IdeaTeciMax

The global textile industry generates 92 million tonnes of waste per year. In Portugal, that figure stands at 180,000 tonnes, 75% of which end up in landfill. At the same time, the construction industry imports thermal insulation in large volumes, through high-cost logistics chains and with a heavy carbon footprint. Two sectors share a common structural problem and TeciMax is the missing solution. TeciMax runs a continuous production line that converts textile waste into high-performance thermal and acoustic insulation panels, with no toxic compounds, no irritant fibres, and on track to certification for use in the construction industry. Our main market is B2B: construction companies, contractors, and specialised distributors. The factory operates across several stages: intake and cutting of the textile, AI-powered NIR optical sorting, mechanical tearing, chemical treatment with phosphorus and nitrogen retardants, dynamic drying, air-laying, thermal setting in a continuous oven, and calendering. Finally, the product is cut and vacuum-packed. Textile waste enters the factory; a certified, ready-to-install panel comes out, with 80% material yield. Our advantage: We are based in Guimarães. Within a 20 km radius there are hundreds of garment manufacturers generating tonnes of pre-consumer waste daily. This geographic proximity eliminates the logistics costs that burden foreign operators. The business model rests on two independent revenue streams. The gate fee, charged to suppliers for waste management, generates cashflow before a single product is sold. The final product is sold at a gross margin above 60%, with a production cost of €1.40 per square metre and a selling price of €3.50. A model that is, at the same time, circular economy and high-performance industry. The market is there. The territory gives us a structural advantage. What's the next step? We need the support of this competition to validate the prototype and move forward with product certification. We're ready, all we need is your yes.

I'm building a circular-economy venture at the intersection of textile waste and construction materials. I'm happy to exchange ideas on industrial business models, dual-revenue design, regional entrepreneurship in Southern Europe, and the practical challenges of starting a hardware venture. Always open to learning from others in adjacent fields.