Early stage investment firm Antler Australia recently supported 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 every Monday and Wednesday for the next six weeks on the Startup Daily show at ausbiz.com.au.

This series is designed to quickly give you a sharp insight into the startups and people involved, with many looking for follow-on capital after Antler’s initial pre-seed investment.

Company: case

Date of incorporation: 2022

Operating phase: Preseed

founders: Gretel Wilson and Sam Clarke

Current investors: antlers

Currently increasing: Yes

Startup description

case connects temporary workers with employers, enabling flexible work on demand. As the construction industry struggles with staff shortages, while temporary workers often find it difficult to find flexible work, Casu has created a platform that instantly connects on-demand workers with employers.

Today, if a construction company needs temporary workers on a short-term basis, there are limited opportunities to find them. By connecting construction companies with casual workers, Casu takes the pain out of finding multiple workers to complete an instant project.

The end-to-end solution integrates with payroll software to create a seamless experience for both employers and temporary workers who need flexible work arrangements.

Antler investment thesis

“Current systems for connecting construction companies with flexible workers are fragmented and outdated. Casu offers a fully integrated solution that removes pain points for both employers and casual workers – it’s a win-win situation,” said Bede Moore, Managing Partner of Antler APAC.

“With first-hand experience of the problem connecting temporary workers 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 a first product that took immediate effect.

Traction/milestones, so far

Casu has more than 300 employees signed up for the first iteration of its product, in addition to 30 construction companies on standby for the next product update.

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

Due Diligence Resources

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

Latest financing

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 advanced product and bring its on-demand workforce solution to life.

From the founders

“What fascinates us most is the opportunity to grow. There are so many companies in the construction industry desperate for this solution, and our long-term vision is to expand Casu beyond the construction industry to match employers with skilled flexible workers across industries,” said Gretel Wilson, Co-Founder and CEO. from Casu.

“We are certainly just at the beginning of what our product can achieve, and the initial response certainly points to a need in the market.

“From day one, Antler has provided access to a network of like-minded individuals and experts who support us as we grow. Access to coaching from industry experts was 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, an early stage global VC, recently showcased its latest investments in ambitious Australian founders and startups. Casu was one of Antler Australia’s newest portfolio companies.

Discover how Casu enables flexible working on-demand via the Antlers Portfolio Reveal Platform.

• StartupDaily is Antler’s official media partner in Australia.