The Antler Investor Memo: Casu is solving the problem of finding construction workers at short notice

Early stage investment company Antler Australia recently backed 13 startups as part of its ongoing program to build great local tech companies. Over the next six weeks, Startup Daily will share the details of each venture in the “Antler Investor Memos” series.

You can also meet the founders on the Startup Daily show on ausbiz.com.au every Monday and Wednesday over the next six weeks.

This series is designed to give you a quick sharp understanding of the startups and people involved, with many seeking follow up capital following Antler’s initial pre-seed investment.

Company: Casu

Formation date: 2022

Stage of business: Pre-Seed

Founders: Gretel Wilson and Sam Clarke

Current investors: Antler

Currently raising: Yes

Description of the startup

Casu connects casual labourers with employers, enabling on-demand flexible work. As the construction industry faces worker shortages while casual workers often find it difficult to source flexible work, Casu has created a platform that instantly connects on-demand workers with employers.

Today, if a construction company requires casual workers at short notice, there are limited avenues to find them. By connecting construction companies with casual labourers, Casu is removing the pain point of finding multiple workers to complete an immediate project.

Its end-to-end solution integrates with payroll software creating a seamless experience for both employers and casual workers requiring flexible work arrangements.

Antler investment thesis

“The current systems in place to connect construction businesses with flexible workers are fragmented and antiquated. Casu is offering a fully integrated solution removing pain points for both employers and casual labourers – it’s a win-win,” said Bede Moore, Managing Partner of Antler APAC.

“With first-hand experience of the issue connecting casual labourers with flexible work, Gretel and Sam rightly identified a latent market that is often overlooked, diligently validated the supply and demand shortage within the construction, and built an initial product that gained traction instantly.

Traction/milestones, to date

Casu has over 300 workers signed up for the first iteration of its product alongside 30 construction businesses on standby for the next product update.

Co-founders Gretel and Sam have also secured five key advisors with deep industry experience across companies such as Canva, Hutchinson Builders, and Wagners.

Due diligence resources

Explore Casu’s pitch video and investor deck via The Antler Portfolio Reveal Platform.

Latest funding

Pre-Seed from Antler

Use of funds

Casu will leverage Antler Australia’s initial investment to hire a CTO and launch the next iteration of its product.

The investment has also helped Casu develop a more sophisticated product and bring its on-demand workforce solution to life.

From the founders

“What excites us the most is the opportunity to grow. There are so many businesses within the construction industry that are desperate for this solution, and our long-term vision is to extend Casu beyond the construction industry to match employers with skilled flexible workers across sectors,” said Gretel Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Casu.

“We are certainly only at the very beginning of what our product can achieve, and the initial response certainly indicates a need in the market.

“From day one, Antler has provided access to a network of like-minded individuals and experts supporting us as we grow. The access to coaching from industry experts has been particularly helpful as we stress-tested our ideas, found our product-market-fit within the construction industry, and developed our go-to-market strategy.”

What’s next?

Antler, a global early-stage VC, recently showcased the latest investments it’s made in ambitious Australian founders and startups. Casu featured as one of Antler Australia’s newest portfolio companies.

Explore how Casu enables on-demand flexible work via the Antler Portfolio Reveal Platform.