Stanford Professionals in Real Estate

Gremix (now PHNX Materials)

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:43:04 GMT

Grant focus:
The concrete industry accounts for 8% of global CO₂ emissions, with 93% of cement consumption is in developing countries. While low-carbon alternatives exist, they are often too costly for wide adoption.

Through 450 interviews and 10 site visits, the team advanced an affordable, scalable solution tailored to local needs. SPIRE funding supported research and development, including testing landfill ash as a cement substitute, along with early prototypes and field studies, laying the foundation for a practical, low-cost path to sustainable concrete.

The team is now operating a pilot facility producing 0.5 tons of low-carbon cement per day. They have partnered with leading industry players, including Holcim, Heidelberg, CRH, and Turner Construction. Additionally, they are actively working with 15 coal ash landfill sites to source materials and scale their solution.

Grant amount:

$6,000

Grantee Highlights

Gremix (now PHNX Materials):

Scalable, Affordable, Sustainable Concrete

BuildQ

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 18:38:27 GMT

Grant focus:

BuildQ began with the goal of helping property owners identify incentives for energy-efficient upgrades, launching its first website with SSIF support. Since then, it has evolved into a full-scale enterprise AI platform for the energy sector, raising venture capital and securing millions in contracts within five months of its initial pilots.

Grant amount:

$7,500

Grantee Highlights

BuildQ:

From Energy Efficiency to Enterprise AI for the Energy Sector

Kit Switch

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 18:56:39 GMT

Grant focus:

Kit Switch transforms existing buildings into homes by redesigning interior spaces, aiming to close the housing gap through adaptive reuse. The company offers stylish, easy-to-install, ready-made interior products that significantly reduce the time and cost of residential conversions.

SPIRE launched the SSIF program with its Kit Switch grant. The team used the funding to develop both hardware and software prototypes.

Grant amount:

$5,000

Grantee Highlights

Kit Switch

Fast, Affordable, Sustainable Interiors

SPIRE Newsletter

Wed, 15 Oct 2025 18:38:00 GMT

WELCOME!

Dear SPIRE Community,

As the new academic year unfolds and students settle into campus life, we’re energized by the momentum within the SPIRE community and excited to share what lies ahead through the end of the year.

Welcoming New Student Board Members
We’re thrilled to welcome Lincoln Liesemeyer (MBA ’26) and Libby Warren (’27) as SPIRE’s Student Board Members for this academic year. Lincoln and Libby co-lead their respective student clubs: Lincoln—GSB Real Estate Club and Libby—Stanford Real Estate Associate (SREA), the undergraduate real estate club.

Welcoming Master’s Students in SDC – Sustainable Real Estate Development (SRED)
We’re also delighted to welcome the first student cohort in the new Sustainable Design & Construction (SDC) MS track: Sustainable Real Estate Development (SRED) under the guidance of Stanford Professor Rishee Jain.

The track prepares students for careers in sustainable real estate development spanning the planning, investment, design, construction, and operation of built environment assets. SPIRE is proud to support this collaboration between Stanford’s Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, Stanford|Doerr School of Sustainability, and the broader real estate community.

To view our full newsletter, please click here !

SPIRE Newsletter

By admin | March 15, 2022