Last Week in ConTech - 14 July 2025
Why I started Last Week in ConTech
Deep Insight: Why I started Last Week in ConTech
When I started as an engineer and walked on my first site, I felt like I wound the clock back 20 years. I had a clipboard, printouts, marked things up by hand and barely had an internet connection.
I didn’t quite understand how my daily life had iPads, 5G and just frankly technology I took for granted. But at work we often did things the way they’d always been done.
When I searched for new solutions I realized there was a growing abundance of tools but the challenge was no one knew about them. And even when we did, we didn’t know how to effectively trial and adopt them internally.
This newsletter started as a way to fix my own pain point and it tries to do so in the following ways:
The What
Every week we highlight the latest funding rounds for construction technology (and adjacent) startups aiming to describe what they do based on their website and press release information. Our filter for including startups is would this be used on-site or by an engineer or the design team in the office?
The Why
We don’t just track funding, we try to ask Why does it matter?
This is shared via the ‘notes’ section as well as highlighting policy changes and new national infrastructure projects. Regulation influences how we build and public investment shapes what we build and which sectors present the biggest opportunities.
The How
Just knowing about new technology and why it matters isn’t enough. We need to be able to trial, adopt and scale solution use within our companies.
Every two weeks we publish a guest article exploring how to improve solution adoption through the lens of innovation executives, startup founders selling to the industry or early construction technology investors.
I’ve personally found that having a bird’s eye or macro view of the industry is becoming an advantage for emerging construction professionals and executives. It helps us not only grow in our careers but to spot new transitions or areas worth exploring.
Identifying new trends be it new technology, regulatory changes affecting project risk or increased sector specific construction investment, we need better information to support decision making.
In a world of AI which makes the ‘What’ easier to find, curating the ‘Why’ and translating it into the ‘How’ feels more important than ever before.
In this issue there are:
5 Startup Fundings
15 Policy and Regulatory Changes
7 New National Infrastructure Projects & Priorities
1 New investment funds
1 Acquisitions
4 News articles
8 new jobs posted - view here
Reading time: 11 mins
Startup Funding
Procurement
Parspec, a Californian startup, raised $20m in Series A funding. They are developing an AI enabled material procurement platform initially focusing on mechanical, electrical and plumbing products which allows contractors to upload design drawings and specifications and automatically surface a list of compliant products for selection as well as generating submittal documents to demonstrate compliance to the designer. More here.
Notes:
When I worked on site as a designer, a common request was to include detailed product information directly on the drawings.
Junior engineers often struggled to identify compliant materials, defaulting to what was recommended or what they found first which could lead to suboptimal or costly choices.
These decisions could have significant cost and performance implications for the project.
On the supply side, manufacturers found it difficult to get their products specified or integrated into new projects due to a lack of visibility or knowledge of which projects were in the buying phase (or needing to be included in the design).
Additionally there’s a limited awareness of available materials in the market, and some distributors who do secure product placements often receive high referral fees.
Parspec helps bridge this gap by surfacing compliant materials at the time of selection, providing a spec-driven product marketplace.
When engineers make a product selection, parspec also creates the related submittal documentation to send to the design team.
(I’d love to use Parspec as a designer as I used to have to review material spec sheets and compare them to the spec / drawings for compliance. It was very boring.)
Additional Note:
Paspec’s pricing page shows the emergence of a new pricing model for AI construction startups.
They offer a monthly price (billed annually) which includes a base number of tokens.
Each quote, submittal, product search uses a set number of tokens and usage is tied to a fixed number of locations.
It is unclear how overages would work (exceeding token limits) and I’m curious to see whether other AI startups in construction begin to adopt similar token-based or usage-driven pricing models.
Anecdotally, this has been a discussion point.
Equipment Monitoring
abaut, a German startup, raised €3.2m in Seed funding. They are developing an AI powered platform to monitor and analyze machine and material flows in real time using a retrofit hardware kit (camera and sensor box) attached directly to machines. Users can view productivity metrics such as number of loads, cycles, and tonnage moved filtering by time, location or machine assisting with site monitoring and future fleet investment decisions. More here.
Prefabrication
Dextall, a New York startup, raised $15m in Series A funding. They have built a prefabrication panel system featuring fully integrated window and cladding components which can be used for new builds or retrofits and have developed a design platform, Dextall Studio, to quickly create detailed drawings, installation manuals, BOMs tailoring the system to meet the project requirements. More here.
Home Services
RoofMarketplace, a Wisconsin startup, raised $7m in Series A funding. They have built a marketplace for insurers to place verified roofing restoration claims and connect them to their vetted network of contractors who submit bids to win the work. More here.
Other
LGND, a San Francisco startup, raised $9m in Seed funding. They are developing ‘ChatGPT for Earth’s data’ by creating vector embeddings of geographic data. More here.
Notes:
AI models like ChatGPT are based on natural language processing (NLP), which turns words into embeddings; numerical vectors that preserve relationships between meanings.
LGND is applying this same concept to geography by creating vector embeddings that turn places into numbers, capturing spatial relationships and contextual meaning.
These embeddings enable natural language queries for tasks like comparing similar locations, searching spatial data, or feeding geographic context into machine learning models.
Satellites capture an estimated 100 terabytes of Earth imagery per day, creating vast, underutilized spatial datasets.
If successful, LGND’s approach could reduce reliance on design consultants in fields like asset management by enabling clients to ask complex spatial questions directly through AI models. Examples include:
‘Where along the coast are there areas with similar erosion risk and population density as this region?’
‘Identify rural areas with terrain and climate similar to where we’ve successfully deployed solar microgrids.’
Policy and Regulatory Changes
US
Trump says US nears trade deals as tariff deadline delayed
The United States is close to finalizing several trade pacts in the coming days.
Higher rates are set to take effect on August 1.
The Trump administration was focused on 18 important trading partners that account for 95% of the U.S. trade deficit.
The Permitting Crisis for Renewables
The development of new wind and solar power plants is now heavily restricted or outright banned in about one in five counties across the country.
The number of counties restricting renewable development has nearly doubled since 2022.
In some cases, the rules greatly constrain where renewables can be built e.g solar farms may not take up more than 1% of a county’s agricultural land.
In other cases, the rules simply forbid new wind or solar construction at all.
Trump seeks tighter restrictions on wind and solar with executive order
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act effectively ends renewable energy tax credits after 2026 if projects have not started construction.
Wind and solar projects whose construction starts after that must be placed in service by the end of 2027.
Under previous law, project developers would have been able to claim a 30% tax credit through 2032.
The executive order is to ensure policies concerning the ‘beginning of construction’ are not circumvented by wind and solar projects that saw their eligibility for tax credits cut.
Feds speed up review for Natrium nuclear power plant in Wyoming
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said that it’s trimming seven months from an ongoing environmental review and safety evaluation.
That means it will complete its final environmental impact statement for a construction permit by Dec. 31.
It brings the review process into compliance with an executive order President Donald Trump issued in May.
New Texas law allows apartments in some nonresidential zones
Under Senate Bill 840, the state will permit apartment construction on qualifying office, commercial or warehouse sites without the need for zoning changes.
This includes both existing building conversions and undeveloped land.
To qualify for SB840 as a conversion project, buildings must be at least five years old and undergo at least a 65% conversion to multifamily.
Municipalities are restricted from rejecting any permit proposals if they meet the requirements.
$3.5 billion in funding has been allocated to strengthen road resiliency, increase pedestrian and bicycle travel and improve highway safety.
$1.45 billion was allocated for new projects including funding for zero and low-emission transportation and new infrastructure.
Bipartisan ‘abundance’ caucus sets sights on NEPA
The House’s new Build America Caucus containing 17 Democrats and 12 Republicans so far is taking on permitting reform.
They are aiming to generate legislative proposals that could make it easier to build energy infrastructure, manufacturing plants, transit, housing and more.
Court pauses new energy efficiency building standards amid legal challenge from Michigan builders
The Michigan Court of Claims has issued a pause on implementing new energy efficiency requirements for new homes.
It follows a challenge from two home builders associations arguing the new stipulations would increase construction costs and drive up costs for homebuyers.
New York offering up to $750K for facility decarbonization projects
New York state is offering up to $750,000 in state cost-sharing funding for building and campus decarbonization efforts.
These use ground-source heat pumps, waste heat recovery, thermal energy storage and other low-emissions technologies.
It’s to encourage property owners to pursue high-efficiency, “grid-friendly” electrification projects.
EU
EU Climate Law: new way to reach 2040 targets
The Commission has proposed an amendment to the EU Climate Law, setting a 2040 EU climate target of 90% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions, compared to 1990 levels.
The EU is currently on track to meet its next target of a 55% reduction by 2030.
Notes:
If accepted, this will further reinforce mandates for energetic retrofits of buildings.
Commission to cut EU Taxonomy red tape for companies
Financial and non-financial companies are now exempt from assessing Taxonomy-eligibility and alignment for economic activities that are not financially material for their business.
For non-financial companies, activities are considered non-material if they account for less than 10% of a company's total revenue, CapEx or OpEx.
Taxonomy reporting templates are streamlined by cutting the number of reported data points by 64% for non-financial companies and by 89% for financial companies.
Notes:
This could impact construction and building material companies.
China
China Ramps Up Offshore Wind Projects After Slowdown, GEM Says
China has rebuilt a substantial pipeline of offshore wind projects as the sector recovers from a slowdown that followed the end of national subsidies in 2021.
The country now has about 28 gigawatts of capacity under construction, compared with around 43 gigawatts in operation.
China to promote construction of high-power charging facilities
By the end of 2027, China aims to have more than 100,000 high-power charging facilities nationwide.
The National Development and Reform Commission noted electric vehicle charging infrastructure is crucial for supporting new energy vehicle (NEV) industry development and new power system construction.
As of July 2024, China operates over 3.2 million public charging points.
Germany
Draft law in Germany supports geothermal energy and heat pump expansion
Germany's Federal Ministry for Economy and Energy (BMWE) has introduced a draft law aimed at accelerating the expansion of geothermal plants, large-scale heat pumps, heat storage facilities, and district heating pipelines (GeoBG).
Its aim is to eliminate licensing obstacles associated with the development of geothermal energy and the large-scale deployment of heat pumps.
It would establish easements for heat storage and heating pipelines.
Japan
Japanese firms take steps to protect outdoor workers as heatwave sizzles on
Heatstroke alerts were issued in 30 of Japan's 47 prefectures.
This has turned into a major workplace hazard and prompted the government to roll out labour safety regulations from last month.
Employers are now required to ensure employees wear clothing that allows air to pass through easily, to install a ceiling to block sunlight and to provide a break space with air-conditioning or shade.
At an apartment construction site in Tokyo workers for Daito Trust Construction donned puffy air-conditioned jackets equipped with cooling fans on their backs while at work.
The custom-made jacket, which the company developed with a construction supplies manufacturer, uses thermoelectric effects to enhance cooling and has been distributed to 1,500 workers.
Construction workers accounted for nearly 20% of deaths or illnesses caused by heatstroke in the workplace in 2023.
National Infrastructure Projects & Priorities
US
Plans to restart construction of VC Summer reactors gain traction
South Carolina's state-owned utility and project owner selected proposals received from an RFI to acquire and finish building 2 partially constructed reactors.
The construction of Summer 2 and 3 was cancelled in 2017 due mainly to cost overruns and the bankruptcy of the primary contractor, Westinghouse.
Unit 2 is at approximately 48% completion and between 80% and 90% of the hard parts required to complete the project are still in inventory.
India
Rising India-China Tensions Fuel Infrastructure and Defense Opportunities: Where to Invest
India's $1.3 trillion infrastructure pipeline through 2025 is being impacted by geopolitical tensions.
The government's push to fortify its northern and eastern borders has prioritized projects like roads, railways, and airports in remote regions such as Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.
Key sectors to watch include:
Border Infrastructure
The Ladakh Infrastructure Development Project includes 2,000 km of roads and helipads.Energy and Renewables
India's reliance on Chinese solar equipment (70% of imports) has spurred a push for domestic manufacturing.Logistics and Ports
Defense logistics require robust supply chains. Ports like JNPT and Mundra are being upgraded to handle military and civilian cargo.
UK
UK Builders Find Support in Labour’s Plan to Upgrade Roads and Railways
British infrastructure firms stand to benefit from the Labour government’s spending plans for roads, railways and energy projects.
Strong order books are expected to feed into improving outlooks during the upcoming earnings season.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced £113 billion ($154 billion) of funding for public infrastructure across the UK last month.
Canada
Carney says new oil pipeline proposal in Canada is highly likely
A new oil pipeline to the British Columbia coast is highly likely to be included on a list of projects deemed to be of national importance.
This comes after Canada's Senate passed a bill to fast-track approval for natural resource and infrastructure projects.
The bill speeds up approval of projects deemed of national interest, potentially including mines and oil pipelines, and eliminates some trade barriers between provinces.
South Africa
Hive Hydrogen Invites Proposals for $5.8 Billion South Africa Plant
Hive Hydrogen South Africa said it’s seeking proposals from engineering companies to develop a $5.8 billion green hydrogen project.
The project aims to serve export markets such as Japan and South Korea attracting interest from engineering companies in East Asia, Europe, and the UK.
Mozambique
Total Edges Closer to Restart Work on $20 Billion Mozambique LNG
Companies hired by TotalEnergies SE to build a $20 billion gas project in northern Mozambique have started preparing to resume work on the venture.
It was paused due to a military insurgency.
Tanzania
China commits to Tanzania-Zambia rail revamp
Construction of the existing 1,858 km single-track Tanzania-Zambia railway was completed by China in 1976.
Decades of underinvestment have led to the line remaining poorly maintained.
The railway network will help Chinese companies gain access to raw materials in Zambia’s copperbelt.
This is valuable for the manufacturing of electrical vehicles.
Acquisitions
Command Alkon, a global company developing business automation solutions for suppliers and producers of aggregates and cement, asphalt, concrete products and ready mix, acquired Digital Fleet, a Chicago company providing fleet management solutions for the heavy building materials industry. More here.
News
South Korea's construction rivals join forces to automate job sites
South Korea’s two largest construction firms, Samsung C&T’s Engineering & Construction division and Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C), are jointly developing construction robotics technology.
It reflects a broader industry push to improve safety and efficiency.
This is in response to stricter enforcement of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act, which holds companies accountable for workplace fatalities.
Can Americans Just Stop Building New Highways? (Bloomberg)
Ghost Factories Are a Warning Sign for Green Manufacturing’s Future
About 9% of the $261 billion in green factory investment announced since 2021 has been shelved.
Why China built a 50-million-dollar inflatable dome over a construction site
If I missed anything this week, please reply and let me know! I’ll make sure to include it next week.