Tanja Kufner, head of ventures at Nemetschek Venture Investments, is one of the 100 leading corporate venturing professionals in our 2026 Powerlist.
Tanja Kufner has led Nemetschek Venture Investments (NVI) since 2021, building a unit defined by clear strategic intent and a steady investment pace of approximately 21 deals.
Founded in 1963, Nemetschek develops software at the intersection of architecture, engineering and construction, a sector that has historically been underserved by venture capital. NVI operates within this gap, targeting opportunities where digital transformation remains both necessary and underexploited.
Kufner’s approach has been to lean into this asymmetry. Rather than pursuing large, high-profile transactions, the unit has focused on startups addressing persistent workflow inefficiencies while aligning closely with Nemetschek’s broader innovation strategy. These investments are typically positioned where the group’s operating companies can act as both validation engines and routes to market, strengthening the link between venture activity and core business operations.
Recent activity illustrates this strategy. Last year Nemetschek acquired Firmus AI and Manufacton, while also backing Handoff, an artificial intelligence platform for contractors. The emphasis remains on practical applications that can be embedded within existing workflows in the construction ecosystem.
The past year has been characterised by deeper integration. Portfolio companies are no longer treated solely as minority holdings; instead, they are increasingly tested and deployed within Nemetschek’s operating environment. While this reflects a broader shift across corporate venturing, NVI has implemented it with notable clarity in an industry often regarded as conservative and slow-moving.
Kufner’s prior experience has also informed the unit’s external engagement. Drawing on her work as an expert adviser to the European Commission and her roles with Antler, she has positioned NVI as an active participant in startup ecosystems. The unit sponsors the Xpreneurs Incubator Track at UnternehmerTUM as a pipeline for construction technology ventures and maintains international partnerships with institutions including Stanford University’s CIFE, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and Google Cloud.
NVI’s significance in the corporate venture landscape lies less in its scale than in its positioning. Construction technology remains fragmented, under-digitised and resistant to change. Kufner has positioned Nemetschek as a player capable of bridging startup innovation with industry-scale deployment, giving the unit influence beyond its capital base.
Since Kufner’s appointment, the shift has been incremental but meaningful. NVI has evolved from an exploratory initiative into a strategic instrument with measurable operating impact, reflecting the broader maturation of corporate venture capital towards delivering business value alongside financial returns.
The GCV Powerlist represents the 100 individuals spearheading the future of the corporate venturing industry.
These individuals excel in terms of their venturing approach and structure, number and quality of portfolio companies and in their contributions to the corporate venturing profession.
Here’s a snapshot of their recent deals:
