Connected Crafts enters the seed financing round

Connected Crafts enters seed funding round after successful support from REHAU New Ventures to further expand its platform against skills shortage

Munich, October 10, 2024 - Connected Crafts, a startup dedicated to tackling the skills shortage in the skilled trades sector, has reached the next stage of growth. Following the successful spin-off from REHAU New Ventures, the company is now preparing for a seed financing round. The Connected Crafts digital platform brings skilled crafts businesses together with qualified specialists from all over Europe, thereby addressing a market worth billions.

The two founders Dimitri Gertsmann and Maximilian Gick developed Connected Crafts as a solution to a pressing problem in the skilled crafts sector, which has been struggling with an increasing shortage of skilled workers for years. The platform enables craft businesses to find qualified personnel quickly and efficiently and facilitates access to a European pool of skilled workers.

Venture building as a model for success

REHAU New Ventures, the independent venture builder of the REHAU Group, played a central role in the development of Connected Crafts. REHAU New Ventures' venture-building model is based on a structured innovation process that enables start-ups to gain market access quickly. "Connected Crafts is an excellent example of the success of our venture-building approach," explains Nils Wagner, CEO of REHAU New Ventures. "We supported the startup from the initial idea to market maturity and created a structure that makes the company attractive to investors."

Connected Crafts is an excellent example of the success of our venture-building approach. From the initial idea to market maturity, we supported the startup and created a structure that makes the company attractive to investors.

Nils Wagner, CEO of REHAU New Ventures

A key component of this model is the venture clienting approach. REHAU not only supports the start-ups financially, but also gives them access to networks and pilot projects in the industry. Connected Crafts has benefited from its extensive contacts with craft businesses and has already gained valuable market knowledge through its collaboration with REHAU.

Attractive for investors due to clear ownership structure

REHAU New Ventures pursues an ownership structure for its start-ups that is particularly attractive to investors. The company deliberately retains only a minority stake without strategic intentions. This approach makes it easier for investors to get involved, while the founding team continues to hold a significant equity stake and thus remains motivated in the long term.

Connected Crafts plans to invest the capital gained through the seed financing in the expansion of the platform and the development of new markets.