A New Edge in Construction Intelligence
In Austin, timing and relationships are everything. That’s why Mercator.ai, a new AI platform, is changing how commercial contractors find early-stage work. It offers general contractors (GCs) early access to project pipelines, letting them act before anyone else even knows a project exists. One Texas contractor summed it up simply: “It’s God mode for leads.”
Mercator.ai has tracked over 65,000 active private commercial construction leads across Texas. It gathers data from zoning cases, land transfers, permit filings, and ownership changes. This gives contractors insight well before drawings are finalized or scopes defined. Unlike traditional bid boards or public alerts, Mercator.ai connects data across many databases and private sources. Every data point is verified and traceable.
Built for Early Signal Detection
The platform lets contractors follow civil engineers, developers, and architects, tracking their moves across projects. This early visibility helps business development (BD) teams engage decision-makers sooner and become trusted advisors who help shape project scopes instead of just reacting.
Mercator.ai is the only source offering early intelligence on private construction projects before the bid stage. It delivers real-time insight on what’s coming, not just what’s already public.
Better Than Legacy Tools
Platforms like ConstructConnect and Dodge focus on public bid-stage activity. By the time projects hit those systems, it’s often too late for contractors to get ahead. Private projects rarely appear on bid boards, and when they do, they’re usually far along.
“ConstructConnect tells you what is already happening. Mercator.ai shows you what is coming,” says founder Chloe Smith.
Mercator.ai’s Origin
Chloe Smith created Mercator.ai in 2020 after seeing her father, a 45-year industry veteran, prepare for retirement. “They were flying blind,” she says. “Had he walked out, they would not know where the work was coming from next.”
She recalls her father emphasizing relationships. Later, she realized how risky it was for his company to rely solely on personal connections. If he retired, those relationships—and revenue—would vanish.
Mercator.ai acts as a force multiplier for BD teams, cutting hours of manual research with verified, real-time intelligence. It also tackles a bigger problem: the fear of missing out on opportunities you don’t even know exist.
One VP of Business Development shared, “We were tired of hearing about projects too late. With Mercator, we’re in early and it’s directly impacted our win rate.”
Widespread Adoption
Mercator.ai is used by members of Houston AGC, Austin AGC, San Antonio AGC, and Texo AGC/ABC. It tracks projects across commercial, industrial, healthcare, institutional, and multifamily sectors. This includes tenant improvements, exterior renovations, core and shell, and ground-up construction in all major Texas metros.
This growth reflects a shift in how construction teams use technology. In a competitive, margin-sensitive market, timing and insight give contractors an edge. Nihar Dalmia, a partner at Deloitte, comments, “AI gives people the time and space to be more strategic. It enables higher-value work and accelerates decision-making.”
Mercator.ai: See Deals First
Mercator.ai enhances the instincts and networks your team already relies on by adding artificial intelligence to deal flow. To learn more or request a demo, visit www.mercator.ai.
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