Startup Estimore tackles shortage profession with AI assistant for estimators
With Estimore, Lukas Van Orshoven and Thomas Van Hecke from Aalst launch an AI assistant to calculate costs for large construction sites. The pair bring together software and construction experience, and both have previous business ventures to their names.
© Estimore
Calculating construction costs for a hospital, apartment block or sports hall is becoming increasingly difficult to staff. This year, both VDAB (Flanders) and Forem (Wallonia) recognised the role of cost estimator as a shortage occupation across Belgium. "The challenges in our sector are significant: time pressure, a scarcity of qualified professionals, and increasingly complex dossiers," says Thomas Van Hecke.
This is precisely the challenge that Estimore's founders want to address. "Today, a single project can take anywhere from 150 to 500 hours to price," explains Van Hecke. "That requires significant expertise, but also countless hours of manual research. With Estimore, you get reliable answers within seconds, whilst the system flags up opportunities and risks."
The platform combines a built-in knowledge database with a chat function for each tender. "This way, a junior estimator can access senior-level expertise at the click of a mouse. Our ultimate goal is to provide such strong support that cost estimation is no longer a bottleneck profession."
Rather than serving individual homebuilders or small contractors, the start-up focuses on major construction firms competing for large public and private tenders. The requirements are fundamentally different. "Data security and compliance are paramount in major projects. Seamless integration with tendering systems and proper handling of addenda are essential for enterprise clients," says co-founder Lukas Van Orshoven.
"Our headquarters sits right next to the building where Netlog had its first offices. If there's still a bit of that magic in the air, perhaps we'll be the next big thing to come out of Aalst"
Van Orshoven is new to construction but brings considerable tech credentials. He previously founded webshop platform Crowdselling, which he sold to Trooper in 2023, where he remains a co-owner. "I'd been itching to build something from scratch again," he explains. "When I met Thomas, it just clicked. He brings the construction know-how, I bring the software engineering."
The Aalst connection runs deep. "If there's still a bit of that magic in the air, perhaps we'll be the next big thing to come out of Aalst," Thomas smiles.
Pilot customers
In the run-up to launch, several major contractors put the tool through its paces: Execon (a Vanderstraeten subsidiary), ACH Build, Franki (part of Willemen Group), and Bruggeman-Maes. These firms form an advisory board, helping the start-up gather representative feedback from its target market. With the testing phase now complete, they're ready to roll out at scale.
Estimore will officially launch on 21 October 2025 at Digital Construction Brussels, a trade fair organised by construction federation Embuild. There, contractors will get their first live demonstration of the AI-powered estimation assistant.
