Who are you and what do you do?
80 percent of all construction projects in Germany are significantly more expensive than planned, 60 percent are completed late or with significant defects, and yet architects and construction managers have to work overtime every week to even complete construction projects. Outdated and paper-based processes are the main reason for this. Even today, more people in construction use fax machines than digital solutions.
Construction industry is the second least digitalized sector in Europe
It is hardly surprising that the construction industry in Europe is the second least digitalized sector after the hunting and fishing industries. We want to Capmo Change! We have recognized that the proliferation of tablets and smartphones on construction sites has opened up entirely new possibilities. Because it is now possible to work digitally on the construction site using handy devices. Making a difference in the construction industry requires easy-to-use yet powerful software that works on all devices, online and offline. That's Campo – an intuitive, plan-based SaaS solution that allows all construction project processes to be managed quickly and easily. Thanks to Capmo, users can keep track of all processes and are always up to date. Therefore, Capmo is more than just a simple project management tool: Capmo is the new best friend of everyone in construction who wants to keep their projects under control. From daily project documentation and defect management to the recording, distribution, and tracking of tasks and addenda. With Capmo, we are making a decisive contribution to digitizing one of Europe's largest and most important industries!
Why do you think it is so difficult to digitize the construction industry?
The construction industry is just beginning to embrace digitalization in many areas. It's entirely normal for people to have some concerns. It was no different with online shopping or CAD software in the beginning. The most important thing is to approach digitalization step by step and involve users. Because software with many features that users don't accept is of little use.
And how is business going?
Things couldn't be going better. Since our founding almost a year ago, we've grown from four to almost twenty people, acquired more than 100 customers in the first twelve months, and are supporting the digital execution of almost 1,000 construction projects.
We're especially proud that our solution is also being used in prestigious projects such as the Kiel University Hospital, the renovation of the Munich Hilton Hotel, and the construction of several kindergartens and student dormitories. What drives us at Capmo is helping construction professionals implement exceptional projects they can be proud of. To ensure we can continue to grow at the same pace in the future, we closed a financing round of nearly €2 million with UVC Partners and HW Capital in December 2018. We're now looking for motivated talents in all areas to work with us to digitize the construction industry!
Last year you met at the Munich Startup event “Startup meets craftsmanship” presented to a larger audience – were you able to take anything concrete away from the event?
The event was a complete success for us. We were able to win over some of our most important customers there and received a lot of positive feedback from participants from the trades and construction industries. At least as important for us was introducing the topic of digitalization to the participants. Because no matter how good the software is for the industry, the user always comes first!
More offers for internationals
How do you rate Munich as a startup hub? What do you like best, and what do you feel is still missing?
Munich is the ideal startup location for us. Thanks to organizations and initiatives like CDTM (where we met as a founding team), Werk1, and the many startup events, we couldn't imagine a better location, especially in the initial phase. Munich is also a great location for us when it comes to recruiting, thanks to its excellent universities. Only in terms of offerings for internationals, Munich could certainly improve a bit to make the city more attractive to international talent.
Overall, we're extremely happy to be based in Munich with Capmo. Munich is not only a great startup location, but also the hotspot of the German construction and real estate industry. All major construction and industrial trade fairs take place in Munich, and many of the most important construction players are located in Munich and the surrounding area.
And last but not least: What is your vision for Capmo?
Capmo develops software for the construction industry. There are 10 million civil engineers in Europe alone – and last year the global construction industry generated revenues of €14 trillion. One in ten jobs in the world is related to the construction industry. We believe that the people with the toughest jobs in the world also deserve great software that makes their work easier. Whether they're renovating an apartment or building a hospital, we at Capmo work every day to lead the construction industry into the digital future so that construction projects no longer get out of hand, housing becomes affordable again, and even complex construction projects are approached with fun.
