CAALA

CAALA GmbH, based in Munich, develops a browser-based software platform and provides related consulting and training for life cycle analysis of buildings. The software calculates operational and embodied CO₂ emissions, energy demand and life cycle costs for building designs and existing stock, expressed in metrics such as kg CO₂/m², kWh/m² and €/m². It is applied across scales, from a single building material to an entire real estate portfolio, and across project stages, from early project development through detailed planning to certification.

The workflow proceeds from a building model — either simple area input or a detailed BIM model — through parameter entry (materials, building services, CO₂ intensities, price escalation rates), to analysis and visualisation of key indicators for each design variant, decision support, and export of results for reports, certification schemes or downstream tools. The platform is delivered as a web application and extended by plugins for SketchUp and Rhino. Alongside the software, CAALA offers consulting services (model creation, ESG due diligence, sustainability certification support) and the CAALA Akademie, a knowledge base for building competence in CO₂ optimisation of new builds and decarbonisation of existing stock.

Customer segments addressed on the company's site are project developers, portfolio holders and asset managers, architects, sustainability consultants and universities. Referenced use cases include optimisation potential analysis, life cycle assessment (Ökobilanzierung), CO₂ risk analysis and refurbishment potential analysis, with results used to assess attainment of benchmarks such as QNG and DGNB.

Founding story

The founding team comprised eight members, some of whom had known each other for more than ten years from their university studies. Co-founder Alexander, an architect and civil engineer, had been working since 2012 on the parametric life cycle analysis (PLCA) method on which CAALA is based, following years of research at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Sebastian Dominguez was described in 2017 as founder and managing director.

Business model

CAALA sells access to a browser-based life cycle analysis platform, complemented by paid consulting services and training. Software licences are offered with a free trial period, and the consulting arm provides modular services ranging from support in using the tool and building model creation to ESG due diligence, taking over entire projects, and sustainability certification. A knowledge base offering (CAALA Akademie) rounds out the portfolio.

Revenue comes from software licences (with a free trial period offered before purchase) plus fee-based consulting engagements and training/knowledge-base offerings.

Traction

In studies with its prototype, the company reported greenhouse gas emission reductions of 66 percent and life cycle cost reductions of 30 percent. Recognition includes the StartGreen Award 2016, selection among Hello Tomorrow's Top 500 early-stage science startups, the DGNB Sustainability Award, third place in the 'Auf IT gebaut' competition, a top-three finalist place at the Energy Transition Awards in March 2017 and the Gründerwettbewerb – Digitale Innovationen prize awarded at CEBIT. Publicly named customers and referees include Bauwens, BPD Immobilienentwicklung GmbH and Saint-Gobain as a partner. Investors listed for the company include Techstars, NOVA and Xpreneurs.

Latest developments

Recent company communications point to participation in the EXPO REAL trade fair at the ZIA joint stand (booth B2.411) and a webinar on understanding CO₂ key figures run together with Bauwens and UnternehmerTUM. Customer statements reference use of the tool for DGNB and QNG benchmark assessments and for managing decarbonisation of building portfolios.