Vienna’s deep tech startup, Optimuse, has successfully raised €4 million in seed funding to enhance its AI platform designed for the engineering, renovation, and operation of buildings. This funding round was spearheaded by seed + speed Ventures and Blum Ventures, with additional support from existing investors Matterwave Ventures and aws Gründungsfonds.
Established in 2021 by Dominik Pezzei, Fabian Pitscheider, and Felix Maximilian Hofer, Optimuse utilizes AI-based simulations to propose the most cost-effective and eco-friendly technical solutions for heating, cooling, ventilation, and building envelopes. The platform analyzes existing plans to create a digital building model, evaluates thousands of design variants, and offers clear action recommendations.
The company asserts that its software can expedite preliminary engineering by 70%, reduce construction costs by 10% through improved system sizing, and achieve 20% additional emissions savings. Its solutions are utilized across residential, commercial, and industrial projects.
Managing Director and Co-founder Dominik Pezzei highlighted the increasing complexity of buildings, both technically and regulatory-wise, emphasizing that their AI solution offers clarity by swiftly comparing variants and recommending the most sustainable and economical options. This approach allows customers to plan, transform, and operate buildings in a future-proof and cost-efficient manner.
The newly acquired funds will aid in the international expansion and distribution of the platform. Optimuse is already being implemented in renovation projects to model modernization paths, such as heating system replacements or conversions from gas to heat pumps, and in new constructions to optimize system sizing and reduce costs.
Alexander Kölpin, Managing Director at seed + speed Ventures, praised Optimuse for its blend of robust technology and practical application, noting its capacity to demonstrate feasible and economically viable renovation measures early in the engineering phase. In a market with significant renovation needs and stringent efficiency standards, this innovation is seen as transformative.
André Hammerer, Managing Director at Blum Ventures, acknowledged the pressing issue of sustainable building transformation and commended Optimuse for its integration of AI, building physics, and practical simulation, which provides substantial value for builders, planners, and operators. The startup is currently on a path to internationalization, supported by a team of around 20 experts in construction, building physics, technology, and AI, with a mission to make construction and renovation projects faster, more cost-effective, and sustainable.
