Why Vinci & BMW Are Betting on 3D Wood Composites to Replace Steel

Andres Mitnik is the CEO and founder of Strong by Form, a deeptech startup revolutionizing sustainable construction materials. With a background in civil engineering and advanced degrees from Harvard and NYU, Andres is tackling industrial decarbonization—responsible for 30% of global carbon emissions.

Strong by Form has developed Wood Flow, a next-generation timber composite that replaces steel, concrete, and aluminum at a fraction of the weight and, critically, at a price point competitive with traditional materials.

After seven years of development and over €5 million raised, the company has secured partnerships with industry giants including BMW, Deutsche Bahn, and Vinci. Now preparing for their Series A, Strong by Form is proving that climate tech can compete on both performance and cost in the $16 trillion construction industry.

In this conversation, Andres shares the journey from prototype to commercialization, the challenges of deep tech fundraising, lessons from product-market fit research, and why he measures success not by exits, but by impact.

Weekly Deep Tech Intel — https://www.conscioustech.co/

Connect with Andres — https://www.linkedin.com/in/andres-mitnik/

Connect with Sera — https://www.linkedin.com/in/seratajima/

Chapters 📖

[00:00:00] Industrial Decarbonization & the Green Premium Challenge

[00:02:06] Why Hardware Matters: Beyond Software Solutions

[00:05:49] From Real Estate Consulting to Climate Tech

[00:08:11] Wood Flow Technology: 3D Wood Composites Explained

[00:11:21] Shape Optimization & Fiber Alignment Innovation

[00:13:44] Three Seasoned Founders: Dividing Technical & Business Roles

[00:17:16] Global Expansion: From Chile to Europe

[00:18:37] BMW Partnership & Mobility Applications

[00:19:25] The Holy Grail: Price Competitive with Concrete

[00:21:18] Finding Product-Market Fit in Deep Tech

[00:24:31] Building Visibility: Marketing a Physical Product

[00:27:27] Going to Market: Architecture, Mobility & Construction

[00:31:38] Product-Market Fit Research Insights

[00:36:41] The Catalog Strategy: Balancing Bespoke & Standardization

[00:38:34] Regulations, Durability & Fire Resistance

[00:42:18] Sustainable Wood Sourcing & Certification

[00:46:02] Cost vs. Sustainability: The Reality Check

[00:47:57] Seed Round to Series A: The Fundraising Journey

[00:51:38] Investor Milestones: Unit Economics & Production Costs

[00:54:01] Racing Through Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)

[00:56:23] Success, Challenges & Founder Lessons

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