Strong by Form to Showcase Ultralight Engineered Wood at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025

The Carbon Footprint of Building Construction

A significant carbon debt is incurred by buildings even prior to occupancy. Globally, the materials and construction processes involved in erecting buildings contribute 11% of total carbon emissions, as reported by the World Green Building Council.

While multistory timber construction is being explored in certain regions, and recent advancements have achieved notable heights, timber structures are unlikely to supersede skyscrapers in the near future. However, a Chilean startup believes there remains potential for wood to play a more substantial role.

Strong by Form's Innovative Approach

“We are focusing on hybrid building designs,” explained Andrés Mitnik, co-founder and CEO of Strong by Form, in an interview with TechCrunch. His company has engineered a novel wood product designed to substitute concrete and steel in structural flooring, enabling the creation of lighter, less carbon-intensive buildings.

Strong by Form is recognized as a Startup Battlefield Top 20 finalist and will be showcasing its technology at TechCrunch Disrupt, currently taking place in San Francisco.

The Technology Behind the Innovation

The core of their innovation lies in the manufacturing process of these floor plates. “Our approach allows us to shape wood in ways previously unattainable,” Mitnik stated.

The company’s structural floor piece offers extended spans compared to conventional engineered wood products, functioning as a viable alternative to steel or concrete. Simultaneously, it boasts a lighter weight than all three materials.

From a builder’s perspective, the product presents a familiar form. “Contractors will recognize it as a CLT [cross-laminated timber] slab,” Mitnik clarified. “Existing connection methods, construction systems, and on-site procedures remain consistent with CLT usage, eliminating the need for new training.”

A Unique Internal Structure

However, the internal composition differs significantly from solid wood CLTs. Instead of dense wood, the structure incorporates cavities.

Wood shavings are compressed into a wavy board, meticulously engineered to withstand substantial loads.

Visually, the wavy panel resembles oriented strand board, or OSB, commonly found on construction sites. Strong by Form has developed specialized software and manufacturing techniques to precisely control the size and orientation of the wood flakes bound together by an adhesive.

“It can be considered a next-generation OSB,” Mitnik suggested.

Performance and Cost Considerations

By leveraging wood’s inherent strengths, Strong by Form has created structural wood floors capable of spanning 10 meters (approximately 33 feet). This is double the span typically achievable with standard CLT floors.

While the advanced technology incurs higher production costs, Mitnik asserts that the product’s reduced weight can offset these expenses.

“The goal is to develop a material so lightweight that it facilitates overall structural optimization,” he explained. Lighter floors translate to reduced steel and concrete requirements in the building frame, lowering overall construction costs.

“These savings allow us to achieve price competitiveness with concrete.”

Future Plans and Applications

Strong by Form is currently conducting rigorous testing of its 10-meter panel to ensure it meets the stringent fire and load ratings demanded by structural engineers.

The company intends to secure a Series A funding round of $10 million to establish a pilot plant for commercial production.

In addition, Strong by Form has developed a 3-millimeter thick panel intended for finishing applications. They are collaborating with train manufacturers to incorporate this subtly textured panel into train interiors, enhancing aesthetics and reducing weight.

“This initiative has provided the funding for the research and development necessary for the structural floors, which represent our primary focus for scaling, due to their significant impact,” Mitnik concluded.

For further information about Strong by Form, and to explore numerous other innovative startups, attend pitches, and hear from guest speakers across four stages, join us at Disrupt, this week in San Francisco. More details are available here.