Last Week in ConTech - 08 September 2025
The Need for Localization When Scaling ConTech
Deep Insight: The Need for Localization When Scaling ConTech
This week I woke up to the stunning noise of construction outside my hostel in Croatia.
At 7am, a construction team decided it was time to start jackhammering. Sleep was quickly beyond me so I figured I’d see if I could check out the site and talk my way in.
As I opened the front door there was a miniexcavator ~1m away with the operator casually smoking a cigarette while excavating a trench in front of my feet. No exclusion zone or spotter in sight.
Walking further down the street, I saw the familiar chaos of a jobsite. Bobcats zipped around, saw cutters screeched and trades moved material all while the local residents weaved casually through it all.
It was a funny experience as I remember on my first jobsite getting an earful from the safety manager about exclusion zones. Here I could have walked right up and touched a moving plant if I wanted to.
Back at the hostel, the owner explained the hot water was out. The crew had shown up the day before, told him they needed to dig trenches, and that was that.
For me, it was stark recognition of how differently construction operates globally.
A safety app or stakeholder communications tools works great in Australia, but not in Croatia. Local nuance matters and having experts who know a region to validate a pain point and modify messaging is essential (we actually have an upcoming article about this).
Looks like there’s more cold showers and early mornings for me ahead.
In this issue there are:
5 Startup Fundings
12 Policy and Regulatory Changes
10 New National Infrastructure Projects & Priorities
0 New investment funds
2 Acquisitions
7 News articles
99 new jobs posted - view here
Reading time: 12 min
Startup Funding
Layout
LightYX, an Israeli startup, raised $11m in Series A funding from investors including NOVA by Saint-Gobain. They have developed a 3D scanning tool and laser guided layout system which transforms digital designs into construction layouts, projecting construction plans directly onto surfaces so crews can place walls, pipes, and wiring with millimeter accuracy. More here.
Scheduling
Nodes & Links, a London startup, received strategic investment from Schneider Electric. They are developing an AI powered schedule management platform which automates progress tracking and change control including the project performance analysis and compliance reporting. More here.
Project Management
Euclid Power, a New York startup, raised $20m in Series A funding. They are developing an operating system for renewable energy development which acts as a single source of truth for projects, ingesting unstructured data and streamlining workflows as well as offering support such as bid review, transaction management and owner’s engineering. More here.
Other
Welcome Tech, a Californian startup, raised $7.5m in funding. They are building a platform for immigrant workers, connecting them to essential services like jobs, healthcare and financial tools to help them succeed in a new country. More here.
Notes:
The platform helps intelligently match immigrant workers to jobs.
Their press release notes that they are experiencing adoption amongst construction companies who are seeking to use the platform to recruit eligible workers to overcome acute labor shortages.
Yottar, a UK startup, raised £740k in Pre-Seed funding. They are building a grid intelligence platform which helps developers of clean energy infrastructure such as charging infrastructure and battery storage identify viable grid connections. More here.
Notes:
The platform maps electric grid capacity helping identify areas for real estate development e.g where should I build my data centre or EV chargers.
This process usually requires a grid application where an installer submits details about a new energy system and the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) checks to ensure it can be safely connected to the grid.
DNOs charge £1-2k per application and responses typically take 3 months.
Policy and Regulatory Changes
US
Trump cancels $679 million in federal funding for offshore wind projects
The Trump administration said on Friday it was cancelling $679 million in federal funding for 12 offshore wind projects, including $427 million for a California project.
The move is the latest in an effort by the administration to undermine the industry.
White House Orders Agencies to Escalate Fight Against Offshore Wind
The White House has taken the extraordinary step of instructing a half-dozen agencies to draft plans to thwart the country’s offshore wind industry.
Agencies that typically have little to do with offshore wind power have been drawn into the effort.
For example at the Health and Human Services Department, officials are studying whether wind turbines are emitting electromagnetic fields that could harm human health.
DOJ Urges Court to Strike Down New York Climate Superfund
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has called on a district court to invalidate New York’s Climate Superfund law.
New York’s Climate Change Superfund Act would force fossil fuel companies to pay up to US$75bn over 25 years for “climate change adaptive infrastructure projects.”
The intention is to finance “major investments in infrastructure and other projects critical to protecting our communities and economy.”
Notes:
New York was the second state to pass a superfund law after Vermont.
They are facing legal challenges from the federal government and fossil fuel industry.
Trump Weighs Declaring National Housing Emergency
The Trump administration may declare a national housing emergency this fall highlighting a key issue for midterm elections.
The details are unclear, however the administration suggested they are directly studying ways to standardize local building and zoning codes and decrease closing costs.
Biden’s green bank is on the ropes
A court decision found that EPA has the authority to unilaterally cancel all grants under the $20 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
This was a program that aimed to provide low-interest loans for renewable energy projects in poorer communities across the United States.
Takeaways from the big Senate NRC hearing
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chair David Wright confirmed a meeting in which an administration official said the agency would be expected to “rubber-stamp” any reactors approved by the departments of Energy or Defense.
Congress in 1974 gave the NRC sole authority to license commercial reactors.
In four executive actions, Trump ordered accelerated approvals of new reactors and expanded the power of the Energy and Defense departments to set safety standards for pilot reactors.
North Carolina Lawmakers Override Governor’s Veto of Utility Rate Hike Bill
Both the House and Senate voted to override Governor Josh Stein’s veto of Senate Bill 266.
This would abandon Duke Energy’s interim carbon reduction goals and add “Construction Work In Progress” fees to utility bills.
Colorado launches new building code designed to encourage efficient, all-electric homes
The Colorado Energy Office published its Model Low Energy and Carbon Code today, which will become the state’s new minimum building code on July 1, 2026.
All cities must adopt the regulations whenever they update local building codes or adopt even tougher local building efficiency rules.
It includes tougher standards for larger homes:
If a home is under 5,000 square feet, it must meet baseline energy efficiency standards.
If a home is between 5,000 and 7,499 square feet, it must be even more efficient.
If it's over 7,500 square feet, the home must cover its total energy usage with onsite options like solar panels or purchase offsite energy from a community solar garden or another source.
India
GST on cement cut from 28% to 18%, likely to lower construction costs and boost affordable housing
The GST Council decided to cut the tax rate on cement from 28% to 18%.
Affordable housing is set to benefit the most, as lower construction costs can be passed on to buyers.
The Supreme Court of India has directed the Calcutta High Court to take up the issue of unauthorized constructions in Kolkata.
The came while dismissing a petition challenging an order of the Calcutta High Court concerning construction carried out in Howrah in deviation of the sanctioned building plan.
The Howrah Zilla Parishad had passed a resolution directing the demolition of the petitioner’s illegal construction, noting that the deviations were made “knowingly and deliberately.”
The Supreme Court upheld this finding, observing that the High Court had rightly applied the bye-laws and taken due steps against the unauthorized construction.
Notes:
The Supreme Court is taking note of a larger pattern of illegal and unsafe constructions in Kolkata and Howrah, some of which have resulted in building collapses and loss of lives.
It emphasized that this issue must be addressed not only case-by-case but also at a systemic level.
They warned that unchecked illegal constructions erode the rule of law and endanger public safety.
China
China-Led Bloc to Set Up Development Bank in Win for Xi
Chinese President Xi Jinping secured an agreement from Members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to set up a new development bank.
The new bank will likely provide non-USD financing to help members reduce the risk of sanctions and dollar volatility.
Notes:
A development bank is a financial institution that provides medium to long-term capital for economic development projects e.g the World Bank, Asian Development Bank etc.
One of their core missions is to fund infrastructure as commercial financing is often unavailable or too expensive.
In an interim report into the construction industry, the commission has estimated productivity in the industry has fallen by about 9 per cent since 2018.
The report describes productivity growth in the state's construction industry as "poor" and mostly "stagnant".
Productivity in the industry is only about 5 per cent higher now than it was in 1994-95.
In comparison, productivity in the market economy grew by 65 per cent.
National Infrastructure Projects & Priorities
US
Tennessee Valley Authority signs agreement for 6 GW of small nuclear
The Tennessee Valley Authority announced it has signed an agreement with ENTRA1 Energy.
This is to develop up to 6 GW of new nuclear power.
It will be the largest U.S. small modular reactor deployment program to date.
China
China races to build world’s largest solar farm to meet targets
Chinese government officials showed off what they say will be the world's largest solar farm.
It will cover 235 square miles, which is the size of Chicago.
Russia and China Sign Major Deal for New Gas Pipeline
Russia’s Gazprom PJSC has signed a legally binding agreement to build the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline to China via Mongolia.
They could ship as much as 50 billion cubic meters a year via the Power of Siberia 2 for 30 years.
Notes:
This is a coup for Russia as the European Union is considering an outright ban on Russian gas by the end of 2027 due to the invasion of Ukraine.
India
OpenAI Plans India Data Center in Major Stargate Expansion
OpenAI is seeking to build a new data center in India with at least 1-gigawatt capacity.
An industrial-scale data center in India would help OpenAI provide customized AI chatbots to users and allay fears of data transfers out of the country.
Notes:
The company's ambitions in India coincide with rising tensions over trade between Washington and New Delhi, with the US having imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods.
India plans $125 billion push to boost high-speed road network
India plans to expand its high-speed road network fivefold within a decade, investing Rs 11 lakh crore ($125 billion).
The country will add 17,000 kilometers (10,563 miles) of access-controlled roads that allow motorists to travel at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour.
Roughly 40% of the proposed network is already under construction and slated for completion before 2030.
Work on the remaining corridors is expected to begin by 2028 and wrap up by 2033.
Taiwan
Taiwan referendum on reopening last nuclear plant fails
A referendum to push for the reopening of Taiwan’s last nuclear plant has failed to reach the legal threshold to be valid.
About 4.3 million people voted in favour of the plant’s reopening in the referendum.
The motion needed the backing of one quarter of all registered electors (~5 million people) to get through under electoral law.
Notes:
The plant was closed in May and the government is aiming for an energy mix of 20% from renewable sources, 50% from liquefied natural gas and 30% from coal.
Africa
The first evidence of a take-off in solar in Africa
Africa’s solar panel imports set a new record in the 12 months to June 2025, reaching 15,032 MW.
This is a 60% increase on the 9,379 MW imported in the preceding 12 months.
The rise happened across Africa, with 20 countries setting a new record.
Notes:
The solar panels will reduce fuel imports with the savings from avoiding diesel repaying the cost of a solar panel within 6 months in Nigeria.
Australia
India in talks to construct 1 million houses worth $500 bn in Australia
Union Minister Piyush Goyal has said that India is exploring a deal with Australia to build a million homes in the country.
The project worth $500 billion could be funded by the UAE.
India is proposing to allow Indian workers to get trained in Australia on necessary skill sets required to build homes as per local standards.
Australia’s Multi-Billion Dollar Undersea Power Cable Hits Financial Close
The 345km Marinus link is a power cable project linking the mainland to the island state of Tasmania.
The high voltage cable will allow Tasmania to tap excess solar generation on the mainland during the day, while sending power in the opposite direction at night using the island’s hydro resources.
They have secured A$3.8 billion ($2.5 billion) in funding.
Notes:
The project is expected to support the federal government’s goal of more than doubling renewable energy generation to 82% of the total by 2030.
Saudi Arabia
Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia sign deal to boost investment, infrastructure ties
The Belt and Road Office (BRO) and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
This is to enhance information exchange in relation to the fields of infrastructure and construction.
Under the MOU, the MISA will provide information on infrastructure and construction projects to Hong Kong and seek to overcome obstacles that Hong Kong companies may face in accessing the Saudi Arabian market.
Acquisitions
Nemetschek Group, a German company providing software solutions for the AEC and media industries acquired Firmus, a Florida startup who have developed an AI design review and risk analysis platform which allows early detection and mitigation of design issues such as incomplete design, scope gaps and discrepancies assisting with pre-construction workflows and more accurate bidding. More here.
Notes:
Nemetschek Group intends to integrate Firmus into Bluebeam, a PDF viewing and markup software for AEC.
Firmus raised their last round in May and were expected to generate annual recurring revenue (ARR) in the mid-single-digit million euro range by 2026.
This acquisition comes after comments from the Nemetschek CEO in July where he stated they have the ability to “invest between 2.0 and 2.5 billion euros in takeovers.”
ZenaTech, a Canadian provider of Drones as a Service including inspection, monitoring, safety, compliance, and field service, is acquiring a UK based 3D design and modeling company (undisclosed) serving the Telecom sector. More here.
Notes:
The acquisition provides access to the UK market.
The target company provides advanced 3D scanning, modeling, and design including digital twins and building information modeling for critical telecom infrastructure.
They intend on expanding into rust remediation and spray-painting services using drones.
ZenaTech has now completed eight acquisitions toward its goal of establishing 25 Drone as a Service locations by mid-year, 2026.
News
EquipmentShare Is Said to Weigh US IPO as Soon as This Year
US construction spending dips in July
Construction spending slipped 0.1% after an unrevised 0.4% drop in June.
Spending dropped 2.8% on a year-over-year basis in July.
UK Construction Firms Stuck in Longest Slump Since Before Covid
US LNG builders go modular to battle rising costs
Can China’s Green Revolution Be Replicated?
China now dominates the solar power sector, builds more wind power than any other nation and leads the world in production of electric vehicles.
Germany Already Met Its 2028 Goal for Reducing Coal-Fired Power
Germany has an interim 2028 target of reducing coal-fired power by 8.7 gigawatts.
As of Sept. 1 it had exceeded this level by about 10%.
Two thirds of Germany’s electricity comes from renewables and excess solar power production has frequently pushed prices below zero.
Skilled trades initiatives expand as demand for workers is projected to grow
If I missed anything this week, please reply and let me know! I’ll make sure to include it next week.