One of them is the consulting firm Drees & Sommer SE, specialized in construction, real estate, and infrastructure. It is now consolidating its startup activities in a new unit: The Bau Ventures. This early-stage investor aims to identify promising startups early on and support them with the combined expertise of the parent company.
Three Pillars for Sustainable Innovation
The strategy of The Bau Ventures rests on three clearly defined pillars. The first pillar, ‘Build First’, encompasses the development and rapid scaling of its own digital business models – from idea to market entry. The second pillar is ‘Co-Creation’. Here, early-stage investments are made in young companies that receive not only capital but also operational support in product development, technology, or market access. The final pillar is ‘Strategic Investments’: targeted stakes in startups and funds that offer clear added value to both clients and Drees & Sommer. Follow-on investments are planned in case of success.
Added Value Through Access to Markets and Projects
Thematically, The Bau Ventures focuses on future fields such as PropTech, ConTech, energy, infrastructure, e-mobility, and urban resilience. This is closely linked to key technologies like Artificial Intelligence, IoT, robotics, and digital twins. According to Sascha Hempel, Partner at Drees & Sommer SE and Chairman of the Digital Ventures Board, startups supported by The Bau Ventures receive not only financial backing but also access to projects, markets, and expertise they could not reach alone. Innovation is not a matter of chance but the result of strategic partnerships, bold investments, and operational excellence.
First Investments Made
The initiative is already showing concrete results. A strong signal is the entry as a Limited Partner in the European early-stage fund PT1, which invests in technologies for clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, and the digital transformation of the built environment. Furthermore, with a follow-on investment, The Bau Ventures continues to support the smart building specialist aedifion, which develops innovative solutions to improve the CO2 profile of buildings.
With The Bau Ventures, the consulting giant is thus positioning itself not merely as an observer and user, but as an active co-creator of the digital future of its industry.
