UDEM Graduate Innovates with Sustainable Concrete at Summit and Captivates Spanish Royalty

• Walter Mata Martínez, a graduate of Universidad de Monterrey, was the only Mexican entrepreneur invited to South Summit Madrid 2025.  Alongside 100 finalist startups from around the world, he had an audience with King Felipe VI of Spain.

Walter Mata Martínez, an entrepreneur from Monterrey and graduate of Universidad de Monterrey, was the only representative of the Mexican startup ecosystem invited to South Summit Madrid 2025. He was also one of the few selected to have a brief but meaningful encounter with King Felipe VI of Spain.

Mata Martínez, who graduated in 2019 with a degree in Business Creation and Innovation from UDEM, founded WAS Company (Worldwide Accountability Solutions), a firm dedicated to developing and integrating technological solutions with significant environmental and social impact.

One of WAS Company’s main achievements was the creation of polycrete, an innovative building material that serves as an alternative to traditional cement. This compound, made by combining polymers and concrete, stood out for its sustainability and efficiency.

In 2021, the UDEM graduate was a guest speaker at the Cátedra Jorge L. Garza UDEM Inspira and will once again participate in this forum that promotes university creativity.

South Summit Madrid 2025 took place on June 4, 5, and 6 at La Nave Madrid, gathering 100 finalist startups from various regions around the world, consolidating the Spanish capital as the epicenter of global technology entrepreneurship.

Mata Martínez explained that his participation came as a result of being selected to compete in the Startup Competition, a platform that provided visibility to emerging technologies in front of investors and industry leaders. His participation included full access to the event, a booth, and the opportunity to present his project.

“King Felipe VI toured the event but made very few stops. I was one of the few entrepreneurs he chose to stop and speak with during his visit to the booths,” shared the founder of WAS Company.

During his conversation with the Spanish monarch, Mata Martínez presented the features of polycrete, emphasizing its ability to reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 75% and eliminate pollutant particles, all without exploiting natural resources like limestone.

“I explained that we developed this material using mining waste. There’s a global issue with this type of waste, and our solution addresses not only ecological concerns but also economic ones,” said the entrepreneur.

He also shared with King Felipe VI WAS Company’s interest in expanding into Europe, particularly in Spain. Mata valued the monarch’s openness and the willingness of his team to establish future connections with key players in the ecosystem.

“The King mentioned some companies we could potentially partner with and left the door open for a more detailed conversation through his team,” added the UDEM graduate, who also engaged in discussions with the mayors of Madrid and Málaga, both present at the event.

Among the 100 startup finalists, only three were from Latin America, and according to Mata, his team was the only Mexican one present. He also noted that only one or two other projects had the chance to interact with the monarch.

The UDEM graduate highlighted that WAS Company has continued to grow through the development of sustainable technologies, such as a clinker substitute — a key component in cement production — made from mining waste, addressing two major current challenges: the management of industrial waste and the reduction of CO₂ emissions.

He explained that this new material, which does not require the exploitation of natural resources, allows for a reduction of up to 50% in pollutant emissions compared to traditional clinker.

After his time in Spain, Walter Mata also participated in Viva Technology in Paris, France, from June 11 to 14, one of the world’s largest technology events, which welcomed more than 180,000 visitors and 114,000 startups.