Finnish infrastructure software startup Groundhawk has raised €2 million in seed funding to expand its AI-powered 3D underground infrastructure mapping platform across Europe. The round was led by Greencode Ventures with participation from 2C Ventures. The company develops a spatial intelligence platform that allows construction crews and utilities operators to capture centimetre-level 3D data of underground cables and networks in real time while trenches are still open, replacing traditional post-construction surveys that often lead to costly mapping errors. The new capital will be used to scale its B2B sales operations across Germany, the UK, Benelux, and the Nordics, expand its engineering team to further develop its AI and spatial analytics capabilities, and introduce new features that extend the platform from build-time documentation to planning support and predictive quality assurance for infrastructure projects.
As Europe invests heavily in electricity grids, fibre networks, EV charging and renewable integration, a critical weakness remains: underground infrastructure is still documented using outdated, post-construction surveys and estimates. The result is over €100 billion in annual global damage, project delays, and safety risks caused by inaccurate mapping. Groundhawk replaces analogue documentation with real-time, AI-powered 3D capture so that construction crews can record precise underground data while trenches are open, creating digital records with centimetre-level accuracy, instantly synced to the cloud.
The company’s technology combines high-precision satellite positioning, 3D scanning, and AI analytics to embed quality assurance directly into the construction workflow. By capturing accurate depth measurements, installation details, and visual documentation while trenches are still open, Groundhawk enables crews and project managers to verify that cables, ducts, and connection points are installed correctly before the site is closed. This real-time capture transforms documentation from a passive record into an active quality-control tool,allowing issues to be identified and corrected immediately rather than discovered weeks later during post-build surveys.
Unlike traditional surveying methods that require specialised personnel and separate site visits, Groundhawk is designed for ease of use directly within existing construction teams.
“Groundhawk is so user-friendly that anyone already on site with the device can handle the cable mapping. If you can shoot a video with your mobile phone, you can use Groundhawk. This accelerates the entire project,” says Christoffer Winquist, CEO and co-founder of Groundhawk.
All data synchronises in real time to a cloud platform, giving network owners precise visibility and an accurate map of their entire new underground network. This approach delivers up to 50% cost savings on surveying while providing project managers with immediate visibility into contractor progress and quality compliance.
“Today, hundreds of cables run under our feet wherever we go, keeping society running, but even the companies that own them don’t know exactly where they all are. AI that understands physical space, dimensions, and relationships is enabling infrastructure management to leap from analogue to digital,” Winquist continues. “By capturing precise 3D data at the moment of construction, we improve build quality today and protect critical networks for decades to come. This new funding allows us to scale across Europe and further develop our spatial intelligence platform to become the European leader in infrastructure digitalisation.”
The timing is critical. Europe and the United States are investing over €1 trillion in grid infrastructure over the next five years, driven by fibre-to-the-home deployments, electric-vehicle charging networks, renewable energy integration, and the transition from above-ground to underground power lines for climate resilience. Groundhawk is addressing the more than 20% efficiency waste that currently impacts infrastructure construction due to poor data availability, coordination failures, and quality issues that necessitate costly rework.
Groundhawk serves network owners, prime contractors, and subcontractors across fibre and electricity infrastructure projects. Customers include major Nordic and European infrastructure contractors such as Eltel Networks, Voimatel, Elvera, and Signal Group, which serve network operators including Telia, Telenor, Caruna, Global Connect, E.on, and Valokuitunen.
“Groundhawk has transformed how we manage documentation and project delivery in our FTTH (fibre to the home) projects,” says Seppo Rytilä, Head of HSSEQ at Eltel Networks, a leading Nordic provider of critical infrastructure services. “Previously, we relied on external surveyors measuring trenches after they were closed, resulting in delays and imprecise data. Now, our crews capture accurate location, depth, and visual quality data, including traceable images, within minutes while the trench is still open, and it’s instantly available to our project managers. Removing the surveyor from the chain has simplified subcontractor management, accelerated handovers, and removed uncertainty at project completion. When the last excavator leaves the site, the mapping is already done, accurately and fully compliant.”
Beyond cost savings, Groundhawk’s technology delivers measurable environmental benefits. By reducing unnecessary site visits, minimising rework, and improving construction efficiency, the platform cuts fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Real-time quality assurance enables “first-time-right” execution, eliminating the energy waste from redoing improperly installed infrastructure. For publicly traded contractors with sustainability commitments, these operational improvements contribute directly to environmental targets.
“Greencode Ventures is thrilled to lead Groundhawk’s seed round with 2C Ventures alongside, backing a transformative blend of software and hardware to advance infrastructure mapping through real-time documentation and AI-driven automation. The team brings an exceptional combination of profound sector insight and deep technical expertise, and their strong early traction convinced us to invest. As networks expand and regulations tighten, Groundhawk becomes the essential interface between physical construction and digital infrastructure,” says Ines Bergmann-Nolting, Managing Partner at Greencode Ventures.
The €2 million seed funding will support several strategic priorities: building a scalable B2B sales organisation across Germany, the UK, Benelux, and Nordic markets; expanding the engineering team to advance the AI and spatial intelligence capabilities; and developing new product features that extend from build-time documentation into planning support and predictive quality assurance. The company aims to establish Groundhawk as the standard platform for infrastructure data capture and quality management across Europe, with plans to expand beyond in 2027.
“Looking ahead, Groundhawk’s vision is of a construction industry where spatial intelligence transforms project management from reactive to proactive. By making infrastructure visible, verifiable, and valuable as data, Groundhawk is building the foundation for smarter, safer, more sustainable cities,” Winquist concludes.
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Read the orginal article: https://arcticstartup.com/groundhawk-raises-e2-million-seed/
