THE CHALLENGE & OPPORTUNITY
Biodiversity loss and climate change pose a profound threat to the well-being of society. The construction sector alone is responsible for half of the world’s resource use and a significant share of global CO₂ emissions. Hidden within this impact is an overlooked opportunity: floor slabs, the single largest contributor to a building’s structural mass and embodied carbon – and the focus of Rematter, an I4N Alumni.
The Swiss startup combines high-tech manufacturing with innovative material use to provide highly sustainable and price-competitive solutions for the construction industry.
At the same time, the Migros Pioneer Fund (MPF) recognises that tackling these systemic challenges requires bold, scalable solutions that rethink how we build and live. To advance its mission, MPF supports projects that drive responsible resource use and enrich biodiversity across Switzerland.
MEET THE INNOVATORS FROM REMATTER
Rematter is on a mission to transform one of construction’s biggest carbon culprits into a lever for regeneration. By replacing traditional reinforced concrete floor slabs with a modular, carbon-storing, circular alternative, Rematter drastically cuts emissions, conserves finite resources like sand and steel, and locks away carbon in healthy, renewable materials.
“Construction is a sleeping giant – the single largest contributor to global CO₂ emissions and material use. Our mission is to awaken this giant industry, transforming it toward true resource- and climate-positivity. We’ve chosen floors because they offer the single greatest leverage for positive impact within a building.”
MEET THE MIGROS PIONEER FUND
The Migros Pioneer Fund views the biodiversity crisis as one of the greatest challenges to Switzerland’s future resilience. As a catalytic fund, MPF backs pioneering ideas and ventures that strengthen Swiss biodiversity and social responsibility.
The journey with Rematter began at an Innovate 4 Nature event, where an early version of the startup’s concept didn’t yet align with MPF’s strategic priorities. Two years later, as Rematter refined its solution and vision, MPF re-evaluated the project – seeing a clear fit for its commitment to regenerative innovation.
“A sustainable society must ensure the well-being of all its members and the health of the planet. We enable projects that promote responsible use of resources and foster biodiversity. We support ventures that rethink our Swiss habitats and help us adapt to environmental challenges, all while prioritising social responsibility.”
A REGENERATIVE COLLABORATION
How the partnership came about
Unlike many funds with open applications, MPF proactively identifies high-potential pioneers. After seeing Rematter’s pitch at Innovate 4 Nature, MPF reached out directly and decided to fund the startup. The partnership arrived at a pivotal moment for Rematter – helping the team validate its solution across product design, production, and market readiness, ultimately boosting investor confidence and accelerating market entry.
As Götz Hilber, co-founder and CEO of Rematter puts it: “Many talk about impact finance – the MPF truly walks the talk. They don’t just care about driving positive change; they actively enable it.”
Impact at a glance
Thanks to the funds provided by MPF, and the deployment of their solution, Rematter has achieved the following until summer 2025:
of carbon stored
of embodied carbon saved
of embodied energy saved
of timber saved (compared to other timber floors)
of concrete replaced
Challenges and lessons learned
For MPF, the collaboration demonstrates the value of timing and alignment. Not every promising idea is ready for funding immediately – but staying connected can lead to future opportunities when strategies align.
For Rematter, the collaboration has been a clear example of what happens when shared values, trust, and open communication guide the partnership.
WHAT’S NEXT?
With MPF’s continued backing, Rematter is scaling its product and production capacity and is set to expand its regenerative floor system across real estate projects in Europe. MPF remains on the lookout for further nature-positive ventures that deliver measurable, scalable biodiversity benefits within Switzerland.
WORDS OF ADVICE
Hero image by Roland Bernath, showing the design by jomini zimmermann architekt:innen.
