Hamburg-based startup Plancraft has secured €12M in a Series A round of funding led by Creandum, a pan-European early-stage venture capital firm.
Plancraft, which digitises work processes for craftsmen, plans to become the first European contractor operating system with the new funds.
Staffan Helgesson, General Partner at Creandum, believes that the current crisis in the craft industry presents an opportunity for startups aiming to make a meaningful impact.
Helgesson says, “Ultimately, the craft industry affects all of us, which is why it is so important to make the lives of businesses easier. Plancraft has recognised this. With a well-thought-out product and a dynamic team, plancraft has everything it needs to drive the digitalisation of the craft industry throughout Europe. We are very excited to support Plancraft in their mission.”
Supporting craft businesses
According to a statement by Plancraft, the craft industry, which includes construction, roofing, and carpentry, is undergoing significant changes due to demographic shifts, labour shortages, and growing bureaucratic demands.
Hamburg-based Plancraft, founded in February 2020 by Julian Wiedenhaus, Alexander Noll, and Richard Keil, is helping to address these challenges by offering a software solution that optimises and digitalises work processes.
Plancraft’s software is designed to make important business data more accessible and saves valuable time through automated workflows while allowing craft businesses to focus on their core competencies.
With a workforce of over 40 employees and more than 10,000 customers served since its launch in February 2020, Plancraft has already processed nearly one billion euros in construction volume.
The company’s solution addresses the needs of a critical sector that builds, renovates, and maintains structures, thereby providing skilled labor and expertise to improve the built environment.
Capital utilisation
Plancraft says it is gaining traction in the digitalisation of the craft industry and is supported by existing investors like Bitstone Capital and High-Tech Gründerfonds, and new partner Creandum.
With the fresh capital, Plancraft plans to develop the first European contractor operating system and expand beyond the DACH region. Additionally, the funding will be used to enhance its product to offer more digitalisation opportunities for craft businesses.
Founder Julian Wiedenhaus says, “The craft industry is in crisis: order declines, labor shortages, and excessive bureaucratic requirements are causing problems for many businesses. Demographic changes and uncertain material prices are additional challenges which will not become easier in the future.”
“With plancraft, craft businesses can easily reduce bureaucracy and operate more efficiently. The high demand for our product shows how important it is to digitalise the craft industry.”
“We are very grateful to Creandum as a new investment partner, helping us get one step closer to our vision of becoming the first European contractor operating system.”
Brief about Creandum
Founded in 2003, Creandum is a pan-European early-stage VC firm with a portfolio of over 120 companies, including tech companies like Spotify, Klarna, Depop, Trade Republic, Pleo, and neo4j. According to the firm, every sixth company in it portfolio is a unicorn.
Creandum’s advisory teams, located in Stockholm, London, Berlin, and San Francisco, provide operational expertise to help portfolio companies grow from the seed stage to global category leaders.
01
Job board for modern workforce: How Remote Talent helps jobseekers find truly remote, distributed work