Cranes dotting the skylines of Metro Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, and Miami signal more than regional growth. They mark the rise of a BuildTech ecosystem where technology meets construction. Southeast startups are reshaping how buildings are designed, financed, and constructed, tackling persistent industry challenges with innovations like AI-driven architectural design and streamlined contractor payments.
A Growing Industry & Movement
Take ProNovos, an Atlanta-based startup focused on improving cash flow in construction. Late payments often stretch two to three months, creating cash flow issues, especially for subcontractors fronting labor and material costs. ProNovos’ QuickPay feature aims to speed up these payments, helping contractors retain top trade partners and improve project outcomes.
Recently, the Southeast's BuildTech community gathered at BuildTech Connect, an event in downtown Atlanta created by Skanska, Atlanta Tech Village, and Atlanta Ventures. Despite competing with high-profile city events, the conference brought together builders and tech leaders to discuss how startups are transforming everything from project planning to security on construction sites. Panelists from companies like Undaunted (robotic security), Cove (AI architecture), and SmartPM (construction analytics) highlighted AI’s growing role in streamlining workflows and opening new possibilities.
The Industry By The Numbers
The Southeast hosts 679 companies across construction technology, PropTech, and smart building sectors, according to Crunchbase data. Recent notable moves include Atlanta’s Ladder and Flashtract being acquired, as well as construction software giant Procore’s $500 million purchase of New Orleans-based Levelset in 2021. These acquisitions reflect growing investor confidence in the region’s BuildTech scene.
Startups To Know In The BuildTech World
Here’s a snapshot of key startups driving innovation in the Southeast:
- Kairos IoT (Atlanta, GA) CEO: Dean Fung-A-Wing Focus: Operational risk management tech for commercial and residential properties. Funding: $5.1M convertible note (2022), seed round (2020)
- Document Crunch (Atlanta, GA) CEO: Josh Levy Focus: Contract intelligence platform for construction. Funding: $21.5M Series B (2024)
- NewCrew (Atlanta, GA) CEO: Kaitlin Hagan Focus: Tech-driven recruiting platform for commercial construction firms. Funding: No recent fundraising news
- Gumption (Chattanooga, TN) CEO: Jonathan Dickerson Focus: Marketplace connecting borrowers and lenders in commercial real estate. Funding: Pre-seed (2023)
- SmartPM (Atlanta, GA) CEO: Michael Pink Focus: AI-powered project controls and schedule analytics for construction teams. Funding: $5.5M Series A (2024)
- BotBuild (Durham, NC) CEO: Brent Wadas Focus: Robotics systems for the construction industry. Funding: $12.4M seed round (2023)
- Cove (Atlanta, GA) CEO: Sandeep Ahuja Focus: AI-driven full-service architecture firm. Funding: $30M Series B (2021)
- Green Badger (Savannah, GA) CEO: Tommy Linstroth Focus: Software platform automating sustainability in construction. Funding: $1.1M seed round (2022)
- ProKeep (New Orleans, LA) CEO: Jack Carrere Focus: Customer engagement platform improving distributor communication in construction. Funding: $25M Series A (2024)
- Aetos Imaging (Atlanta, GA) CEO: Connor Offutt Focus: Intelligent asset management, predictive maintenance, and personnel training across industries. Funding: $4M seed round (2025)
- Plantd (Oxford, NC) CEO: Nathan Silvernail Focus: Sustainable building materials for homebuilding. Funding: $10M Series A (2023)
- SafetyVue (Elizabethtown, KY) CEO: Tim Wolter Focus: Tools predicting hazards and preventing accidents on construction sites. Funding: Pre-seed round (2024)
- Togal AI (Miami, FL) Founder: Patrick Murphy Focus: [Details not disclosed] Funding: [No recent fundraising news]
Beyond construction tech, the Southeast is home to startups reshaping real estate investing, rentals, and homeownership. Noteworthy companies include Falaya (Baton Rouge), RentCheck (New Orleans), Smart Alto (Birmingham), Rent Ready (Charlotte), and Atlanta-based Groundfloor, Padsplit, and Nectar.
For professionals in real estate and construction, these developments signal new tools and platforms to improve project efficiency, financing, and asset management. Keeping an eye on Southeast BuildTech startups offers a glimpse into how technology continues to reshape the places where we live and work.
Your membership also unlocks:
