Architrave makes key hires after SEGRO-backed UK launch

Having struck a deal with the UK’s largest listed developer, asset management automation startup Architrave has appointed ex-JLL surveyor Tom Cartlidge as UK director.

The Berlin-based startup aims to make asset management more efficient and deals faster by digitising, cleaning up and de-duplicating potentially thousands of documents.

Teaming up with SEGRO marked Architrave’s entry into the UK after the warehouse giant used the startup to digitise its German asset documents. SEGRO said it plans to roll out the product across the rest of its European portfolio.

Off the back of the SEGRO deal, Architrave hired Cartlidge as UK director alongside Brendan Hindle as VP of sales to spearhead expansion in the country.

In 2018, Cartlidge co-founded property data tool PropFolio, which allows users to view income and tenancy data to produce asset performance reports. The startup won financial backing from Pi Labs and Arcadis.

‘Unstoppable momentum’

Cartlidge said: “The need to drive the adoption of Architrave’s product across the UK is significant, having experienced the problems encountered in the real estate industry through lack of digitisation and automation.

“There is unstoppable momentum towards utilising proptech solutions as a method of driving down costs and wasted time in the sector.”

Meanwhile, Hindle joined Architrave from Portuguese real estate data startup CASAFARI where he was head of sales for southern Europe. Hindle had previously held senior commercial roles at Herddle, MyRoom and Rentify.

Maurice Grassau, CEO and founder of Architrave, said: “Recruiting Brendan and Tom is a sign of our ravenous ambition to help asset managers across the UK reduce the friction and repetition of antiquated document management systems.

“At Architrave, we are not just looking to give asset managers marginal gains and little return; our product aims to completely change the way asset managers can approach their day, creating a vast difference in the time spent on document management and freeing up their time for more productive work.

“Expanding to the UK is just the start and now with our new, world-class team, we can really put our foot on the accelerator and show the power of Architrave across the region just like we’ve been doing in DACH.”