WALLROUND, a Berlin-based construction technology startup, has secured €4.2 million in seed funding to address Europe’s stagnant building renovation market. The oversubscribed round, led by Revent with participation from impact fund GGF and Europe’s largest landlord Vonovia, positions the 2024-founded company to build what it calls the continent’s largest tech-enabled renovation franchise.
Market Opportunity Drives Investment Interest
The funding comes as Germany struggles to meet climate targets in the built environment. The country falls short of its building CO₂ reduction goals by approximately 20% each year, with the built environment contributing 40% of total emissions. Current renovation rates hover near 0.7% annually, well below the 2.5% required to achieve 2045 climate objectives.
Traditional construction productivity continues declining, with industry players wasting 35% of their time on non-billable activities. This inefficiency stems from market fragmentation and minimal research and development investment across the sector.
Technology-First Approach to Building Retrofits
WALLROUND differentiates itself through what CEO and Founder Lukas Steinhilber describes as a comprehensive technology platform. The company combines 3D building data, geospatial information, empirical data, and proprietary pricing algorithms to calculate renovation costs, return on investment, and carbon savings instantly.
“Our tech combines 3D building data, geospatial data, empirical data, and in-house pricing algorithms to calculate renovation costs, ROI, and CO₂ savings instantly” ~ Lukas Steinhilber, Founder & CEO.
The platform integrates automated workflows connecting every renovation phase, from initial property analysis through procurement to final construction. This end-to-end approach targets small and medium-sized landlords, a segment often underserved by traditional general contractors who typically focus on larger projects.
Experienced Leadership Team
Steinhilber brings proven entrepreneurial experience, having previously Founded and scaled Vehiculum to over €300 million in annual gross merchandise value. The founding team includes Founder and Chief Product Officer Tatiana Wotzasek, who contributes 13 years of product development experience across global markets, Founder and Managing Director Henning von Oesen, who adds more than a decade of real estate and construction management expertise.
The motivation behind WALLROUND emerged from personal and professional frustrations with traditional renovation processes. Steinhilber experienced typical contractor challenges including delayed quotes, incomplete work, and unexpected price increases, while von Oesen witnessed similar issues professionally.
“We saw a paradox: energy renovations are a massive, subsidised, high-return market, but execution is painfully slow, low-quality, and fragmented” ~ Henning von Oesen, Founder and Managing Director.
Franchise Expansion Strategy
WALLROUND plans to begin territorial expansion in 2026, focusing on selected target areas while continuing technology development. The company intends to optimize operator workflows before rolling out its franchise model with partners seeking entrepreneurial opportunities within the energy renovation space.
This franchise approach will serve as the foundation for broader European expansion, allowing WALLROUND to scale without requiring substantial direct capital investment in each new market.
Addressing Industry Gender Imbalance
CPO Tatiana Wotzasek acknowledges the male-dominated nature of construction and energy renovation sectors while encouraging other women to enter the space. Her diverse team, representing Nigeria, Brazil, Russia, Slovenia, and Germany, reflects the company’s commitment to varied perspectives in product development.
“Don’t let that intimidate you. Bring your expertise confidently, focus on delivering results and be bold – because innovation thrives on diversity” ~ Tatiana Wotzasek, Founder and CPO.
The construction industry’s traditional resistance to technological adoption creates opportunities for companies like WALLROUND that can demonstrate measurable efficiency improvements. By combining proven business models with advanced technology, the startup aims to transform how energy renovations are planned, priced, and executed across European markets.
As building owners face increasing regulatory pressure to reduce carbon emissions, WALLROUND’s integrated approach could provide the scalable solution needed to accelerate renovation rates while maintaining profitability. The company’s focus on franchise development suggests confidence in its technology platform’s ability to generate consistent results across different markets and operational contexts.