Startup Berlin’s Post

🚀 OPTIMUSE is setting a new standard for cost-efficient and sustainable buildings through AI-based engineering – we are very happy to welcome them as the newest member of the seed + speed Ventures portfolio family! 💡 The OPTIMUSE AI platform shows builders, developers, and planners early on which technical solutions for heating, cooling, ventilation, and building envelopes deliver the best results in terms of costs and emissions – in both new construction and renovation projects. 🏢 Optimuse uses existing plans and documents to create a realistic digital building model, compares thousands of variants, and recommends the most economical, climate-friendly solution. 🔎 By leveraging Optimuse’s technology, construction projects can be 💻 70% faster in preliminary engineering, achieve 💰 10% lower construction costs, and realize an 📈 additional 20% in emission savings. With this seed funding round, the company has secured 4 Million €. The round was led by seed + speed Ventures and Blum Ventures, and realized together with existing investors Matterwave Ventures and aws Gründungsfonds. 🎉 Congratulations to the founders Dominik Pezzei, Fabian Pitscheider, and Felix-Maximilian Hoffer! We are very much looking forward to our journey together with you! And special thanks to Andreas for a phantastic deal team work 🤝   For more detail on the news and what comes next for Optimuse, check out the comments below 👇 cc André Hammerer Philipp M. Roth Lukas Punzet Patrik Cesky Ines Kolmsee Alexander Kölpin

Future of Railway Construction 2026 – New Startup Program with Strong Partners 🚀   Railway construction is evolving. Increasing digitalization, automation, and sustainability are transforming how infrastructure projects are planned and delivered. At the heart of this change lies collaboration — combining the expertise of established players with the creativity of startups to drive innovation for the entire construction industry.   We are proud to be the platform of choice for 12 strong players from the construction industry: A+S Consult GmbH, BUG Verkehrsbau SE, DB Bahnbau Gruppe GmbH, KAF Falkenhahn Unternehmensgruppe, LEONHARD WEISS GmbH & Co. KG, Firmengruppe Max Bögl, OBERMEYER Gruppe, Swietelsky AG, W. MARKGRAF GmbH & Co KG, Rhomberg Sersa Rail Group, SPITZKE SE & Willke Unternehmensgruppe. These join forces with DB InfraGO and Zukunftsinitiative Bahnbau (ZIB) to tackle today’s challenges in railway construction through a cooperative program connecting innovators, builders, and technology pioneers.   Our Focus Areas: 🤖 Robotics & Automation – Smart solutions that reduce physical strain, improve safety, and boost productivity through autonomous machines, exoskeletons, and assistive robots. 🧱 Digital Construction – Tools that digitize the full construction lifecycle, enabling real-time data exchange between field operations and project management. 🌍 Faster & Smarter Construction – Startups that boost project efficiency through AI-based cost planning, digital workflows, and data-driven tendering processes. 📐 Precision & BIM Automation – Sensor- and AI-based technologies that create accurate digital twins, improving precision and reducing rework.   Why Join? Participants receive hands-on collaboration with experts and partners, exclusive access to railway construction environments, €25,000 in funding (no equity), and the opportunity to pilot directly within the ecosystem.   Join us in building innovation together — and shape how future railways are built: faster, safer, and more sustainable than ever before.   👉 Applications can be submitted until October 19, 2025: https://lnkd.in/eixStQwu   #DBmindbox #StartupHub #DeutscheBahn #Startups #Digitalization #Innovation #NewProgramn #RailwayInnovation #ConstructionTech #Robotics #Automation #BIM #Sustainability #FutureOfRailwayConstruction

🏗️ Got a #BIM or #ConstructionTech Solution? Test It with Deutsche Bahn in Just 100 Days! For the 4th time, Deutsche Bahn's DB mindbox is partnering with the Zukunftsinitiative Bahnbau (ZIB) and, together with leading players in the railway construction sector, they are looking for exciting startup solutions in the areas of robotics and physicalrelief on construction sites, digital construction documentation, sustainable and efficient construction processes, and Building Information Modeling (BIM). ✅ In this 100-day program, startups have the opportunity to test and further develop their solutions in cooperation with Deutsche Bahn and external partners. In addition, they receive €25,000 in funding (equity-free), benefit from the support of mentors, coaches, and startup managers, and gain access to exclusive data, expertise, and valuable contacts. 📅 Application deadline: October 19 👉 More information here: https://shorturl.at/Zmr9n

How to build a trillion-dollar company in construction tech? That was the main question we explored yesterday at the “AI in Construction Tech” event hosted by Surfaice as part of #SFTechWeek, with incredible panelists KP Reddy, Nelson Koen, and Alexey Dubov. If you think about it, construction literally shapes the world. From the Pyramids to the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Empire State Building, these creations inspire awe across generations. Yet… there’s still no trillion-dollar company in construction. Why? Because tech founders often focus too much on tech rather than on value. As KP Reddy said during the panel: “If you’re building a robot that paints walls, that’s great. But if only 70% of walls can be painted by a robot maybe the real innovation is rethinking how walls are designed.” With AI, we’re entering an era of vertically integrated solutions: not just tools that assist builders, but systems that deliver outcomes: drawings, estimates, or even complete builds: faster, cheaper, better. Founders in construction tech need to think bigger. Don’t just make construction 10% more efficient, be the service that builds it. So, do I believe that company that automates document reading may become a trillion-dollar company? NO! But something like Tesla Diner or Tesla Residential, or Nimble.ai (full-stack, fully autonomous fulfillment) absolutely could. If you’re building in this space: 1/ Think long-term. 2/ Build trust. 3/ Solve root problems, not symptoms. Every startup that succeeds in this industry lifts the whole industry: more talent, more capital, more innovation. Huge thanks to everyone who came (it was 100+ attendees): founders, VCs, designers, and builders from all over the world. The energy was incredible. Let’s keep this community growing. If you care about AI + Construction, drop any comment and let’s connect. 🚀

✅ Subscribe for the full drop: https://lnkd.in/dWtSj_hQ Here's what stood out in the AEC World: > New Innovations and Partnerships Morguard Corporation, CENGN, and Nokia have launched three Smart Building Living Labs across Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa as part of a $6.5 million project to help Canadian startups develop technologies for safer, more efficient, and connected buildings. The labs will enable innovators to test solutions like AI-driven predictive maintenance, automation robotics, and real-time energy management systems in actual office, residential, and retail properties. > Funding Rounds and M&A Activity Duke Street acquires McAvoy Group, a modular building specialist that grew revenue from £59 million to £75 million in the year ending April 2024. The deal positions McAvoy with one of Europe's respected investors for continued expansion. --- The Daily Blueprint is Foundamental's daily newsletter covering what's shaping the future of construction - from AEC tech and robotics to 3D/CAD and supply chains. Built by the leading global VC in project-based industries. Want to chat or collaborate? Reach out to Nina. #AEC #ConTech #Architecture #Design #ConstructionTech #VC #startup

✅ Subscribe for the full drop: https://lnkd.in/dWtSj_hQ Here’s what stood out in the AEC world: > New Innovations and Partnerships SSAB, a Swedish specialty steelmaker, and German construction group DEPENBROCK Gruppe have partnered to promote the use of fossil-free steel in civil and hydraulic engineering projects. The collaboration aims to cut carbon emissions in construction while providing clients with ecological and economic benefits, strengthening sustainable practices, and enhancing competitiveness in green infrastructure. > Funding Rounds and M&A Activity Prefab, a Tokyo-based AI-SaaS provider for the construction industry, has raised ¥41.5 million in a Seed round led by ANOBAKA with participation from East Ventures, Mint, and angel investors. The funding will be used to expand hiring and accelerate development of its AI-powered construction estimation platform that automates blueprint reading and quotation processes. --- The Daily Blueprint is Foundamental’s daily newsletter covering what’s shaping the future of construction — from AEC tech and robotics to 3D/CAD and supply chains. Built by the leading global VC in project-based industries. Want to chat or collaborate? Reach out to Nina. #AEC #ConTech #Architecture #Design #ConstructionTech #VC #startup

Canada’s construction and housing sectors are too fragmented to build at scale and speed we need. Larger, more coordinated organizations could accelerate innovation, adopt new technologies like AI and prefabrication, and reduce reliance on government funding. In my new article, we explain scaling up means empowering the sector to build faster, smarter, and affordably. Read his full article: https://ow.ly/M2Sa30sQvKu

Scaling up the housing sector is a broad and urgent issue that isn’t limited to non-market community housing. We need to also modernize and scale up construction and development, argues Mathieu Laberge

A thoughtful and well-timed piece, and I couldn't agree more with many of the assertions. I would love to see more research on the human and systems capacity required to support non-market housing providers in attracting financial resources and delivering their output (units) /impact (affordability and sustainability) at scale. Mr. Laberge's quote below is right on point - it's more than just...more. It's how and with whom.

🚀 𝟰 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 for setting an new standard for 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 through AI-based engineering - we are very happy to welcome OPTIMUSE as the newest member of the seed + speed portfolio family! 🏢 The Optimuse AI platform shows builders, developers, and planners early on which technical solutions for heating, cooling, ventilation, and building envelopes deliver the best results in terms of costs and emissions – in both new construction and renovation projects. 📈 The startup uses existing plans and documents to create a realistic digital building model, compares thousands of variants, and recommends the most economical, climate-friendly solution. 👉 By leveraging Optimuse’s technology, construction projects can be 𝟳𝟬% 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴, achieve 𝟭𝟬% 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝘀, and realize an 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝟮𝟬% 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀. 🤝 With this seed funding round, the company has secured €4 million. The round was led by lead investors seed + speed Ventures and Blum Ventures, and realized together with existing investors Matterwave Ventures and aws Gründungsfonds. 🎉 Congratulations to the founders Dominik Pezzei, Fabian Pitscheider, and Felix-Maximilian Hoffer! We are very much looking forward to our journey together with you! 🔉 A special thanks to Daniel Steffen und Andreas de Greiff for closing this deal. 🔎 For more detail on the news and what comes next for Optimuse, check out the article in the comment section. Alexander Kölpin André Hammerer Philipp M. Roth Patrik Cesky Lukas Punzet Dominik Kukovec Ines Kolmsee