The HVAC industry is currently in the midst of a major transformation. With the old guard of tradespeople nearing retirement and private equity firms consolidating the industry, companies like Airship are paving the way for HVAC’s next chapter.
Airship is developing a point-of-sale software specifically designed for HVAC contractors. This software provides contractors with essential knowledge on various topics, such as incentive programs for energy-efficient heat pumps and rebates available to their customers. The goal is to empower contractors to close larger sales by arming them with the necessary tools and information. Craig Battin, the co-founder and CEO of Airship, emphasized that the software is designed to be intuitive and easy to adopt, catering to contractors who may still rely on traditional pen and paper methods for their business operations.
Despite the industry’s historically low level of tech adoption, Airship is focused on building an enterprise-grade solution that positions the company well to cater to the increasing number of private equity-backed HVAC rollups. According to Battin, the entry of private equity firms into the industry marks the beginning of a new era of software adoption, presenting ample opportunities for companies like Airship to continue innovating and developing new products.
Michael Sachse, co-founder and executive chairman of Airship, highlighted the importance of increasing ticket sizes for HVAC companies rather than solely focusing on generating more calls. By leveraging Airship’s software, contractors have seen an average increase of 20% in their ticket sizes. Sachse’s inspiration for Airship stemmed from his previous role as CEO of Dandelion Energy, where he encountered challenges in promoting heat pump adoption and identified the need for better tools for home contractors.
The journey of Airship began with Sachse sharing his idea with early-stage fintech firm QED, which led to the collaboration with Battin. The company currently has 10 design partners and is in the beta phase, with plans for an official launch in November followed by a wider rollout early next year. Airship recently emerged from stealth mode, announcing a partnership with service software unicorn ServiceTitan and securing a $4 million pre-seed funding round led by QED.
Looking ahead, Airship aims to utilize the capital raised to expand its team and further enhance its product offerings. The company envisions evolving into a platform company that not only provides point-of-sale software but also assists HVAC contractors with payments, warranty management, subscriptions, and other essential areas. Despite facing competition from other tech companies targeting HVAC contractors, Airship believes its focus on equipping contractors with tools to maximize their sales potential sets it apart in the market.
As Sachse expressed, the company is dedicated to collaborating closely with customers to gather candid feedback and continuously improve their businesses. With a strong commitment to customer satisfaction and a drive to help contractors succeed, Airship is poised to make a significant impact in the HVAC industry in the coming years.
