The Hamburg-based SaaS company plancraft has secured a €38 million Series B funding round, led by Headline, one of the leading global venture capital firms. Existing investors Creandum, HTGF and xdeck also participated in the round, bringing the company’s total funding to over €50 million.
As Europe faces a critical construction workforce shortage driven by demographic shifts, skills gaps, and accelerating climate retrofit mandates, the funding comes at a pivotal moment for the industry. The new funding will be used primarily to build AI-first tools to handle routine tasks more efficiently for tradespeople and to further grow the team across different countries.
AI to accelerate Transformation of the Construction Sector
Plancraft’s vision goes beyond basic digitization. “AI is fundamentally changing how we interact with technology – and this represents a massive opportunity for blue-collar workers who've been left behind by traditional software. The goal is building AI for tradespeople in such an intuitive way that the only software skill they need is their voice.” explains Alexander Noll, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer.
Building on this, plancraft's product roadmap extends from today's voice-enabled workflows toward comprehensive AI automation. The vision: AI agents that proactively manage customer interactions, generate tailored quotes, and optimize business operations – allowing construction professionals to focus on craftsmanship while software handles administration.
CEO and Co-Founder Julian Wiedenhaus underlines the strategic importance of addressing market pressures: “Europe's construction workforce is under unprecedented pressure - aging demographics, skills shortages, and the urgent need for climate retrofits demand dramatic efficiency gains. We don't just want to digitalize skilled trades - we want to fundamentally change how they operate, so businesses don't drown in administrative work while the real building suffers.”
The challenges Europe’s Construction sector is facing are significant: 95% of businesses have fewer than twenty employees. At the same time, they face growing bureaucracy, a shortage of skilled labor, and a generational transition. Combined with Europe's responsibility for 40% of global construction CO2 emissions, the sector faces unprecedented pressure to transform. Structural crises like the housing shortage and climate change are adding additional pressure.
Rapid growth in a tough market
Since its Series A in June 2024, plancraft has more than doubled its team from 40 to over 100 employees. The company has already built teams in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and Italy. To support its expansion, plancraft is looking to hire more product and AI specialists.
“At plancraft, we’re not just seeing a strong product with incredible customer love – we are very impressed by the team with a clear, determined and ambitious mindset,” says Trevor Neff from Headline. “The clarity of vision, and the ambition to transform a traditional industry truly stand out. The market tailwinds paired with the impact of AI specific to this end market, can have a dramatic change to the industry across Europe.”