Litehaus Raises $1.58M Pre-Seed to Simplify Europe’s Home-Building Process

Portuguese construction startup Litehaus has raised €1.46 million ($1.58 million) in a pre-seed round to simplify Europe’s home-building process.

U.K.’s Cornerstone VC and Explorer Fund co-led the round, which was also participated in by Claster Group, a Luxembourgish family office. Angel investor Pascal Levy, a venture partner at Long Journey Ventures in the U.S., also participated in the round.  

The round, one of Portugal’s largest private equity funds, will help simplify the home-building process in Europe.

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How Does Litehaus Work

Husband-and-wife duo Thibault and Simi Launay wanted to buy a house in Portugal nearly five years ago. However, they faced a 14-month delay, 20% budget overruns, and mismanagement involving more than 10 subcontractors. “We realized if we’re struggling with this, so are millions of others,” Thibault told TechCrunch. So, the idea for Litehaus was born.

“Lite” and “Haus, symbolize light and innovation in home foundations. “We embrace a ‘less is more’ philosophy, crafting energy-efficient units with lower running costs,” the company says on its LinkedIn page.

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The platform connects landowners and developers with architects, contractors, and designers, allowing people to track costs, progress, and project timelines. Litehaus specializes in innovative construction solutions, including 3D-printed modular homes and sustainable building technologies.

Thibault says the construction tech startup’s homes are 30% cheaper, 40% faster, and with 60% less environmental impact. “That meant 90% less waste and 50% less CO2 emissions compared with traditional construction,” he continues.

It currently has one US construction company in its network as it seeks to expand the company in the country. However, its priority is to become “Europe’s fastest-growing construction tech startup,” according to Thibault.

About Litehaus’s Founders and Their $1.58 Million Fund

Litehaus $1.58 million pre-seed round co-led by the UK’s Cornerstone VC and Explorer Fund, one of Portugal’s most significant private equity funds, Claster Group. Angel investor Pascal Levy-Garboua, a venture partner at Long Journey Ventures in the U.S., also participated in the fundraise.  

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“When I first met Thibault and Simi, I was struck by their compelling vision: to make building a home as simple as buying one, catalyzing the construction industry to bring greater transparency, sustainability, quality, and trust to the home-building process.” Rodney Appiah, a managing partner at Cornerstone VC, said.

“I’ve always wanted to build businesses that change people’s lives,” Simi said to TechCrunch. “Providing affordable homes at scale isn’t just a market opportunity — it’s one of the most meaningful ways we can create deep, lasting impact.”

Thibault, who is from France, is the founder of an immersive gaming studio in Portugal. He has also invested in numerous companies, both as an angel investor and through his work at 50 Partners and Origins, based in France and New York, respectively. Before that, he worked at a French mining company and in green tech.

Meanwhile, Simi was born in Nigeria and grew up in London. She ran a contemporary art gallery, a wellness brand for women of color, and worked as a consultant and strategist for various firms on law and Africa. 

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Simi is in charge of marketing, communication, and design at Litehaus, while Thibault handles fundraising, business development, and tech. 

Main Image: Founders Simi and Thibault Launay