PLAN4 Software GmbH

PLAN4 Software GmbH is a German PropTech firm operating on a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business model, targeting the construction and real estate sectors. The company was established in Freiburg in February 2018 by Dr. Hendrik Seibel, Thorsten Harig, and Bernhard Mering (who left in 2022). The founding resulted from a 2016 meeting between Seibel and Harig, where they identified a critical need to digitize and streamline the assessment of aging building portfolios in Germany, which are significant contributors to CO2 emissions. Seibel, an architect with a Ph.D. and experience as a certified Scrum Master, brought deep industry knowledge of building assessment inefficiencies. Harig contributed extensive experience in IT and corporate management, recognizing the potential for a software-based solution.

PLAN4 provides B2B software solutions designed to digitize and manage building renovation and construction projects. Its client base primarily consists of municipalities (about 80% of customers), housing associations, architects, and property experts. The company generates revenue through software subscriptions and complementary services like workshops and in-house consulting on Agile and Lean methodologies.

The firm's core product is 'GebäudeCheck' (Building Check), a platform-independent software that digitizes the structural condition assessment of existing buildings. It replaces traditional paper-based methods, allowing users to capture data on-site via a tablet. The software evaluates a building's visual condition, identifies renovation needs based on typical damage patterns, and estimates costs in real-time, translating assessments into measures compliant with DIN 276. It aims to save up to 50-60% of the time required by conventional methods. A key feature is its ability to create a "digital twin" of a property, facilitating transparent and structured analysis of renovation backlogs and helping to secure a property's long-term value. Another product, 'tick-at-time', is an agile project management tool for the construction industry, supporting the planning and communication for both new and existing building projects.

The company has achieved significant milestones, including securing investments from firms like Rudolf Müller Medien GmbH, Blackprint Booster, and BitStone Capital. By 2021, PLAN4 had quadrupled its previous year's revenue and, as of mid-2023, had assessed nearly 3,000 municipal buildings with its software. The company continues to expand, growing to a team of 23 employees and receiving recognition for its contribution to climate protection innovation. Keywords: PropTech, SaaS, building assessment, construction management, real estate, renovation backlog, digital twin, agile project management, property management, GovTech