Paris-based Kraaft raises €13M for its ‘WhatsApp for Construction’ app

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Paris-based Kraaft, the company behind the first “super app” for construction, has raised €13M in a Series A funding round. The funds will be used for product development and expansion into key markets, including the UK and Germany.

Founded in 2020 by Marc Nègre, Cédric Boidin and Thomas Reygagne, Kraaft is a next-generation messaging app designed specifically for the construction industry. 

Kraaft’s Series A round was led by Dawn Capital, Europe’s B2B software investor, with additional participation from Brick & Mortar Ventures, Chalfen Ventures, Stride VC, and OSS Ventures.

Norman Fiore, co-founder and General Partner at Dawn Capital, says, “Despite giant machines and space age materials, construction is powered by people. Many of them. In fact, one in every ten humans works in construction.”

“So success in construction means success in making working lives easier. And we believe Thomas, Marc and Cédric have built the right, powerful solution, which is seamless to adopt and loved by workers and managers alike.”

Guillaume Bazouin, Partner at Brick & Mortar Ventures, adds, “Kraaft is transforming the construction industry by bridging the gap between field and office operations. We invested because Kraaft replaces outdated tools with an intuitive, purpose-built platform that enhances collaboration, boosts productivity, and improves project margins. We’re excited to support the team as they scale globally.”

What is Kraaft aiming to solve?

Kraaft mentions in a statement that construction, a $13T global industry in 2023, accounts for 7 per cent of global gross output. Despite its scale, productivity has stagnated for over 20 years, and the sector invests only 1 to 2 per cent of revenue in IT, compared to 3 to 5 per cent in other industries. 

Digital adoption has been slow due to limited digital access and literacy among frontline workers and a lack of industry-specific software that is easy to use. Kraaft aims to change this.

Kraaft claims to require no training, supports collaboration, and improves project margins. Through enhanced traceability, it has delivered a 15 per cent improvement in managing change orders.

The company combines the functionality of WhatsApp with features like photo geolocation, document management, customisable reporting, and AI-powered workflows. It connects field and office operations through real-time communication and project management tools for construction.

Thomas Reygagne, co-founder and CEO at Kraaft, says, “We are thrilled to partner with Dawn Capital, Brick & Mortar, and our previous investors who share our vision of empowering frontline construction workers through our easy-to-use, fun, and productivity-enhancing app. Our rapid growth demonstrates the appetite for a platform that bridges the gap between field and office.”

“With this funding, we’re set to redefine how construction teams collaborate globally. Construction has been left behind by tech innovation for too long, and we are here to simultaneously improve working lives and transform productivity in the sector.”

What’s next for Kraaft?

Kraaft was initially launched to improve communication in factories. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the product gained traction on construction sites in France, where workers used it to manage field operations, address communication issues, and improve profit margins. 

In 2021, the founders shifted their focus entirely to the construction industry.

Kraaft then witnessed “exponential” growth, raising a €3.2M Seed round in 2023 and tripling its user base to over 1,000 companies. Currently, the platform supports five languages—English, Spanish, German, Italian, and French—and handles over 1 million messages per month. 

In 2024, Kraaft signed agreements with major European construction companies, including SAUR, NGE, SPIE CityNetworks, Ramery, Serfim, Sade, and Gagneraud. Smaller subcontractors also use Kraaft to manage projects.

In 2025, Kraaft will introduce new features, including planning and timesheets for project management, API and integrations with platforms like Procore, and AI-driven tools to automate workflows.

Co-founder Marc Nègre says, “Messaging is eating the world, and we’ve shown that a simple, intuitive tool like Kraaft can deliver amazing results in an industry that’s been slow to go digital. Whenever foremen praise the app as the easiest to use on the App Store, our team is delighted. We’re incredibly excited for what this next stage of growth means for our users.”

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Vishal Singh

Vishal Singh is a News Reporter and Social Media Marketing Lead at Silicon Canals. He covers developments in the European startup ecosystem and oversees the publication's social media presence. Before joining Silicon Canals, Vishal gained experience at the Indian digital media outlet Inc42, contributing to its growth with insightful content. Despite being a college dropout, his passion for writing has driven his career in journalism.

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