In this opening keynote, Patric Hellermann presents exclusive excerpts from a comprehensive 100+ page State of the Industry report, offering a data-driven view of the ConTech landscape. From investment trends and market shifts to bold hypotheses about the sector’s future, this session sets the tone for what’s next in construction innovation. The full report will be published following the event.

An intimate and candid conversation with a leading industry figure, offering a strategic perspective on the transformation of construction and real estate.

Through real-world insights and firsthand experience, this fireside chat explores the key challenges, opportunities, and decisions shaping the future of the sector — from innovation and scalability to collaboration between corporates and startups.

A high-level discussion designed for leaders, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers looking to gain clarity, perspective, and inspiration.

Exploring how modular construction, AI-driven design, industrialized processes, digital permitting, and new financing models can help address housing shortages.

Focus on scalability, affordability, and real deployment examples.

Discussion topics:

Speed, cost per square meter, regulatory bottlenecks.

Ukraine combines deep engineering talent with urgent, real constraints that accelerate innovation in construction and infrastructure. As the country transitions from a leading IT hub to a defense tech hub—and next to a construction tech hub—new solutions are emerging across surveying, safety, materials, automation, and digital delivery. This talk shares the Cluster’s vision to unify currently scattered players into a single ecosystem that international investors, corporates, and institutions can work with confidently, and outlines how European partners can plug into this momentum today.

VIP Pass ONLY

Join us for an immersive one-hour Learning Expedition designed to spotlight promising startups attending the event. Come and listen to their high-impact pitches and identify tomorrow’s trends in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

The VC Closed-Door Session is an exclusive, invitation-only gathering designed specifically for venture capital investors active in construction, climate, infrastructure, and industrial innovation.

In this private setting, Patric Hellermann shares in-depth insights from the latest State of the Industry research, including investment trends, capital flows, market signals, and emerging opportunity areas within ConTech.

The session is designed to foster candid discussion among peers, enabling VCs to exchange perspectives, challenge assumptions, and explore strategic positioning in a rapidly evolving market.

This is not a public keynote — it is a focused, high-level conversation for investors shaping the future of construction technology.

Following each Reverse Pitch, selected startups will have the opportunity to join a focused small-group session with the corporate speakers.

These sessions are designed to move from high-level challenges to concrete discussions. Startups can introduce their solutions, explore alignment with the corporate’s innovation priorities, and initiate potential collaboration pathways.

This is not a presentation format — it is a curated exchange intended to foster meaningful dialogue and identify next steps.

Everyone talks about the French market. Few actually break into it. Why do some international ConTech startups land major French contracts in 18 months while others spend three years chasing pilots that go nowhere?

Join Contech France and Olivier Lepinoy for a frank, tactical workshop on navigating France's construction ecosystem: the unwritten rules, the real decision-makers, the pricing traps, and the shortcuts locals won't tell you about — but will.

Built for foreign founders, sales leaders and investors who need France to work.

The US construction market is the largest in the world — and it's hungry for innovation. But breaking in is a different game. Different sales cycles, different decision-makers, different rules. Too many European ConTech startups arrive unprepared and burn time, money, and energy on the wrong moves.

In this session, founders who've done it share what actually works — from building the right network to landing your first US contract, choosing between NYC, Austin, and the Bay Area, and navigating the legal and cultural gap that kills most early-stage expansions.

If you're thinking about the US, this is the conversation you need to have before you book that flight.

Everyone talks about the German market’s scale, but few understand its complexity. Why do some international ConTech startups secure Mittelstand partnerships in record time, while others get stuck in endless "Prüfung" (testing) cycles and regulatory deadlocks?

Join us for a frank, tactical workshop on navigating the DACH region’s construction ecosystem. We’ll dive into the unwritten rules of German engineering culture, the reality of DIN standards, the power of local gatekeepers, and the procurement traps that can sink a foreign scale-up.

No fluff, just the shortcuts and hard truths you need to make Germany your next growth engine.

This is not a panel. This is not a keynote. This is a closed-door session for startup founders — and founders only.

No investors in the room. No corporates. No press. Just founders who are building, struggling, scaling, and figuring it out — talking honestly with founders who have already been through it.

The session is led by experienced founders who have raised funds, landed enterprise contracts, expanded internationally, and made the mistakes so you don't have to. They will share what actually worked, what didn't, and what they wish someone had told them earlier.

The conversation will cover the questions every founder has but rarely gets a straight answer to. How do you land your first big corporate client and not get crushed in the process? What does a smart fundraising strategy actually look like in the current market? Do you go international early or consolidate at home first? How do you stay founder-led while your company is scaling faster than you expected?

No slides. No corporate language. No sugar-coating.

If you are building a ConTech startup and you want one hour of raw, honest, founder-to-founder conversation — this is the session you will remember.

Seats are strictly limited. Founders only.

The exponential growth of AI, cloud computing, and edge infrastructure is driving unprecedented demand for data centers worldwide.

This session explores the construction, energy, and sustainability challenges behind this massive expansion:

• Speed of delivery vs engineering complexity
• Energy demand and grid constraints
• Cooling technologies and water usage
• Modular and off-site construction approaches
• Low-carbon strategies for high-energy assets
• Investment dynamics and hyperscaler requirements

Where does innovation create competitive advantage?

And how must construction companies adapt to become long-term partners in this new infrastructure race?

This session explores the real state of robotics adoption in construction — from bricklaying robots and autonomous equipment to rebar tying, layout automation, and site inspection.

Speakers will present current use cases, measurable productivity gains, safety impact, cost barriers, and integration challenges.

Beyond hype, this session answers:

Is robotics scalable today? Or still experimental?

A practical session on reducing material waste through digital planning, smart logistics, material reuse, and circular supply chains.

• What technologies are working?
• How can contractors monetize circularity?
• What regulatory pressure is accelerating change?

Includes real metrics and site examples.

Exploring cementitious materials, calcined clays, geopolymer concrete, timber hybrids, bio-based materials, recycled aggregates, carbon-capturing materials.

Performance, durability, certification, cost comparison.

Critical question: Can these materials scale at global infrastructure level?

Energy is no longer a side conversation in construction — it's the conversation.

Grid capacity is capping project feasibility. Interconnection delays are stretching timelines by years. Getting power to a construction site is becoming a project in itself. Heavy machinery is going electric, and storage is moving from accessory to critical infrastructure. In several European markets, this is already slowing supply — and most of the industry is only just waking up to it.

This panel cuts through the noise with three perspectives that rarely meet:

• Founders building the answers — on-site power, energy storage, smart grid tech, electric construction equipment, EU-scale retrofitting
• Investors with deep energy conviction, mapping where capital flows next
• Construction operators telling it like it is on the ground

Powering the site. Electrifying the fleet. Storing the energy. Retrofitting at scale. The questions that will define the next decade of European building — answered live.

Don't miss this one if energy is on your critical path.

Presented by CCCA-BTP, OPPBTP and IMPULSE PARTNERS, the Innovation Trends Observatory offers a comprehensive analysis of the major innovation shifts transforming the construction industry.

This strategic research initiative maps emerging technologies and evolving practices — and assesses their impact on jobs, safety, prevention and training across the sector.

Designed as a forward-looking intelligence tool, the Observatory helps contractors, SMEs, large groups, project owners and training centers better understand innovation and prepare for a positive, sustainable transformation of the construction industry.

Data centers are now one of the fastest-growing construction asset classes in the world. Their timelines, scale, and regulatory complexity make them riskier than any residential or commercial work that has come before. Peter Starr (CEO, Freeda) opens with the structural pressure this is putting on owners, tenants, inspectors, and public bodies : where the complexity comes from, where the risk redistributes, and how the industry is adapting. He then demonstrates how Freeda analyzes risk and catches errors early on data center projects, from due diligence through design and construction documentation. Followed by Q&A.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a promise — it's quietly rewriting how construction companies build, bid, design, and operate. But between the hype and the reality, where is AI actually creating value today?

This session brings together founders, operators, and tech leaders to unpack the four frontlines where AI is moving the needle:

• AI-powered SaaS products — the new generation of platforms embedding AI at the core, not as a feature
• AI-enabled services — how consultancies, engineering firms, and contractors are turning AI into a new service line
• In-house AI tools — what leading construction groups are actually building internally, and why
• Productivity on-site and in the office — measurable impact on project delivery, estimating, design, safety, and back-office operations

Expect concrete use cases, honest numbers, and a clear view of what's working, what's overhyped, and where the real opportunities lie for the next 24 months.

An assessment of prefabrication, modular systems, volumetric construction, and industrial workflows.

• Where are the productivity gains?
• What are the logistical challenges?
• How does it impact carbon footprint and margins?

Focus on measurable KPIs.

While Europe debates regulations and sustainability standards, the rest of the world is building — fast. In Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, construction tech is scaling at a pace that most European players haven't clocked yet. Different constraints, different solutions, different levels of ambition.

In this session, we map what's happening on the ground across the major ConTech hubs worldwide — which markets are exploding, which innovations are years ahead of the curve, and what European startups and investors can learn (and import) from builders who operate under completely different rules.

Because the next big idea in construction might not come from Paris or London. It might already exist in Tokyo, Riyadh, or Bogotá.

An in-depth look at additive manufacturing in construction: technical maturity, structural constraints, regulatory barriers, cost comparisons, and environmental implications.

Real projects, lessons learned, and the economics behind large-scale deployment.

Key question:

Where does 3D printing outperform traditional construction?

+300% productivity. 1 operator instead of 3. Zero scaffolding. Builder Assist's Surface Assist is an AI-powered robotic arm paired with a 3D camera, adaptable to any boom lift, that automates large-surface work on construction sites. Faster timelines, safer conditions, guaranteed quality — and a live demo on stage at Contech Connect.

Created by a construction entrepreneur and a banking expert, Faktus presents itself as THE financial partner for construction pros, revolutionizing cash flow management in this sector by offering tailored financing arrangements covering various needs ranging from equipment financing to the payment of worksite progress bills. With Faktus, benefit from unequalled flexibility—no de-funding, without commitment, and no hidden fees—allowing you to focus from now on on the essential : the success of your projects !

Buildright is an AI-Powered solution purpose-built for construction complexities. In this session, see how contractors, advisors, and suppliers use real-time risk insights to catch problems before they escalate — and deliver projects with greater predictability and lower costs.

NEXT-BIM develops a Mixed Reality solution that allows for the easy and precise overlay of the BIM model onto the real environment. In this session, discover how their unique technology enables highly efficient management of construction execution and provides augmented reality guidance for maintenance interventions during the operational phase.

Lifiot is an Intelligent IoT solution purpose-built for the complexities of power tools and industrial equipment. In this session, see how manufacturers and distributors use real-time data to reduce mismatches by 43% and increase efficiency by 27%. Learn how to harness the power of field insights to stay ahead of the competition and deliver superior service through total asset visibility.

Arbel.ai is an AI-powered platform purpose-built to bring clarity to the world's most massive, large-scale infrastructure projects. In this session, see how project teams for rail, highways, and energy transform simple drone scans and documents into trustworthy insights in under 24 hours—no BIM required. Discover an easy-to-deploy solution that gives your infrastructure projects the superintelligence they deserve to move faster.

Beawre is a risk management solution purpose-built for highly volatile and regulated environments. In this session, see how project managers in construction, energy, and transportation use non-intrusive data collection to assess, optimize, and monitor status in close to real-time. Discover how to consolidate trust and increase risk governance by digitalizing your environment to achieve total risk control and mitigate complex process challenges.

Come with a real challenge — leave with a working prototype.

In this hands-on workshop, Matthew Osment (Shift) builds live AI solutions tailored to your needs: Revit plugins, data apps, custom tools — designed and deployed in 10 to 15 minutes, on the spot.

No slides. No theory. Just results.

Open to all participants.

Billions have been invested in ConTech over the last ten years.

But how much has truly scaled?

What makes a startup investable — and deployable?

What role should corporates play in supporting venture-backed innovation?

This session explores the structural tension between venture growth models and the pace of transformation in construction.

A keynote introduction will frame the market dynamics, followed by a candid discussion between construction leaders and investors on how to build a healthier innovation ecosystem for the next decade.

In this reverse pitch session, a leading construction company takes the stage to flip the traditional pitching model.

Rather than startups presenting their solutions, the corporate team will:

• Introduce their organization, its scope, and strategic priorities
• Share a clear and transparent view of their key innovation challenges
• Highlight concrete use cases, operational pain points, and unmet needs across their value chain
• Explain how they work with startups, scale innovation internally, and make partnership decisions

This session is designed to provide startups with a direct, unfiltered understanding of what large construction groups are really looking for — beyond buzzwords and innovation theatre.

The reverse pitch will be followed by opportunities for:

• One-to-one meetings
• Follow-up discussions
• Concrete collaboration paths

A must-attend session for startups looking to engage with major industry players, align their solutions with real market needs, and accelerate meaningful partnerships.

Over the past ten years, construction groups have launched innovation labs, corporate venture arms, pilot programs, accelerators, and startup partnerships.

• But what has truly created value?
• What remained experimental?
• What changed at scale?

This keynote reflects on a decade of innovation strategies within major construction companies — successes, failures, internal resistance, governance challenges, and measurable impact.

It then opens into a peer-level discussion among industry leaders to explore how the next decade must evolve:

• How should startups integrate into corporate strategy?
• What structural changes are still needed?
• How do we move from pilots to transformation?

This session is designed for decision-makers shaping long-term innovation roadmaps.

Every construction project is, at its core, a risk management exercise. Contractors, developers, and owners each carry exposure — on costs, contracts, claims, and site execution — and the tools to manage it have barely changed in decades.

In this workshop, Enlaye — the Built-World Risk AI platform — will show how artificial intelligence is transforming risk management into a true lifecycle discipline. Through live demonstrations and real project use cases, you'll discover how to:

• Identify, evaluate, and compare project risks 10x faster
• Detect errors in tender documents before they become claims
• Reduce contractual costs and secure better offers
• Empower teams with AI that integrates into existing workflows — not the other way around
• Work with explainable AI (no black boxes): every answer backed by its source

A concrete session for contractors, developers, owners, and investors looking to turn risk from a blind spot into a competitive advantage.

For once, the startups get to sit back. In this session, leading VCs and Corporate Venture Capital funds active in ConTech flip the script and take the mic — not to judge pitches, but to deliver their own.

Each investor has 5 minutes to answer the questions every founder wants answered:

• What's your thesis? Where do you see the future of construction heading — and where are you placing your bets?
• How do you work? Ticket size, stage, geography, decision process, timeline.
• What are you actively looking for? The verticals, the business models, the founder profiles that get you to "yes."
• What makes you different? Strategic value, portfolio synergies, operational support — beyond the check.

For founders, it's the fastest way to map the European ConTech investment landscape and identify the right investors to approach — without guessing. For LPs, corporates, and ecosystem players, it's a rare window into how capital is being deployed across construction innovation today.

A high-signal, no-fluff session to turn fundraising from a black box into a clear playbook.

After a full day of keynotes, pitches and meetings at Station F, it's time to unwind. Contech France invites you to extend the evening over a drink and celebrate the French and international ConTech ecosystem gathered in Paris.

Startups, investors, major construction groups, innovators: join us in a relaxed setting to turn the day's conversations into real opportunities. Open to all Contech Connect attendees and the wider Contech France community.