The Hamburg-based company plancraft has successfully closed a €12 million Series A financing round led by Creandum, the European backer of Spotify, Klarna and Bolt.
The craft industry, including construction, roofing and carpentry, faces significant changes, such as demographic shifts, labor shortages, and increasing bureaucratic demands.
Founded in 2020, Plancraft helps address these challenges through optimized and digital processes. The software makes important business data more accessible and saves valuable time through automated workflows, allowing craft businesses to focus on their core competencies. The sector is essential for building, renovating, and maintaining structures, providing skilled labor and expertise to create and improve our built environment. Expansion and Innovation – Big Plans for the Future of the Craft Industry
Julian Wiedenhaus, CEO and founder of plancraft, emphasized: “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 digitalize 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.”
Plancraft has struck a chord with the digitalization of the craft industry. This is evident from the trust of existing investors, such as Bitstone Capital and High-Tech Gründerfonds and our new partner, Creandum. With the fresh capital, plancraft aims to build the first European contractor operating system and expand beyond the DACH region. In addition, the new capital will be used to expand the product to create further digitalization opportunities for craft businesses.
Staffan Helgesson, General Partner at Creandum, commented: “Ultimately, the craft industry affects all of us, which is why it is so important to make the lives of businesses easier. plancraft has recognized this. With a well-thought-out product and a dynamic team, plancraft has everything it needs to drive the digitalization of the craft industry throughout Europe. We are very excited to support plancraft in their mission.”
Jeroen Smeelen, a plancraft user, explained his recent challenges as a managing director of carpentry Holzbau Lübber GmbH: “When two of my employees were unavailable to the company for a long period of time, I had to go to the construction site every day to ensure everything ran smoothly. Without plancraft, this challenge would have been impossible to overcome, as it was the only way I could work remotely. The software simplifies so many processes, from bidding and project planning to time recording and invoicing, so that I can concentrate on the essentials – my craft.”
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2024/06/hamburg-based-plancraft-secures-e12-million-to-digitalize-the-european-labor-industry/
