Repairs Without Drilling or Welding: Interview with Cold Pad CEO | Leonard Series

In this special episode of the EU-Startups Podcast, we continue our five-part interview series in partnership with Leonard, the innovation and foresight platform of the VINCI Group, recorded during their Launch Day in Paris Leonard supports startups and internal projects shaping the future of construction, infrastructure, energy, and mobility, and during Launch Day we sat down with five companies from its 2026 cohort for in-depth conversations. This episode features Julien Bec, CEO of Cold Pad, an engineering company delivering patented, cold-installed composite bonding and fastening solutions. Cold Pad enables structural repairs and reinforcements without drilling, welding, or hot works, even during live operations. Its technology improves safety, reduces downtime, and allows maintenance to be integrated directly into an asset’s normal operation - particularly in harsh or high-risk environments. We discuss why maintenance and repair are often overlooked compared to new builds, the hidden safety trade-offs of traditional repair methods, and how cold-installed solutions can extend asset life while minimising operational disruption. This episode is part of our Leonard Launch Day series, with one interview released each day this week (Monday to Friday). Key points in this episode: - Why “no drilling, no welding, no hot works” matters in live environments - How cold-installed composite repairs improve safety and reduce downtime - Real-world use cases where shutting down infrastructure is not an option - The role of maintenance in extending asset lifespan and sustainability - Why deep engineering solutions still matter in a software-heavy ConTech market