Prolo, a London-based AI-powered outsourced procurement platform for SME construction contractors, has raised €4.9 million in seed funding led by Triple Point Ventures. The company combines AI with human experts to source materials, equipment, and plant hire from 185+ suppliers, while offering up to 90 days of trade credit. Contractors submit requests via WhatsApp, email, or phone, and Prolo handles quoting, sourcing, and delivery coordination. The capital will support go-to-market sales, marketing, and product development.
Construction Procurement Remains Manual
The timing aligns with persistent inefficiencies in UK construction. Supply chain disruptions and manual workflows cause roughly 40% of projects to face delays averaging five months, according to the Chartered Institute of Building. Competitors like Parspec raised $20M Series A in July 2025, while BuildVision secured $10M Series A in March 2025. Prolo differentiates by serving buyers directly with a managed service rather than software-only tools.
SME Contractors Face Pricing Premiums
Smaller UK contractors lack the purchasing power of tier-1 firms, often paying premiums due to limited price transparency and time for quote comparison. They typically operate under 30-day payment terms that constrain cash flow and force suboptimal purchasing. Prolo's 95% best-price guarantee and 185+ supplier network aim to close that gap without requiring contractors to adopt new software workflows.
Hybrid AI-Human Model Targets Buyers
Prolo positions itself as an outsourced procurement team rather than a self-serve SaaS platform. Requests flow through familiar channels like WhatsApp or voice calls, and the system quotes roughly eight suppliers per request. The 90-day trade credit feature addresses cash-flow constraints that most competitors ignore. This hybrid approach contrasts with Parspec's focus on distributors and ConWize's emphasis on estimating software for larger general contractors.
As founder James Morris-Manuel noted:
"For decades, SME contractors have been penalised by a lack of price transparency and inefficient ordering, often paying a premium simply because they lack the time and purchasing power of the tier-1 giants."
Oversubscribed Round Signals Conviction
Triple Point Ventures led the oversubscribed round with participation from Anamcara Capital, Concrete VC, Foundation Ventures, Haatch, Koro Capital, Love Ventures, Portfolio Ventures, and a16z Scout Fund. The investor mix reflects conviction in both vertical AI applications and embedded finance models. Triple Point's prior investments in Skin Analytics and Capital on Tap suggest comfort with the credit component's risk profile.
Procurement Software Market Expands
The construction procurement software market stands at $1.62 billion in 2026 and is projected to reach $2.60 billion by 2032. Broader construction tech is expected to grow from $164.2 billion in 2026 to over $325 billion by 2036. Parspec, BuildVision, and ConWize have collectively raised over $45 million in recent rounds, yet the majority of SME procurement remains phone-based.
Serial Founder Brings Exit Track Record
James Morris-Manuel previously founded Virtual Walkthrough, which Matterport acquired in 2016, and later served as Matterport's EMEA Managing Director. His experience scaling PropTech solutions in the built environment informs Prolo's low-friction design for site-based users.
Funds Target Sales and Product Growth
The round will accelerate sales, marketing, and new product rollouts, including the recently launched Prolo Floor Protection line. The company currently operates with a 13- to 15-person team in London.