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§ Private Profile · San Jose, CA, USA
Decarbonization solution developer offering turnkey bolt-on technology for cement plants to produce net-zero, low-CO2 cement.
Based in Silicon Valley, California, Fortera develops a turnkey decarbonization technology that integrates directly into existing industrial infrastructure to produce low-carbon and net-zero cement. The company provides a bolt-on manufacturing solution that allows traditional cement producers to create economically competitive building materials with improved strength and durability. This proprietary chemical process is supported by more than 100,000 hours of research and development, over 100 issued patents, and a decade of real-world testing. The enterprise is currently completing its first commercial-scale production facility in Redding, California, while securing international regulatory approvals across the broader construction sector. Fortera has secured financial backing from prominent institutional investors, including Khosla Ventures and Temasek, to scale its operations globally and expand industry partnerships. Tracing its technological roots to Calera, the organization was founded in 2019 by Ryan Gilliam and Mike Weiss.
Fortera has raised $115.0M across 2 funding rounds.
Fortera has raised $115.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Fortera has raised $115.0M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Fortera's investors include Highbury Group, Khosla Ventures, VZVC, What If Ventures.
Fortera has raised $115.0M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $85.0M Series C in August 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2024 | $85M Series C | — | Highbury Group, Khosla Ventures, Vzvc, What IF Ventures | Announced |
| Jun 1, 2021 | $30M Series B | Khosla Ventures | Highbury Group, Vzvc, What IF Ventures | Announced |
Fortera is a Silicon Valley-based materials technology company developing low-to-zero CO₂ cement solutions to decarbonize the construction industry, which accounts for about 8% of global emissions.[1][2][6] Its flagship ReCarb® process captures CO₂ from cement kiln exhaust and mineralizes it into ReAct®, a high-performance cementitious material that blends with Portland cement, reducing emissions by up to 70-100% while meeting ASTM standards like C150, C595, and C1157.[5][6][9] Backed by investors like Khosla Ventures and Temasek, Fortera serves cement producers, ready-mix companies, and builders, with its first small commercial plant operational and a 400,000-ton full-scale facility underway in Redding, California, driving rapid market entry and real-world validation.[1][4][5]
Growth momentum is strong: In 2025, Fortera supplied 15 metric tons of ReAct™ for Simpson University's eco-friendly building, earned the World Future Award for cleantech, and continues scaling partnerships for carbon credits and commercial production.[5][6]
Fortera's roots trace to 2007, when its technology was inspired by coral reefs' natural mineralization, leading to the discovery of a new cement form (vaterite).[5] Early milestones included a 2009 pilot plant, 2010's first commercial concrete pours in California, 2012's scalable pilot, and 2014's "Airock" product—building on over 10 years of R&D, 100,000+ hours, and 100+ patents.[1][5][7] Originally known as Calera Corporation, it rebranded and incorporated as Fortera in 2019, establishing a pathway to economically viable zero-carbon cement.[2][4][5]
Key founders are not named in available sources, but the team leveraged prior Calera innovations. Pivotal moments include 2021's small-scale plant partnership and $30M Series B funding, 2022's San Jose HQ and lab, 2023's full-scale plant deal, and 2024's commercial ReAct™ launch with carbon credits.[5][7] By 2025, it's delivering products for major projects, humanizing its shift from lab curiosity to industrial reality.[5]
Fortera stands out in the low-carbon cement space through scalable, drop-in technology that retrofits existing plants without major overhauls:
Fortera rides the industrial decarbonization wave, targeting cement's 8% share of global CO₂ amid net-zero mandates and rising sustainable materials demand.[6] Timing is ideal: Post-2021 funding and EU policies accelerated its Europe launch, while U.S. infrastructure bills favor low-carbon builds; market forces like carbon pricing and green procurement boost adoption.[7] It influences the ecosystem by enabling incumbents (e.g., via co-blending) to hit scopes 1-3 goals without disruption, unlike greenfield rivals—positioning it in construction tech and advanced materials trends toward digitalization, automation, and SCM innovation.[2][6]
Fortera is primed for explosive growth, with its Redding plant scaling to 400k tons/year and more partnerships likely as ReAct™ proves in projects like Simpson University.[5] Trends like stricter emissions regs, carbon markets, and AI-optimized materials will propel it toward zero-CO₂ dominance, potentially capturing share in the $400B+ cement market. Its retrofit model could redefine how heavy industry decarbonizes, evolving from innovator to ecosystem enabler—paving the literal foundation for net-zero construction.[1][6] This positions Fortera as a linchpin in climate tech, turning cement from polluter to solution.