Dar Ventures backs Howie with six-figure investment to shape the future of AI in the Built World

Howie, a Vienna-based startup developing AI-powered data- management and analytics solutions for the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industries, today announced a six-figure strategic investment from Dar Ventures, the venture capital arm of Dar, a world‐class design and engineering consultancy and the founder of the award-winning top 10 international design collaborative, Sidara.

Dar Ventures’ investment marks a major milestone in Howie’s mission to build the “AI Brain for the Built World” – enabling AEC firms to consolidate, analyse and act on project data spanning drawings, images, reports and large datasets, and thereby make smarter, faster decisions across complex projects.

“Having Dar Ventures on board is both a strong vote of confidence and an incredible opportunity,” said Ewa Lenart, Founder & CEO of Howie. “Their deep industry expertise and global footprint make them the ideal strategic investor as we scale our platform and deliver AI-driven insights that transform how architecture, engineering and construction teams work.”

“Howie aligns perfectly with our strategic focus on adopting AI within the AEC sector,” said Nader Aboushadi, Group Chief Treasurer Sidara & Director Dar Ventures. “Their platform directly addresses our industry’s pressing need for efficient information management, operational transparency, and scalable automation. We look forward to working closely with their team to support their growth and deliver meaningful value to the firms shaping our built environment.”

Building on earlier backing from Pi Labs and the Vienna Business Agency, this investment anchors Howie’s preparation for its first priced financing round in Q1 2026 and sets the stage for global expansion. Over the next 12 months, Howie aims to grow from working with five major AEC firms today to 20 enterprise customers, accelerate quarter-on-quarter growth, and gear up for a full market rollout spanning Europe and the MENA region, in 2027.

Howie’s platform is being co-designed with key industry players: London-based award-winning architect Heatherwick Studio, German engineering consultancy M&P Group and international engineering group Sudop Group, among others. Their input ensures Howie’s solution meets the exacting demands of large- scale architecture and engineering teams.

With Dar Ventures as its strategic investor, Howie will deepen its AI analytics engine, expand integrations across diverse data sources (BIM/drawings, images, reports, sensor data, unstructured archives) and expand its enterprise customer base, positioning itself as a global leader in built-environment intelligence.