Smart Contracts for Tomorrow's Construction Sites

How can digital solutions transform an industry that still relies almost exclusively on printed documents? This is precisely the question being addressed by the young start-up eContractly, which is working towards a shared vision: to modernize contract management on large construction sites. Drawing on expertise in computer science, economics, and civil engineering, the interdisciplinary team is developing a platform designed to enhance transparency, efficiency, and collaboration for all parties involved. In this interview, the three founders, Xuling Ye, Ndjiba Antonio, and Liu Liu, talk about the practical origins of their idea, the challenges they are currently facing, and why the support of WORLDFACTORY is invaluable to them. The following interview was translated into English by WORLDFACTORY.

Please introduce yourselves briefly as the founding team. What are your strengths?

We are eContractly, a small and diverse team of three founders: Xuling with a focus on computer science, Ndjiba with a background in economics, and Liu with a background in civil engineering. Different disciplines, but a shared vision: we want to establish our own start-up and contribute to making the construction industry more efficient through digital solutions.

Describe your start-up idea:

Our idea is quite simple: we want to finally digitize contract management for large projects, such as construction works, which often take years to complete. To this end, we are developing a platform that combines all important documents and tasks. This allows everyone involved to see the current status at any time and coordinate their work much more efficiently and transparently.

How did you first come up with the idea of founding a start-up?   

The idea actually came directly from practical experience, because in the last few years we noticed that there was a real digital gap in contract management. In a research project, we were then able to try out initial technical solutions, a proof of principle, so to speak. It was clear to us then that we wanted to take this idea further and turn it into a real product as our own start-up. At the same time, we realized that although founding a company involves risks, it also gives us a lot of freedom and autonomy to really implement our idea.

How did you balance starting the company with your studies/career?

To be honest, it's not that easy. We are all still working as research and teaching assistants while simultaneously founding our start-up. This means that we are still in a phase of finding our footing when it comes to time management. It is therefore important for us to set clear priorities so that we don't lose focus on the crucial tasks and can work as effectively as possible.

For us, the WORLDFACTORY means... 

WORLDFACTORY is a very important partner for us. It helps us to further develop our product in a targeted manner and to better understand market fit. At the same time, we receive a great deal of support in terms of networking with fellow start-ups, potential partners, and important areas such as funding applications. For a young team like ours, this is invaluable.

What are the biggest challenges you can face and how do you deal with them?

What is really challenging for us right now is shifting our mindset from research-based thinking to market-based thinking. In other words, moving away from “theoretically exciting” to “applicable.” This is a process we are constantly working on. Dialogue with our partners in the field is extremely helpful in this regard. Their feedback allows us to refine our ideas step by step. At this point, we would also like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has taken the time to speak with us in the last few weeks.

What is special about your start-up?

Our greatest asset is undoubtedly our team. We bring a wide range of experiences to the table—from technology and practical experience to entrepreneurial know-how. This not only contributes to our strength in task distribution, but also helps us to continually review our ideas from different perspectives and to improve them.

What is your current situation and what are the next steps?

We are currently working on our funding application, which we want to submit by the end of the year. This will be an important milestone for us, allowing us to really get started with further development and take the next step towards market launch.

Your tip for all those interested in founding a company:

Starting a business is really complex. You have to organize, work together as a team, and focus on the product idea at the same time. Our tip: Compose a team whose strengths complement each other effectively. Seek out exchange opportunities with people in the field as often as possible. And don't be afraid to keep revising your idea—that's exactly what will make it better in the end.