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Construction tech startups land $100M for automation, AI and prefab
12 June 2025
Five early-stage construction technology startups recently secured more than US$100 million in new funding, with solutions targeting engineering workflows, site automation, AI-powered monitoring, and robotic manufacturing.
Creative render of Auar’s “micro-factory” system. (Image courtesy Auar)
The deals span firms based around the globe and reflect a growing modernisation of tools aimed at improving productivity, reducing labour dependence, and digitising processes for the built environment.
AIM Intelligent Machines – $50M funding round
US-based AIM retrofits heavy construction equipment (including bulldozers, excavators, and loaders) with AI-powered systems that enable fully autonomous operation, removing the need for onboard drivers.
The company is scaling operations with a new facility in Washington state and started work with the US Army Corps of Engineers on seawall construction.
AIM claims its technology can generate up to $1 million in added value per machine annually.
Buildots – $45M Series D
Israel-based Buildots software platform uses AI and computer vision to analyse images captured by 360° cameras worn onsite, enabling real-time tracking of construction progress against design models and schedules.
The latest round will help expand North American operations and grow its R&D team. CEO Roy Danon said the company is seeing a shift from project-based pilots to multi-year enterprise deals.
Auar – £5.1M ($6.9M) seed
UK-based Auar (also known as Automated Architecture) develops container-sized ‘micro-factories’ equipped with robotics, artificial intelligence, and machine vision; designed to prefabricate timber housing components at or near construction sites.
Developed in partnership with Swiss-based OEM ABB, the temporary factories utilise vision-equipped robotic arms to assemble timber structures in as little as 12 hours.
Auar claims the process can reduce labour needs by up to 75% and construction costs by 40%. The firm is now targeting mid-rise timber housing across Europe.
NavLive – £4M seed ($5.4M) seed
A spinout from the University of Oxford, NavLive (UK) produces an AI-powered handheld LiDAR scanner that delivers live 2D/3D building models and integrates directly with BIM workflows.
The company deployed its system across nuclear, defence, and commercial sites; stated customers include Mace, Jacobs and AtkinsRealis. The round includes a £700K ($948K) Innovate UK grant.
CalcTree – €2.3M ($2.6M) pre-seed
CalcTree (Australia) is developing a collaborative cloud-based software platform for engineering calculations, designed to streamline design workflows and reduce errors during the planning phase of construction projects.
The seed is backed by Foundamental (Germany), a VC focused on construction technology, and Suffolk Technologies (US), the venture arm of contractor Suffolk Construction.
The company aims to cut design-phase errors and inefficiencies by turning complex calculations into reusable templates.
What’s trending?
Automation, real-time data, and AI-led productivity tools continue to dominate early-stage funding in construction tech.
From automating equipment to improving surveying and calculations, these startups point to a shift toward flexible tools that work across projects and teams. With ongoing labour shortages and rising risks, investors are backing tech that speeds up work, cuts errors, and controls costs.
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