In a bid to revolutionize the way architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms secure projects, startup Cascade has raised a $3.5 million seed round from top venture capital firms Andreessen Horowitz Speedrun, Ada Ventures, and Snowball VC.
Founded in 2025 by Hannia Zia and Joana Ferreira, Cascade is the culmination of their personal experiences with family members working in the construction industry. The founders witnessed firsthand the difficulties faced by AEC businesses when trying to secure work, which inspired them to create a platform that would alleviate these issues.
“We saw our loved ones struggling to get projects, despite being incredibly skilled and experienced,” Ferreira explained. “They were stuck navigating disparate portals for each state, city, district, county, and federal agency, making it a constant treasure hunt.” Zia added, “Our family members just couldn’t get enough projects to sustain themselves, which led us to develop Cascade as a solution to this problem.”]
The current process of finding construction projects is indeed cumbersome, with firms having to rely on manual research and outreach efforts. However, Cascade’s platform aims to change this by tracking ongoing and upcoming projects, using prior tender data to predict which developers are likely to win deals. The platform employs AI tools to determine which projects a company has the best chance of winning and predicts what projects are coming up, using different signals and data points across U.S. states, local districts, private contracts, and federal agencies.
For instance, if a state announces a $100 million affordable housing grant, Cascade’s platform will monitor which developers won the grant in previous instances. It then connects this data to predict which developers are most likely to win the new grant, providing AEC firms with valuable insights to secure projects more efficiently.
Cascade’s founders believe that their platform has the potential to transform the construction industry by making it easier for AEC firms to find and win projects. With the $3.5 million seed round, they plan to further develop the platform and expand its reach to more markets.
“We’re excited to have top VCs like Andreessen Horowitz Speedrun, Ada Ventures, and Snowball VC backing us,” Ferreira said. “Their support will enable us to accelerate our growth and bring Cascade’s innovative solution to more AEC firms across the country.” Zia added, “Our goal is to make it easier for construction businesses to succeed, and we believe that our platform can help achieve this.”]
The construction industry has long been plagued by inefficiencies in project sourcing, which can lead to delays, cost overruns, and decreased competitiveness. Cascade’s platform aims to address these issues by providing AEC firms with a more efficient way to find and win projects. With its innovative approach and strong backing from top VCs, the startup is well-positioned to make a significant impact in the industry.
**Tags:** construction tech, project sourcing, architecture engineering construction (AEC), AI-powered platform, venture capital funding
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