Procore’s outgoing CEO shares his view on where construction technology goes from here

Procore has become a global construction technology company whose services range from BIM and bid management, to project execution tools, workforce management, financial management, and analytics (Photo: AdobeStock)

A carpenter’s vision

Tooey Courtemanche’s roots in construction run deep. Unlike many tech leaders who approach the industry from the outside, his career began with hands-on work.

“My first job was sweeping sawdust in a cabinetry shop in the 8th grade [13/14 years old], and I went on to become a journeyman carpenter before moving into real estate development and eventually technology,” he recalls.

Courtemanche says that the experience gave him a deep admiration for builders and an understanding of their needs. He saw a major disconnect between construction professionals and the technology available to them.

“Too many companies have tried to sell to construction without truly understanding it,” he says. “Repurposing tech from other industries and assuming builders were laggards. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth.”

He says that he witnessed firsthand how project managers used Excel in ways that rivalled top financial analysts. The problem, he realised, wasn’t that construction was behind but rather that the technology available to them wasn’t good enough.

Courtemanche says that this realisation became the foundation of Procore. “That’s why I set out to build technology that’s truly worthy of the construction industry. From day one, Procore has been built around partnership – putting our customers at the centre of everything we do and being more than just a software vendor.”

Procore has become a global construction technology company whose services range from BIM and bid management, to project execution tools, workforce management, financial management, and analytics. His vision, shaped by firsthand industry experience, has driven its success by focusing exclusively on solving construction’s unique challenges. Now Procore approaches a pivotal moment, as Courtemanche has announced plans to recruit his successor as CEO, in advance of taking on the role of executive chairman.

A relentless focus on construction

Courtemanche attributes Procore’s growth and success under his leadership to an exclusive focus on the construction sector. “Procore doesn’t build drones or accounting software, but we’ll make sure our customers can seamlessly connect with the best tools out there,” he explains.

By listening to customers and solving real problems, it has built an open platform that brings together the solutions for construction, he contends.

“This industry runs on trust, and we’ve earned ours by staying relentlessly focused on what matters most: our customers, their challenges, and delivering real value every step of the way.”

This commitment extends to Procore’s global expansion strategy. Rather than rushing into new markets, the company says that it takes the time to deeply understand the local industry.

Procore Agent Studio (Photo: Procore)

Procore Copilot (Photo: Procore)

“When we expand into new regions, we take the time to truly understand the market, build strong local teams, and embed ourselves in the industry. We listen, learn, and ensure we’re delivering real value before scaling further.”

What the future holds

Looking ahead, Courtemanche believes that artificial intelligence (AI) will be one of the most transformative forces in construction.

“AI has the potential to transform every industry, but construction is uniquely poised to benefit in a way we’ve never seen before.”

Construction generates vast amounts of data, yet much of it has historically gone underutilised. By leveraging AI, Procore hopes to unlock efficiencies, reduce risk, and help teams make smarter decisions.

In November last year at its Groundbreak event, Procore announced that it was making Procore Copilot available globally. The tool allows users to quickly access, key documents, summarise complex information, and provide data-driven insights.

It also introduced Procore Agents, which uses AI to streamline complex tasks like managing requests for information (RFIs), scheduling, and submittals. Later this year will see the arrival of Agent Studio, which will let users customise these tools to meet their unique project needs without any coding.

“With AI, the industry is shifting to the offense, using technology to be more proactive, data-driven, and solve problems before they arise.”

The proactive approach to AI is already taking shape in Procore’s platform. “Procore Copilot is already helping construction teams surface critical project information in seconds,” says Courtemanche. “Soon, Agents and Agent Studio will proactively suggest next steps and automated workflows, exactly when they’re needed.”

Tooey Courtemanche, CEO of Procore (Photo: Procore)

Courtemanche envisions AI evolving to become a seamless part of the construction process and believes that a future where AI doesn’t just assist in construction but also enhances and amplifies the way work gets done is coming. That would make projects safer, more predictable, and more profitable, he says.

Advice to tech entrepreneurs in construction

Reflecting on his journey, Courtemanche shares advice for aspiring tech entrepreneurs looking to make an impact in the construction industry.

“I talk to aspiring entrepreneurs all the time, and too often, I see people driven by the idea of being an entrepreneur rather than by a problem they’re deeply invested in solving.”

For him, success has come from an obsession with solving real problems. “What’s kept me going for over 20 years is a genuine love for construction and a relentless drive to solve the challenges it faces. My friends joke that I’m like a dog on a bone – completely obsessed.”

Courtemanche emphasises the importance of engaging with customers early and often and says that too many people take unvalidated ideas too far before ever putting them in front of the people they’re meant to help. He adds, “The best solutions come from constant learning, iterating, and refining based on real customer feedback. You can’t be too customer-centric in this process.”

Finally, he stresses the value of taking risks and embracing failure because innovation doesn’t happen without taking risks, and failure is just another word for learning.