Hottgenroth Software

What Hottgenroth Software does

Hottgenroth Software AG is a German software company founded in 1996 by Karl-Heinz Hottgenroth and headquartered in Cologne (Köln), Germany. The company develops a modular software platform spanning building data capture, energy efficiency and certification, technical building equipment (TGA) planning, photovoltaic and heat pump design, lifecycle assessment, and commercial management for trades. It operates as an Aktiengesellschaft (AG) since its 2021 conversion from a GmbH & Co. KG and serves over 60,000 customers primarily across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) through its 200+ employees and multiple German/Austrian offices.

The platform is built on a proprietary unified data model ("Datenmodell") with HottCAD as the core 3D CAD engine, enabling cross-module data exchange without re-entry and supporting BIM workflows through IFC import/export. Key product families include ETU-Planer (tiered Bronze/Silver/Gold/PLUS for TGA planning, priced up to €14,999), Energieberater/EE-Berater (GEG-compliant energy certification), Kaufmann/E-Kaufmann (SME business management with ZUGFeRD/XRechnung), and KAMIN Futura (chimney sweep inspection software). Adjacent capabilities include Hott-KI (AI-supported building capture integrated into HottCAD), HottConnect (cloud-based 3D mobile viewer), SimpleMeasure (photo-based measurement app), and integrations with DATEV, GAEB, DATANORM, SEPA, Microsoft Outlook, and DWG/DXF.

Hottgenroth monetizes through a mix of one-time perpetual licenses (e.g., Kaufmann at €799, EE-Berater Wohnen at €1,999), recurring subscriptions/Nutzungsverträge (e.g., ETU-Simulation at €99/month, E-Kaufmann at €19/month), software maintenance contracts (Softwarepflege), hotline/support contracts, mobile app subscriptions, and training revenue from the Hottgenroth Akademie e-learning platform. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce (shop.hottgenroth.de), inside/field sales, event-driven demand generation (trade fairs, webinars), and community-led growth via the Energieberater-Forum Discord community. Customer segments are predominantly SMB-focused: energy advisors, TGA/HVAC engineers, tradespeople (SHK/electrical), chimney sweeps, architects, and municipalities.

Name

Hottgenroth Software

Legal name

Hottgenroth Software AG

Website

https://hottgenroth.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hottgenroth Software AG is a Cologne-based German software company (founded 1996) that builds modular CAD, energy certification, TGA planning, and trade business management software on a unified data model, serving 60,000+ customers across energy advisors, HVAC engineers, trades, and chimney sweeps in the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Energy & TGA Planning Software

NAICS

Software Publishers (5132), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Smart Building Software Platforms (IWMS/CAFM Integration, Digital Twin, Command Center) (BPABAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Building Energy Management & Demand Flexibility Software (BEMS, Optimization) (EUAFAGAK)

Keywords

• Building energy software
• TGA planning software
• Energy consulting software
• CAD building software
• Trades business software

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses (One-time / Perpetual): One-time perpetual license purchases for standalone software modules (e.g., Kaufmann at €799, TGA Heizung at €699, ETU-Planer Bronze at €3,799). Customers own the license outright but require maintenance contracts for updates and manufacturer data.
2. Software Subscriptions / Nutzungsvertrag (Usage/Annual): Annual or monthly subscription contracts (Nutzungsverträge) for ongoing software access, updates, and manufacturer-specific product data. Examples include ETU-Simulation at €99/month, HottConnect at €99/12 months, SimpleMeasure subscription.
3. Software Pflegevertrag (Maintenance Contracts): Software maintenance/care contracts providing regulatory updates, feature enhancements, and hotline/support access. Required for manufacturer-specific calculation data. Softwarepflege contracts are separate from Nutzungsvertrag subscriptions.
4. Hotline/Support Contracts: Dedicated telephone support contracts providing direct product support with prioritized access. Available to customers with active maintenance agreements. Schornsteinfeger customers with collective software maintenance receive included support.
5. Mobile Apps (Nutzungsvertrag): Annual subscription licenses for mobile applications including Kaufmann App Zeiterfassung (€199), Kaufmann App Kundendienst (€199), KAMIN Futura App, and others.
6. Training, Seminars, and E-Learning: Revenue from structured training programs, online seminars, webinars, and YouTube live streams via the Hottgenroth Akademie. School packages (Schulpakete) for educational institutions and professional development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hottgenroth Software AG develops and sells a modular, CAD-centric software platform for energy-efficient building planning, technical building equipment (TGA / HVAC) design, energy consulting and certification, and commercial management for trades and small businesses in the DACH region. The portfolio centers on a unified data model with HottCAD as the core engine, spanning products such as ETU-Planer (Bronze/Silber/Gold/PLUS), Energieberater/EE-Berater, Kaufmann/E-Kaufmann, KAMIN Futura, and mobile apps like Hott-KI, HottConnect, and SimpleMeasure.

Product overview

Hottgenroth Software AG is a German software company (founded 1996, converted to AG in 2021) offering a modular platform for building technology, energy efficiency, and business management. The product portfolio centers on HottCAD as the core unified data model and CAD engine powering BIM workflows across all applications. Key product families include: ETU-Planer (tiered Bronze/Basic/Silber/Gold/PLUS) for TGA planning (heating, ventilation, air conditioning), Energieberater/EE-Berater for GEG-compliant energy certification and consulting, Kaufmann/E-Kaufmann for trades business management (invoicing, project management, inventory), KAMIN Futura for chimney sweep inspection management, and Hott-KI/HottConnect/SimpleMeasure for mobile building capture. The architecture follows a platform-plus-modules model where HottCAD serves as the central data hub enabling data exchange between specialized applications. Additional products cover PV/solar planning, heat pumps, acoustic analysis, financial accounting (Fibu), LV/AVA specifications, and mobile apps. The company serves energy consultants, TGA planners, architects, tradespeople, and chimney sweeps across Germany with over 200 employees and 60,000+ customers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HottCAD: Integrated CAD module for building capture, planning and technical building equipment design.
• Hott-KI
• HottConnect
• SimpleMeasure
• Kaufmann
• ETU-Planer
• Energieberater
• KAMIN Futura
• Optimus
• PV-Planer
• bimCAD App
• bimCAD Energie
• KAMIN Futura App

Products and services

• ETU-Planer Bronze Comprehensive solution for heating system design and TGA planning including heat load calculation, pipe network design, heat pump selection, ventilation concepts, and U-value calculations. Targeted at TGA engineers and HVAC designers.
• ETU-Planer Basic Entry-level comprehensive solution for energy assessment of buildings. Targeted at TGA engineers and energy consultants.
• ETU-Planer Silber Mid-tier comprehensive solution for heating systems and TGA planning with expanded capabilities. Targeted at TGA engineers and HVAC designers.
• ETU-Planer Gold Multi-user premium planning software with advanced TGA capabilities for complex projects. Targeted at TGA engineering firms with multiple seats.
• ETU-Planer PLUS Extended solution for integral TGA and SHK calculations with advanced integral planning capability. Targeted at high-end TGA engineering firms.
• Energieberater Wohnen Comprehensive software for energy assessment of residential buildings (new construction and existing) including energy certificates, GEG compliance, BEG, iSFP, and energy consulting reports. Targeted at energy advisors and consultants.
• Energieberater Wohnen & Gewerbe Software for energy assessment of residential and non-residential buildings according to GEG and DIN V 18599. Targeted at energy advisors serving both residential and commercial clients.
• EE-Berater Wohnen Complete package for energy consultants covering all residential energy consulting needs. Targeted at professional energy advisors.
• HottCAD Integrated CAD system for building capture, visualization, and data management supporting BIM methodology. Core component enabling data exchange across all Hottgenroth applications. Targeted at architects, energy consultants, and TGA planners.
• Hott-KI AI-supported building capture integrated into HottCAD for automated building documentation. Targeted at architects, energy consultants, and planners needing efficient building data capture.
• HottConnect 3D viewer mobile app showing project data on smartphones and tablets with cloud sync capability, enabling real-time synchronization of building models between office and construction site. Targeted at architects, planners, and field service technicians.
• SimpleMeasure Mobile measurement app for creating dimensions directly via smartphone/tablet with desktop version available, using reference calibration and supporting CSV/PDF export. Targeted at energy consultants, surveyors, and planners.
• ECO-CAD Software for creating precise lifecycle assessments (Ökobilanzierungen) for residential and non-residential buildings. Targeted at energy consultants and architects working on sustainability documentation.
• HS PSI-THERM Software for calculating 2D thermal bridges according to DIN EN ISO 10211. Targeted at energy consultants and architects performing thermal bridge analysis.
• TGA Heizlast Heat load calculation according to DIN/TS 12831-1:2020-04 for rooms, units, zones, and buildings. Targeted at TGA engineers.
• TGA Heizung CAD software for heating system design from heat load calculation to radiator and floor heating layout. Targeted at TGA engineers and HVAC designers.
• Kaufmann Comprehensive business management software for SMEs and trades covering order processing, invoicing, e-invoicing (ZUGFeRD/XRechnung), and project management. Targeted at small and medium-sized trade businesses (SHK, electrical, general trades).
• E-Kaufmann Modern cloud-based version of Kaufmann business management software with subscription model (EUR 19/month via SEPA). Targeted at small trade businesses seeking cloud-based commercial software.
• Fibu Financial accounting module for Kaufmann with profit determination, annual accounts, VAT returns via ELSTER, and DATEV export. Targeted at trade businesses needing integrated accounting.
• Kaufmann App Kundendienst Mobile service app for field service management with appointment viewing, customer info, signature capture, and PDF output. Targeted at trade businesses running field service operations.
• KAMIN Futura Chimney sweep software for inspection management including cloud synchronization, 3D roof sketches, and mobile app integration. Targeted at certified chimney sweeps (Bevollmächtigte Bezirksschornsteinfeger) operating in Germany.
• HottScan 3D laser scanning solution for precise building data capture supporting digital twin creation. Targeted at municipalities, energy consultants, and planners needing accurate as-built building models.
• Hottgenroth Akademie Training academy offering seminars, webinars, learning videos, and YouTube livestreams for software education. Targeted at customers, prospects, students, and apprentices needing structured software training.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60,000 customers served across all product lines
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration16 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Construct-X ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHottgenroth Software AG participates as a technology partner in Construct-X, a federally funded (BMWi/NextGenerationEU) 36-month research project with ~€28M funding and ~300 experts from industry and academia. The company contributes cloud-edge-based lifecycle assessment (LCA) calculation solutions with offline-first capability and material passport integration. Also contributes to digital building simulation in the cloud-edge continuum. Project started in 2025.
• PLAN4 (Digital Twin Partner)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLAN4 is a technology partner in the digital twin project at Graf-Ludwig-Schule Steinfurt, working jointly with Hottgenroth Software to create a virtual replica of the school building for renovation decision-making.
• VDI BIM Coordination Circle (VDI-BIM-Koordinierungskreis)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHottgenroth Software actively participates as a member in the VDI (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure) BIM Coordination Circle, contributing to the development of BIM guidelines and VDI standards for the construction industry.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Valentin Software GmbH: German vendor of PV and solar-thermal planning software (PV*SOL, T*SOL) — directly comparable to Hottgenroth's PV-Planer, GetSolar Professional, and Wärmepumpen-Planer offerings within the same German energy/renewable planning ecosystem.
• Dietrich's: German vendor of CAD/CAM software for timber construction and prefabricated building — directly comparable as a DACH specialist targeting carpenters and trade craftsmen, just one vertical removed from Hottgenroth's SHK/Handwerk and TGA focus.
• SEMA GmbH: German software vendor focused on timber-construction and prefab-building CAD/CAM, serving the same Mittelstand trade and AEC buyer profile with deeply vertical building-software tooling — comparable segment and go-to-market to Hottgenroth's trade and architect users.
• Linear GmbH: German software vendor selling CAD, building physics and TGA-planning tools to architects, engineers and HVAC planners — directly comparable to Hottgenroth's HottCAD, Energieberater and ETU-Planer portfolio and DACH customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Trimble Inc. Global AEC software and hardware vendor (Tekla, SketchUp, Trimble Connect) — a broad incumbent whose digital-twin and BIM offerings compete with Hottgenroth's HottCAD/HottConnect ecosystem at the project data and construction site layer.
• Autodesk, Inc. Global incumbent in CAD/BIM (AutoCAD, Revit, Forma) — competes in the upstream building-design layer that Hottgenroth's HottCAD and Energieberater ultimately integrate with via IFC, and provides the broadest alternative for TGA and energy planning workflows.
• Nemetschek SE: Munich-headquartered AEC software group (ArchiCAD/Graphisoft, Vectorworks, Solibri, Bluebeam) — a broad incumbent in building design and BIM that overlaps with Hottgenroth's HottCAD/IFC/BIM Datenmodell play but at much greater scale and product breadth.
• Dassault Systèmes: Global PLM/BIM player behind CATIA, SOLIDWORKS, and the 3DEXPERIENCE platform — broad incumbent that targets similar building-lifecycle and digital-twin use cases as Hottgenroth's BIM Datenmodell and ECO-Pass visions, with a global installed base.

Others

• Sage Group plc: Global SMB/accounting and ERP software vendor (Sage 50 Handwerk, Sage Business Cloud) — comparable to the Kaufmann/E-Kaufmann trade ERP line as an adjacent go-to-market player serving SHK and craft trades, though much broader and not a building-domain specialist.

Emerging players

• ACCA Software: Italian-headquartered vendor of BIM, energy, and structural engineering software (Edilclima, EdiLus, usBIM) — an emerging cross-European player with significant overlap in energy certification, thermal bridge, and BIM workflows targeting the same European professional advisor base as Hottgenroth's Energieberater.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.de/hsetu

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Hottgenroth Software