Amsterdam-based Struck, a company that helps architects and developers prioritise creativity while minimising compliance tasks, has secured €100K in a pre-seed round of funding from Antler, an early-stage VC firm.
Recently, Struck received the Rabank Innovation Loan of €150K to build its product suite further.
Ronald Jan Schuurs, partner at Antler, says, “We always like startups that are able to solve nagging and frustrating problems in an industry. Adhering to the ever-increasing rules and regulations for buildings is becoming a major challenge.”
“The need for the rules is clearly there, however with the current challenges in the real estate industry, anything that can be done to speed up the process and reduce costs, is sorely needed. Applying AI and Large Language Models in this space with vast amounts of unstructured data is a major step forward to streamline the process.”
Navigate building regulations, at AI speed
Struck is an AI-powered compliance platform designed to streamline the often complex and time-consuming process of adhering to building regulations.
According to the company, in times of housing crisis, where delays can be particularly costly, Struck aims to eliminate obstacles and reduce the time and expense related with navigating regulatory requirements.
By providing access to relevant regulations and offering fast, automated checks, Struck helps architects, developers, and builders save both time and money.
With an extensive library of documents for the Netherlands and the UK, as well as the ability to generate 3D AI-generated building volumes, Struck simplifies compliance and enhances confidence in construction projects.
Struck was founded by Nikhil Nagaraj and Max van Riel, who crossed paths during Antler’s first Central European residency in Amsterdam in the autumn of 2023.
Nagaraj’s background includes studies at KU Leuven and beginning his career as an AI/ML engineer at ML6 in Gent, Belgium.
On the other hand, Van Riel began his career at ING across various locations such as the Netherlands, Canada, and Spain. Later, he co-founded the in-company mobile payments startup Payconiq in Belgium and the Netherlands. Following this, he transitioned into the security and property technology sector at Eagle Eye Networks.
Co-founder Van Riel, says, “It is exceptional to see how we could delight architects and developers not only with our idea but also with the first version of our AI Assistant from week 1 in the Antler cohort.”
“Everybody in this space has used AI to generate some nice images, however, to use it directly in a practical sense for rules and regulations had not been done before.”
“This was for us a testament that we should pursue this challenge in the AEC industry and see where we can provide additional value for one of the biggest markets on the globe.”
Brief about Antler
Antler aims to empower and support visionary entrepreneurs worldwide. By breaking down barriers to entrepreneurship, the firm strives to enable more individuals to launch sustainable businesses that tackle significant problems, foster innovation, and enhance lives.
The VC firm engages with early-stage entrepreneurs across 27 cities spanning six continents, including Austin, Berlin, Bangalore, Jakarta, London, New York, Singapore, Stockholm, Sydney, and beyond.
The firm’s global community provides comprehensive support, from forming teams to validating business models, securing initial funding, facilitating global expansion, and continuing to invest beyond the initial stages.
Since its inception, Antler has catalysed the creation of over 1,200 startups, each offering transformative solutions across various industries. The firm’s vision is to back more than 6,000 startups by 2030.
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