Building a Greener Future: The Journey of Hoss Karimi and CarbonsAI

26th of June 2025

Concrete is everywhere. It’s the backbone of our modern world, but also one of the largest polluters on the planet. Cement production alone accounts for roughly 8% of global CO₂ emissions, more than the entire annual emissions of most countries. What if we could change that? What if we could reinvent the very foundations we build on?

That question sparked a bold journey for Hossein (Hoss) Karimi, co-founder and CEO of CarbonsAI and alumnus of the Faculty of Impact. Today, more than a year after completing the program, Hoss and CarbonsAI are helping lead the movement to decarbonize the concrete industry through cutting-edge AI and materials innovation.

“Concrete is one of the most used materials on the planet. It’s fire-resistant, water-resistant, affordable, and globally accessible. If we can make it greener, at scale, the global impact is huge. That’s what keeps us going.”

From Research to Reinvention

Hoss’s fascination with concrete started early. During his Masters’ studies, he won the Best Thesis award and secured two patents related to concrete innovations. He later completed a PhD at TU Eindhoven, and continued exploring advanced cementitious materials with a strong focus on sustainability. After years of postdoctoral research, Hoss realized that academic work alone wasn’t enough to drive industry-wide impact.

“I wanted to establish a company with a clear environmental mission: something that could outlast me,” he says. “A legacy that meaningfully contributes to reducing the climate impact of construction.”

With support from the Faculty of Impact, that vision took shape. In collaboration with TU Eindhoven, The Gate, and leading industrial partners, CarbonsAI was born: a deep-tech spin-out that combines AI-powered material optimization with advanced characterization to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete.

Smarter Concrete, Cleaner Planet

At CarbonsAI, Hoss leads an international team working at the intersection of materials science, AI, and industrial practice. The company has been developing an advanced software platform that integrates data from multiple sources (including XRD, XRF, SEM-EDS, and other material properties) to rapidly characterize complex materials such as steel slags, waste incineration bottom ashes, and supplementary cementitious materials.

Over the past year, CarbonsAI secured commercial consulting contracts, raised early-stage funding, and was selected to participate in high-profile innovation programs including MIT R&D, TKI HTSM, and Slush. The startup is currently expanding its offering into an integrated platform that enables industrial partners to upcycle industrial by-products into high-performance, low-carbon concrete.

A Team with a Mission

A key part of CarbonsAI’s success is its exceptional team. In particular, co-founder and CTO professor Sieger van der Laan has played a pivotal role. Previously a scientific fellow for advanced material characterization, Sieger brings deep expertise in materials science and AI. After an academic career and an industry role at Tata Steel, he dedicated himself full-time to CarbonsAI’s mission. Together with Hoss, he is helping to shape the company’s technical roadmap, product development, and industry collaborations.

“Having a partner like Sieger, with both academic rigor and practical industry insight, is invaluable,” says Hoss. “He is the heart and soul of our technology leadership.”

Equally crucial is Professor Jos Brouwers, co-founder of CarbonsAI and chair of the Building Materials group at TU Eindhoven. As one of Europe’s leading experts in sustainable concrete technologies, Jos has supported CarbonsAI from day one, backing its scientific foundation, championing its vision, and helping the company navigate both academia and industry.

“Without Jos’s unwavering belief in our mission and his support in building the right network, CarbonsAI would not be where it is today,” Hoss reflects. “He has been a mentor, a source of deep expertise, and a true co-founder in every sense.”

A Founder’s Evolution

Reflecting on his journey, Hoss says: “The biggest shift has been evolving from a deep-tech researcher into an entrepreneurial leader. Today, I drive CarbonsAI’s strategic direction, partnerships, and R&D. I also work directly with industry stakeholders to ensure our solutions fit real-world needs.”

The path has been demanding. “Building a startup from scratch, while navigating fundraising, compliance, legal agreements, and business development; these are things you don’t learn in the lab. But the foundation that FOI provided gave me the resilience to keep pushing forward.”

Advice for Future Fellows

“Engage with industry early and often.”

That would be Hoss’s advice to other researchers considering entrepreneurship. “Get out of the academic bubble. Your first ideas will change, and that’s okay; listen to partners and iterate fast. And above all, stay true to your mission. It’s your North Star.”

Leaving a Legacy

Hoss Karimi is proving that with vision, science, and entrepreneurial grit, it’s possible to build a business – and a future – that truly matters. Looking ahead, Hoss envisions CarbonsAI not just as a company, but as a driver of systemic change.

“We’re building a platform that can help the entire construction industry shift toward more sustainable materials. That’s the legacy I want to leave: one where the next generation of innovators can build upon our work.”