PowerUs

PowerUs is a Berlin-based digital job and career platform specialized in the skilled trades (Handwerk) in Germany. It connects tradespeople — including plumbing/heating/air-conditioning (SHK) system mechanics, electricians and electronics technicians, refrigeration technicians, mechatronics engineers, industrial mechanics, motor vehicle mechatronics technicians, painters, roofers, metalworkers, floor layers, concrete and steel concrete builders and carpenters — with employers offering permanent positions. The company positions itself as Germany's largest job platform dedicated to the skilled trades and, in earlier descriptions, as a 'LinkedIn for skilled blue-collar workers'.

Workers register free of charge and specify preferences such as region, desired salary, working hours, mobility requirements and benefits (company car, further training, holiday days). The platform then pushes matching vacancies by email or WhatsApp, and users apply with one click from a single profile, without a cover letter or separate CV. Profiles are pseudonymous by default: personal data becomes visible to employers only once a worker applies, and an opt-in 'Bewerber entdecken' feature lets companies view anonymized profiles and contact candidates directly. A mobile app supports applying and tracking applications.

On the employer side, businesses post job advertisements and search a candidate pool that includes qualification details such as years of experience, driving licence class, uploaded journeyman's certificates and availability. Beyond matching, PowerUs has provided salary, further-training and career information to registered tradespeople, active placement into roles, and online courses developed with partner companies including Viessmann and Hager.

Founding story

PowerUs was founded in Berlin in 2019 by Konrad Geiger and Julian Lindinger (Lindinger-Pesendorfer), with Lindinger described as an Austrian based in Berlin. Both are listed as managing directors of PowerUs GmbH. The company went through Y Combinator's Summer 2020 batch.

Business model

PowerUs operates a two-sided platform: skilled tradespeople use it free of charge to create a profile, receive matched job suggestions and apply without a cover letter, while employers pay to post job advertisements and reach registered workers. The company describes itself as B2B/recruiting on its Y Combinator profile, and job postings for employers can be published within minutes; an advisory/consultation option and a phone sales line are offered to businesses. The platform focuses exclusively on permanent employment and excludes temporary or agency staffing.

Use of the platform is free for tradespeople; revenue comes from the employer side, where companies pay to publish job advertisements and access qualified candidates.

Traction

Company materials cite more than 250,000 registered skilled workers, over 6,000 open positions, more than 1,000 employer businesses, roughly 5,000 new skilled workers per month, and a Trustpilot score of 4.6 from about 1,100 reviews. At the time of the 2023 Series B, the platform reported more than 850 registered trade businesses and more than 80,000 registered electronics technicians and plant mechanics. Team size is listed at 80.

Latest developments

As of 2025 the company reports more than 250,000 registered skilled workers, over 6,000 open positions, more than 1,000 employer businesses and around 5,000 new skilled workers joining per month, alongside a Trustpilot rating of 4.6 from about 1,100 reviews. It was named in coverage of VivaTech's 'Top 100 Rising European Startups' ranking in May 2025.