Thursday 28 May 2026 — Full Day Programme
Contech & Project Economy Trends 2026
Opening Session

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.

Contech insights with Patric Hellerman
Fireside Chat


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.

Rebuild Ukraine, Rebuild Smarter: The ConTech Opportunity

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.
Solving the Housing Crisis Through Innovation
Can technology realistically reduce cost and speed up housing production?





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.
Contech Award Pitch Session









Award Ceremony
Celebrating Excellence: Inside the Minds of This Year's Champions









Welcome to the ultimate masterclass in excellence! In this high-energy session, we are bringing together the boldest ideas and the brightest minds of the year. We will explore the creative sparks and disruptive thinking that caught the judges' eyes. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, networking, or the secret sauce to winning big, this is the place to be.
Closing Ceremony
Learning Expedition : Discover Hidden Gem Startups
Flash pitch sessions with emerging innovators
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.
Please use the Brella App to register at this session
LEX Debrief : Hidden Gems Focus
Strategic analysis and partner key takeaways following the expedition
Following this morning's Learning Expedition, this informal session is dedicated to debriefing the solutions discovered during the "Hidden Gems" tour.
The goal is to share your initial impressions of the pitched startups, analyze the most promising technologies, and discuss potential synergies between VIP partners. A collaborative session to turn inspiration into concrete collaboration opportunities.
The VC Closed-Door Session
LUNCH Only for VCs


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.
Cracking the German Market
From First Contact to First Contract



Germany is the largest construction market in Europe — and one of the most complex to break into. After five consecutive years of contraction, the sector is at an inflection point: a €500B infrastructure package, renewed residential demand, and digitalization pressure are creating real openings for ConTech founders. We will map the German construction landscape from top to bottom — from the handful of multi-billion-euro groups dominating civil engineering, to the thousands of family-run Mittelstand firms that move slowly but buy deeply, to the wave of startups beginning to reshape the industry from within. Then we will break down the path to market: how founders are finding their first German customers through trade shows like BAU, warm introductions, incubator ecosystems like TUM Venture Labs Built Environment (VLBE), and sector-specific networking events — and what it actually takes to move a prospect from curious to committed.

Reverse Pitch Follow-Up Sessions
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.
Cracking the French Market
What ConTech Startups Need to Know before coming to France

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 Israeli Contech EcoSystem
Cracking the US Market: What ConTech Startups Need to Know Before Crossing the Atlantic
From first steps to first clients — a no-BS guide for European founders ready to go big.


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.
Founders only, No bullshit
This is a closed-door session for startup founders — and founders only.


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.
Building Cognitive Infrastructure How AI Is Becoming the Backbone of Construction Decisions

Construction is entering a new era where competitiveness will depend not only on physical assets, but on intelligence. As AI accelerates and pressures grow from grid congestion, data center expansion, compute constraints, supply chains, and rising project complexity, the industry faces a new question: how do we build systems that help organizations think, decide, and adapt faster? This keynote explores the rise of cognitive infrastructure - where data, AI, and domain expertise become the backbone of better decisions across planning, delivery, risk, and infrastructure development.
Robotics in Construction – From Pilots to Deployment
Where does robotics truly stand today on construction sites?



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?
Reducing Construction Waste – From Compliance to Circularity
Beyond sorting waste — how to redesign the system.





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.
3D Printing – Industrial Revolution or Niche Solution?
Is 3D printing ready for mainstream construction?




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?
How the current “energy race” intersects with the construction sector
Powering sites, electrifying fleets, storing energy — the new construction frontier




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.
Innovation Trends Observatory: Decoding the Future of Construction
Strategic insights shaping skills, safety and transformation in the built environment



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.

AI in Construction: From SaaS to the Jobsite
How artificial intelligence is reshaping productivity across the construction value chain





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.

Offsite Construction – Industrializing the Building Process
Moving construction from the site to the factory.




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.
Beyond Europe: The Global ConTech Landscape You're Not Watching (But Should Be)
A world tour of construction innovation — from Singapore to São Paulo, from Dubai to Seoul.




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.

Beyond Cement – What Materials Can Replace It?
If cement is 8% of global CO₂ emissions — what’s next?

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?
Financing the Future of Construction – Beyond Hype
Industry x Venture: Building a Sustainable Innovation Model













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.
The AI Platform for Workforce, Compliance & Field Operations Charles le Hodey — CEO, Traxxeo & Eternia Group
Managing a construction workforce has never been simple — but the stakes just got higher.
With the EU Working Time Directive now rolling out mandatory time-tracking obligations across Europe, contractors, subcontractors and project developers face a perfect storm: complex subcontracting chains, multi-site mobility, zero tolerance for compliance errors, deep integration requirements with ERP & payroll systems, and a workforce split between office and field — each with radically different usability needs.Drawing on nearly 20 years of experience and 1,700+ clients across two platforms — Traxxeo (enterprise) and Alobees (SME) — Charles le Hodey shares the hard-won lessons from building the leading workforce management suite for the construction sector.In 20 minutes, you'll walk away with a clear view of:Why generic HR and ERP tools consistently fail on the jobsite The compliance and traceability requirements that are reshaping the industry How AI is being applied — practically, not theoretically — to field operations, resources planning, time management, and subcontractor management What the next generation of workforce platforms looks like for a sector that can't afford mistakes Whether you're a contractor, a technology buyer, or an investor watching the ConTech space, this session offers a grounded, operator-first perspective on one of construction's most underserved digital challenges.

Corporate Reverse Pitch
Innovation Challenges from a Major Construction Group











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.
A Decade of Innovation: What Worked, What Failed, What’s Next
10 Years of Open Innovation in Construction – Lessons from the Field













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.
Building is Risk Management — How AI is Rewriting the Rules
From bid to handover: mastering project risk with AI across the full construction lifecycle



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.

Buildots Construction Intelligence - What the industry can finally see, and how it becomes its operating backbone
How leaders are leveraging automated workflows and site insights to achieve operational excellence

What the industry can finally see and how it becomes its operating backbone. Across hundreds of construction projects worldwide, Buildots has measured what really happens on site: silent schedule drift, anomalies hiding in every plan, and a 20-50% gap between what trades plan and what they deliver. Amir Berman (VP Industry Transformation, Buildots) shares the patterns, the benchmarks they unlock, and the case for standardized data as the foundation of long-term operational strategy. Followed by Q&A.
The Reverse Pitch — VCs & CVCs Put Themselves on Stage
Construction investors pitch their thesis, their playbook, and what they're actually looking for











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.
Build with AI - Live & On Demand
Bring Your Problem. Leave With a Solution.

Most people run into AI as a chatbot or some feature stapled onto an app they already use. That version is fine, but it's not where the value is. The interesting part is that a person who knows a problem but never had the skills to fix it, can now sit down and build the solution. Over the session Matthew will build several small prototypes live using a custom suite of coding agents, each one aimed at a real problem rather than a demo. He works out loud: what he asks for, hy things break, what he would do to make them better, along with some slides detailing common concepts. No coding background needed. No prior experience with AI agents needed. Come along to understand where the real disruptive value of AI is.
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.
Build with AI - Live & On Demand
Bring Your Problem. Leave With a Solution.

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.
Pitch Session










Surface Assist - Alban Brisy
Faktus - Julie Amzallag, Alexandre Pochon, Reda Kabbaj
Buildright - Lars Gaustad
From BIM Model to Field : Real-Time Mixed Reality - Frank Aboulker
Lifiot - Mirveys Halim
Arbel.ai - Noa Ouziel
Beawre - Victor Muntes
Adarcus: The AI Agent for Revit - Javier Miralles de Miguel
Scopey Onsite - Jenna Farrell
superlegal.ai - Noory Bechor
The ConTech Closing Night
The official closing night of Contech Connect, hosted by Contech France
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.
La Felicita - Station F
Register here : https://luma.com/9zb2ac8x

CONTECH CONNECT is organised by
Newtech Connect SAS - 229 rue Saint Honoré 75001 PARIS
Registration Number 938 553 724 PARIS
Contact
info@contech-connect.com
229 rue Saint Honoré
75001 PARIS