the commercial construction industry, despite its massive scale, is one of the least digitized sectors globally. This lack of technological innovation leads to outdated documentation, errors, and administrative inefficiencies, resulting in notable drains on time, budgets, and materials. These issues can cause costly delays and unneeded environmental waste, contributing to an estimated $1 trillion in lost productivity annually, according to a McKinsey Global Institute report. Historically, construction companies have invested less than 1% of their revenue in IT, a stark contrast to industries like automotive and aerospace.
Sarah Buchner, whose father was a carpenter, gained firsthand experience in construction, rising through the ranks to become a contractor.During her time managing a $400 million high-rise project with 600 employees, she experienced a fatality on site, which deeply affected her. This led her to pivot from construction to construction software and technology, focusing on health and safety.A decade later, with the advancement of AI, Buchner launched Trunk Tools. This generative AI platform is trained on real construction workflows to automate tedious tasks, identify project risks, and simplify documentation.Trunk Tools processes millions of unstructured documents, such as blueprints, drawings, schedules, and specifications, and restructures them into a more understandable format for workers. Buchner highlights that a typical half-billion-dollar high-rise project in New York City can generate around 3.5 million pages of documentation, which are constantly updated.
These dynamic changes often result in conflicting orders and difficulties in finding clarifying information within the vast documentation. For instance, a discrepancy might arise where one document indicates a need for electricity for an emergency exit door, but the electrical drawings do not show an outlet. Buchner explains that such data inconsistencies not only waste money but also contribute to carbon emissions due to inefficient work processes.
Trunk Tools is collaborating with Microsoft to integrate its technology into microsoft’s product offerings. The startup recently secured $40 million in Series B funding, led by Insight Partners, with contributions from Redpoint Ventures, Innovation Endeavors, StepStone, Liberty Mutual Strategic Ventures, and Prudence. This latest funding brings Trunk Tools’ total investment to $70 million.
