Kodatek – Building for the Future, Today
Kodatek is bringing climate-friendly materials and intelligent robotics to construction and renovation, propelling the sector into the era of Industry 5.0. The company’s innovative technology uses industrial by-products and calcined clay to reduce cement-related emissions by up to 80% and cut energy usage by up to 90% compared to traditional concrete or autoclaved aerated blocks.
Kodatek’s on-site robotic system allows a single operator to complete tasks that would typically require nine builders. This introduces a new level of efficiency in construction, on par with the automotive industry, where manual labor accounts for just 10% of the process.
The construction sector has long suffered from inefficiency, labour shortages, and high energy consumption, exacerbated by its conservative nature. The EU Green Deal has created the momentum for change: by 2050, all buildings must be energy-efficient, which requires scaling renovation efforts 20-fold-without increasing the workforce by the same amount. Kodatek offers a solution to this challenge.
Founded by Jon Ender and Raul Koppel, Kodatek builds on more than 20 years of combined experience in entrepreneurship, construction management, and process optimisation. Their shared vision and hands-on expertise give Kodatek a solid foundation for transforming the building sector sustainably.
1. What inspired you to start this company?
Eight years ago, my partner and I began building our dream house in the woods, starting with just the foundation. That experience revealed a clear need for smarter, faster technology that could reduce manual labour and construction costs, optimise structural layers, and allow a single-floor house to be built in days without relying on large construction teams that often lack accountability and efficiency.
2. How did the incubation program help your company grow?
The program helped us focus more on finding our first interested clients even before the technology was fully ready.
While it didn’t directly support tech development, the energy and optimism of the Sparkup team were infectious – it gave us the motivation to keep pushing forward. We also found a pilot client through the science park.
Weekend Sparkup seminars brought new people into the team and helped them understand the startup mindset without needing lengthy explanations – essentially, a crash course in the world of early-stage entrepreneurship.
Both interim and final reports helped us structure our activities and plan next steps more clearly – something we hadn’t built a habit of doing yet.
3. What were the biggest challenges during the program and how did you overcome them?
Our main challenge was developing a reliable on-site device that can mix and pour material at a speed of 15 m³/h. Since we couldn’t secure the €200-300k needed to purchase a ready-made system, we bought partially used machinery for a few thousand euros, rebuilt it, and added digital controls and quality checks with the help of the AI Robotics Estonia project.
Another challenge was covering basic living costs and managing the fact that team members could only contribute part-time alongside other jobs. Since the construction sector isn’t typically appealing to angel investors, and corporations often have narrow interests, we couldn’t find a suitable funding partner without unrealistic expectations that could lead to burnout. Over the past year, we’ve focused on securing research-based projects and building partnerships with European universities, allowing us to steadily improve our technology while preparing for market entry with a robust product and service.
4. What are your plans for the future?
Our goal is to become a key player in solving two major challenges facing European housing: meeting the 2050 energy-efficiency targets and increasing the availability of affordable housing. Both issues are deeply tied to the high reliance on manual labour and a shortage of skilled workers in construction.
We aim to capture 5% of the new construction and renovation market in Scandinavia, and to manufacture and sell our systems to construction firms across Europe and beyond. Combined, these two revenue streams represent a potential turnover of around €40 billion over 20 years.
5. What advice would you give to future incubator participants or young entrepreneurs?
When progress feels slow or uncertain, it’s crucial to keep your inner spark alive. Stay consistent, remind yourself of the bigger purpose – what future you’re working toward – and take daily action to move closer to it. Maintaining and boosting energy levels within the team is fundamental. If your belief and hope start to waver, focus on finding your way back to a positive mindset.
6. Would you recommend the Sparkup Incubator to a friend?
Yes, absolutely. It doesn’t require a big time commitment, but offers huge potential gains, depending on your proactiveness. From personal growth to finding key partners and first clients, the impact can be significant.
Visit their website: https://kodatek.ee
