What BuildSoft does

BuildSoft is a privately held Belgian software company founded in 1989 and headquartered in Merelbeke, Belgium, operating as part of the StruSoft Group of structural engineering software vendors. The company develops FEM (Finite Element Method) structural analysis software for steel, concrete, and timber constructions, with full Eurocode and AISC/ACI code support. Its core products include Diamonds (the flagship FEM analysis tool), PowerConnect (steel connection design), BIM Expert (multi-package BIM interoperability), ConCrete (Plus) (concrete analysis with reinforcement calculation), 1•2•Build (predesign), and add-on modules PowerPlate, PowerFrame, and Stabilis for plate/shell, dynamic/seismic/fire, and simplified checks respectively.

The company serves structural engineers as its primary persona, with architects and students/educators as secondary segments. BuildSoft monetizes through subscription-based monthly and annual software licenses, with a no-credit-card 30-day free trial acting as the primary acquisition lever under a product-led growth motion; large enterprise volume licenses are handled via direct quote requests. Distribution combines a self-serve webshop on buildsoft.eu with a regional distributor network for local sales and implementation support. Customers span engineering consulting (Sweco), industrial construction (Willy Naessens/WDP), architecture (Cobe), and mid-market structural firms across Belgium, broader Europe, and Spanish-speaking markets.

BuildSoft is sub-50 employees, privately held with no disclosed funding rounds or investors, and competes on ease-of-use (learning curve measured in hours), engineering-grade support delivered by practicing structural engineers, and deep Eurocode/AISC/ACI automation. The StruSoft Group affiliation provides portfolio breadth via sister products Matrix Floor, Matrix Tools, and FEM-Design, and partner integrations include TeamViewer for remote support and Freshdesk for ticketing, while Digital River and PayPal process payments.

Name

BuildSoft

Legal name

BuildSoft

Website

https://buildsoft.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BuildSoft develops FEM structural analysis software (Diamonds, PowerConnect, BIM Expert) for steel, concrete, and timber projects, targeting structural engineers and architects via a subscription, product-led model under Belgium's StruSoft Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Merelbeke

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Software Licenses (Subscription): BuildSoft generates revenue through annual and monthly subscription licenses for its structural analysis software products. The company offers a per month or per year charge scheme with automatic renewal until cancellation. Pricing varies by product and number of modules/licenses required.
2. Enterprise Volume Licensing: For large organizations requiring multiple licenses, BuildSoft provides custom quotes based on the number of licenses and specific product requirements. This is handled through direct sales contact.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BuildSoft designs and develops customized FEM (Finite Element Method) structural analysis software for the calculation of constructions in concrete, steel, and wood. Its flagship product Diamonds enables structural engineers to perform Eurocode and AISC/ACI-compliant analysis, automated reinforcement calculations, and cross-section optimization, with complementary products covering steel connection design (PowerConnect), BIM interoperability (BIM Expert), and predesign workflows (1•2•Build). The software is sold via subscription licenses with a 30-day free trial and volume licensing for enterprises.

Product overview

BuildSoft develops and sells a suite of easy-to-use FEM (Finite Element Method) structural analysis software for engineers. The core product portfolio includes Diamonds (primary structural analysis for steel, concrete, and timber), PowerConnect (steel connection design), BIM Expert (BIM interoperability), ConCrete (Plus) (concrete analysis), and 1•2•Build (predesign). Additional specialized modules include PowerFrame (wind/seismic/dynamic/fire analysis), PowerPlate (plate/shell analysis), and Stabilis (simplified analysis for architects). The company is part of the StruSoft Group, which also offers Matrix Floor, Matrix Tools, and FEM-Design. All software runs on Windows and supports Eurocode and AISC/ACI standards, with licensing managed through CodeMeter dongles or network licenses via Gateway.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Diamonds Easy-to-use FEM software for structural analysis of steel, concrete and timber constructions, supporting Eurocode and AISC/ACI standards with automatic reinforcement and cross-section optimization, targeted at professional structural engineers.
• PowerConnect Design software for calculating different types of steel connections including tubular connections, moment connections, column bases and shear connections, targeted at structural engineers designing steel structures.
• BIM Expert Interoperability and BIM model synchronization tool that enables seamless data exchange between multiple software packages for construction projects, targeted at structural engineers and BIM coordinators.
• ConCrete (Plus) Concrete structural analysis software for floor slabs, foundations, rafts, walls and 3D buildings, including reinforcement calculation and cracked deformation analysis, targeted at structural engineers working on concrete structures.
• 1•2•Build Structural engineering software for predesign and analysis of building structures, used by structural engineers and architects in early design phases.

Quantifiable outcome

• First model in under 60 minutes - guaranteed or personal onboarding
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• StruSoft GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuildSoft is part of the StruSoft Group, a European software group for structural engineers. The group includes sister products Matrix Floor, Matrix Tools, and StruSoft FEM-Design, enabling comprehensive coverage of structural engineering software needs.
• Digital RiverminorOthersDigital River handles online order processing and payment facilitation for BuildSoft's e-commerce operations. Processes credit card and wire transfer payments.
• PayPalminorOthersPayPal serves as an additional payment service provider for BuildSoft's online transactions alongside Digital River.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dlubal Software: Dlubal develops RFEM and RSTAB FEM structural analysis software with full Eurocode support, targeting the same mid-market structural engineer customer as BuildSoft Diamonds. Closely comparable in product scope, code coverage, and European market focus.
• RISA Technologies: RISA-3D, RISA-2D, and RISAFoot are widely used FEM structural analysis tools in North America, focused on steel, concrete, and timber design. Comparable to BuildSoft Diamonds in workflow, user base (structural engineers), and code compliance orientation (AISC/ACI).
• SCIA (Nemetschek Group): SCIA Engineer is a leading FEM structural analysis platform owned by Nemetschek. Directly comparable to BuildSoft in target user, Eurocode support, and structural analysis workflow, with deeper enterprise distribution via the Nemetschek ecosystem.
• Computers & Structures (CSI): CSI develops SAP2000, ETABS, and SAFE — flagship FEM structural analysis suites used globally for buildings, bridges, and industrial structures. Comparable to BuildSoft in core use case (FEM analysis of steel/concrete), though typically positioned at larger and more complex projects.
• StruSoft FEM-Design: FEM-Design is the 3D FEM flagship of the StruSoft Group, BuildSoft's parent organization. Sister product targeting overlapping structural analysis use cases, particularly advanced 3D and complex geometry — a direct competitor despite shared corporate ownership.

Broad incumbents

• Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis: Autodesk Robot is Autodesk's structural FEM package bundled with Revit/AEC collections. Competes with BuildSoft in the same workflow but as part of a much broader BIM ecosystem, leveraging incumbency in architectural firms and large engineering consultancies.
• Trimble Tekla Structures: Tekla Structures is a leading structural BIM platform with integrated analysis capabilities, owned by Trimble. Competes with BuildSoft for structural engineers who design in BIM environments, offering deeper detail design and steel/concrete fabrication workflows.
• Bentley Systems (STAAD.Pro): STAAD.Pro is Bentley Systems' flagship structural FEM platform, used across infrastructure, industrial, and building projects. Comparable in core FEM functionality but offered as part of Bentley's broader infrastructure engineering suite (OpenBuildings, OpenBridge).

Emerging players

• SkyCiv: SkyCiv offers cloud-based structural analysis and design software with a focus on ease-of-use and accessibility — directly mirroring BuildSoft's core value proposition but delivered via web/SaaS rather than desktop dongles. A credible emerging threat to BuildSoft's ease-of-use wedge.
• ClearCalcs: ClearCalcs is a cloud-based structural calculator platform targeting small-to-mid structural engineers and architects — overlapping with BuildSoft's Stabilis and 1-2-Build product lines. Emerging cloud-native competitor in the easy-of-use segment BuildSoft has historically dominated.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 BuildSoft