Hero Software

What Hero Software does

HERO Software GmbH is a Hannover-based SaaS company that builds a cloud-native operating system for tradesmen and small-to-medium construction/service businesses in the DACH region. The platform consolidates the full operational lifecycle — quoting, order processing, inventory, time tracking, mobile field documentation, invoicing, accounting handoff, and customer relationship management — into a single system accessible via web and native iOS/Android apps. Domain depth is reflected in native support for German-mandated standards (GAEB for construction data exchange, DATANORM for material catalogs, DATEV for tax advisor handoff, and GoBD-compliant invoicing) and integrations with Lexware Office (small business accounting) and Solar Monkey (PV planning).

The product architecture is cloud-native (the company emphasizes "Cloud Native, not Cloud Enabled") and increasingly AI-augmented. The HERO AI suite comprises three proprietary modules: HERO Voice (an AI phone assistant answering inbound calls 24/7), HERO Command (generative quote and proposal creation), and HERO Report (AI-assisted construction site documentation via photo upload). A separate HERO Copilot automation engine ships with 14 modules that automate recurring workflows (emails, tasks, appointments), with the company claiming customers save roughly 20 hours per week. HERO Wallet extends the platform into digital payments, invoice reconciliation, and dunning. The offering is sold as a tiered monthly subscription (HERO Starter and HERO Pro) plus optional paid add-ons (personal setup, phone support), with a 14-day free trial as the primary acquisition mechanism. A white-label variant is offered to partner networks.

The company was founded in 2020 by Michael Kessler and Philipp Lyding, who continue to serve as Managing Directors. It has raised approximately EUR 48 million in venture funding across a 2022 Series A led by Cusp Capital (EUR 8 million) and a 2024 Series B co-led by Eight Roads Ventures, Cusp Capital, and Federated Hermes (EUR 40 million), with the company also listed on the Companisto crowdfunding platform. Headcount is reported in the 101–250 band, customer community exceeds 8,000 craftsmen, and the PV segment alone has surpassed 3,200 users. GTM is product-led growth via self-serve free trial, augmented by direct sales for larger accounts, a referral program, content/SEO, and paid acquisition across Google, Bing, TikTok, and Pinterest. Independent validation includes trusted.de Testsieger recognition as the top trades software for SMEs among nine providers tested.

Name

Hero Software

Legal name

HERO Software GmbH

Website

https://hero-software.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

HERO Software is a Hannover-based SaaS company providing a cloud-native, AI-augmented operating system for tradesmen and construction SMEs in the DACH region, integrating quoting, invoicing, field operations, automation, and German-standard compliance into a single subscription platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trades and Construction Management Software (Handwerkersoftware)

NAICS

Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

AI Application Enablement Platforms (Copilot/Agent Frameworks, SDKs) (HDAEANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Software/SaaS Subscriptions (Consumer & Prosumer) (CRAFAIAB)

Keywords

• Trades management software
• Construction SaaS platform
• Handwerkersoftware cloud
• Field service management
• AI business automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. SaaS Subscription: HERO operates as a subscription-based SaaS platform for tradesmen SMEs. Customers choose between HERO Starter and HERO Pro tiers, paying a monthly subscription fee. The company offers a 14-day free trial for new customers to experience the platform before committing to a paid plan. Professional setup services and phone support are available as optional add-ons.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

Hero Software sells HERO Handwerkersoftware (HERO OS), a cloud-native SaaS operating system for tradesmen SMEs in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland that unifies quote creation, order processing, time tracking, inventory management, construction documentation, invoicing, financial management, CRM, personnel administration, and project planning. The platform is sold on a monthly subscription basis with a 14-day free trial, augmented by HERO AI (voice, quote generation, site documentation), HERO Copilot automation, and HERO Wallet digital payments, plus native integrations with DATEV, GAEB, Lexware Office, DATANORM, and Solar Monkey.

Product overview

HERO Software offers HERO Handwerkersoftware (HERO OS) - a cloud-native all-in-one operating system for tradespeople SMEs in the DACH region. The core platform integrates with AI capabilities (HERO AI suite including Voice, Command, and Report), financial management (HERO Wallet), and automation (HERO Copilot with 14 modules). Extensive professional trade modules cover order processing, invoicing, calculation, construction documentation, inventory management, time tracking, field service, HR management, construction planning, document management, and CRM. The HERO App provides mobile access on iOS and Android devices. The platform serves diverse trades including SHK, electrical, roofing, carpentry, painting, tiling, drywall, landscaping, building cleaning, energy consulting, property management, caretaking, solar/PV installation, and general construction. Specialized solutions include Solar Software with Solar Monkey integration for PV planning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HERO AI: AI-integrated features including voice assistant (HERO Voice), offer creation (HERO Command), and site documentation (HERO Report).
• HERO Voice
• HERO Command
• HERO Report
• HERO Finance
• HERO Wallet
• HERO Copilot
• HERO App
• HERO Akademie
• HERO White Label

Products and services

• HERO Handwerkersoftware (HERO OS) Cloud-native all-in-one SaaS operating system for tradespeople (Das Betriebssystem fürs Handwerk) covering the full business lifecycle — quote creation, order processing, time tracking, inventory, materials, invoicing (GoBD-compliant), financial management, construction documentation, CRM, and personnel administration. Sold on a monthly subscription basis (HERO Starter and HERO Pro tiers) with a 14-day free trial. Targets tradesmen SMEs across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland across 25+ trade verticals.
• HERO App (iOS/Android mobile application) Native mobile application for iOS (4.8-star App Store rating) and Android (Google Play) providing tradespeople with full feature parity for field use, including time tracking, photo uploads, digital signatures, mobile measurement (Aufmaß), project documentation, and real-time cloud synchronization with the HERO OS.
• HERO White Label

Quantifiable outcome

• Customers save 20 hours per week using HERO Copilot automation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers32 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability8 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Solar MonkeycoreTechnology or IntegrationSolar Monkey is a leading PV (photovoltaic) planning software provider with a native integration into HERO. The seamless data synchronization between HERO and Solar Monkey enables solar installers to conduct holistic PV project planning including roof analysis, shading simulation, battery storage comparison, and building energy calculations. Solar Monkey's DIN-standard compliant analysis flows directly into HERO's project pipeline and document management.
• Handwerk MagazinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHandwerk Magazin is a leading German trade publication for the crafts sector. HERO is featured and referenced in Handwerk Magazin as a recognized software solution for trades businesses, providing editorial credibility and brand exposure to the target audience.
• PV Magazine (Initiativpartner)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPV Magazine is a specialized publication for the photovoltaics industry. HERO is listed as an 'Initiativpartner' (initiative partner) of PV Magazine, indicating a co-marketing relationship within the solar/photovoltaic vertical.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Lexware: Lexware is a leading German SMB accounting and payroll software vendor (part of Haufe Group). While Lexware Office is an integration partner of HERO, Lexware itself competes for the same trades SMB customer wallet for finance workflows.
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a broad cloud ERP/CRM suite for SMBs with strong presence in European markets. It competes with HERO across CRM, project management, invoicing, and now embeds AI via Microsoft Copilot.
• Sage: Sage is a global incumbent provider of accounting and ERP software for SMBs, with significant presence in Germany via Sage 50/100. It competes broadly with HERO's invoicing, accounting, and financial management modules.
• SAP Business One: SAP Business One is SAP's ERP solution for small and medium businesses, including discrete manufacturers and service firms. It competes with HERO for the upper end of HERO's mid-market trades customers seeking broader ERP functionality.

Emerging players

• Odoo: Odoo is an open-source cloud ERP/CRM suite widely adopted by European SMBs including trades businesses. Its modular open-source model competes with HERO's all-in-one OS positioning and offers a low-cost alternative for digitizing trades operations.
• sevDesk: sevDesk is a fast-growing German cloud accounting SaaS targeting SMBs, freelancers, and small trades businesses. It overlaps with HERO's invoicing and accounting features as a competing prosumer-focused finance product.
• Plancraft: Plancraft is a German SaaS platform for construction trades focused on project planning, quoting, and field-to-office coordination. It overlaps with HERO's Bau-Gewerbe and construction project management capabilities for SMB contractors.

Direct peers

• weclapp: weclapp is a German cloud ERP/CRM platform targeting small and medium-sized businesses including trades. It overlaps with HERO's project management, invoicing, and CRM capabilities, serving a comparable DACH SMB customer base.
• BlauWeiß Software: BlauWeiß is a German vendor of trades and craft business software with strong roots in the Handwerk segment. It is one of the legacy on-premise competitors that HERO's cloud-native, AI-enabled approach is displacing.
• ToolTime: ToolTime is a German cloud SaaS platform for tradesmen and crafts businesses covering order management, time tracking, and invoicing. It directly competes with HERO in the DACH trades SMB market with a similar product-led growth motion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJhhryy4K_Z8zH0lvqcqtJg/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/HERO.Handwerkersoftware
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/herosoftware-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/hero_software

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hero Software