua Ventures. The global venture capital fund specialises in identifying and scaling early-stage companies transforming industries including construction, energy and manufacturing. The commitment gives Molins access to Zacua's portfolio and early visibility of emerging technologies in decarbonisation of materials and processes, alternative energy, the circular economy, digitalisation, applied artificial intelligence and robotics.

The deal also works in reverse: Zacua's portfolio companies can tap Molins' technical expertise, testing facilities, capacity to pilot and scale solutions at industrial level, and new customers and markets for deploying their technologies.

No revenue targets, deployment timelines or portfolio metrics accompanied the announcement. The near-term test of Molins Ventures will be whether Methanol Reformer's hydrogen systems move from pilot to plant — and how quickly the Zacua pipeline delivers technologies Molins can actually use.