Environmental tech startup ECOncrete closes $5M round, shares what’s ahead

ECOncrete, a company that pioneered a type of science-based, bio-enhancing concrete for marine-based infrastructure, has propelled forward after losing one of its co-founders. 

ECOncrete is a member of the Tampa-based Florida-Israel Business Accelerator (FIBA) and has an office in St. Pete. It recently closed a Series A funding round totaling over $5 million and is actively working on new projects. The drive to build its team and make strides also comes at a difficult time. 

Shimrit Perkol-Finkel, the co-founder of ECOncrete, was killed earlier this year in a traffic accident in Israel.  

“When we learned of her passing, it was a devastating time for the whole team. She was my dear friend and colleague for more than 20 years, as we have been working together since we were both students,” CEO and co-founder Ido Sella said in an emailed statement. 

ECOncrete co-founder Shimrit Perkol-Finkel demonstrates the ECOncrete tide pools at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Brooklyn, New York, April 2, 2014. (Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times)

“We have used Shimrit’s inspiring legacy to continue moving the company forward towards the vision of sustainable waterfronts which support the oceans and marine life, for the ultimate goal of making the world a safer place for generations to come,” Sella said. 

The startup was founded in 2012 to solve a growing problem Perkol-Finkel saw as coastline development advances and sea-level rise threatens coastal communities – the lack of biodiversity surrounding man-made underwater infrastructure. ECOncrete’s technology enhances the elemental structure and design of infrastructure to increase marine biodiversity. 

The startup wrapped up the $5 million-plus round in September. The round was led by Impact investor Bridges IS, Barclays Bank and a North American family office with a high interest in ocean health, Sella said. 

ECOncrete is working on projects in ports, marinas, waterfront public spaces in the U.S., Europe, Oceania, and in the Arab Gulf. The group is also becoming more involved in the wind energy offshore markets in the North Sea and the U.S. northeastern Atlantic region.   

The startup recently completed a project in New Jersey that involved the installation of infrastructure to stabilize the shoreline at Shark River Island.

“Our technology has been incorporated to enable a biodiverse ecosystem of marine life to grow on concrete-based coastal erosion control measures,” Sella said. “This goes alongside a variety of other large-scale projects we have completed this year or are in the process of finishing, including the Port of Vigo in Spain, Port of San Diego, and the Trans Adriatic pipeline.” 

ECOncrete is also in the process of finalizing details for other projects across Europe and the U.S., which will be announced soon. 

In November, ECOncrete will attend the Transport Evolution Africa Forum, Africa’s largest transport event, and another in Dubai. 

The group plans on speaking about its recent Port of Vigo and Malaga marina projects at the upcoming conferences.