In March, BuiltWorlds presented its 2026 Investor Awards at Venture West in San Francisco, honoring the firms and programs doing the most to fund and scale innovation in the built environment. Applications are now open for the 2027 Investor Awards, which will be presented next March at the newly rebranded AEC Venture & Investment conference.
A record year for built world venture
The 2026 class was chosen against the backdrop of the busiest year the sector has seen. BuiltWorlds tracked 713 built environment venture deals in 2025, more than 100 above the previous peak set in 2024, and the awards drew a record number of nominations from investors around the world.
That growth was a common theme on stage. In the keynote fireside chat with BuiltWorlds CEO Rosemarie Lipman, Brick & Mortar Ventures founder Darren Bechtel recalled that when the firm launched in 2015, he “wasn’t sure yet if the world needed (its) own construction tech fund.” At the time, construction tech had yet to produce a single unicorn valuation or startup exit. A decade later, construction firms, materials companies, technology providers and dedicated funds are all investing in the sector.
The 2026 winners
Sustainability Investor of the Year: Cemex Ventures. Recognized for its focus on green construction, circularity and low-carbon materials, including its 2025 investment in Terra CO2, whose supplementary cementitious material can cut cement-related emissions by up to 70%.
Corporate Venture Capital Investor of the Year: WND Ventures (DPR Construction). Recognized for investing through five funds alongside its direct deals, launching a venture studio focused on AI and robotics, and helping build a shared construction data backbone with industry partners.
Venture Capital Investor of the Year: Suffolk Technologies and Brick & Mortar Ventures. Suffolk Technologies has made more than 60 investments since 2019 and runs the BOOST accelerator. Brick & Mortar Ventures expanded its global portfolio in 2025 across collaboration platforms, field productivity, robotics, sensing and AI, and runs the Formwork Labs accelerator.
Accelerator Program of the Year: Trimble 0-60. Recognized for its 12-week integration sprint, in which startups ship a live integration into the Trimble ecosystem and present it to buyers and partners at Trimble Dimensions.
Read the full write-ups on each winner and finalist.
Looking ahead: AEC Venture & Investment
Venture West has a new name for 2027. AEC Venture & Investment takes place March 9–10, 2027, at The City Club of San Francisco. More than ever, the conference is built to help everyone in the ecosystem understand how risk capital is transforming the sector, and to connect with the leading funds driving that investment.
The program brings together venture investors, corporate development leaders, contractors, owners and startups to look at where capital is flowing and how investment models are changing. Sessions will cover venture and M&A best practices, collaboration between funds and contractors, and the growing role of builders as both direct investors and limited partners in venture funds.
For startups, the conference is a chance to meet financial and strategic investors in one place. Dealmaker’s Alley gives registered startups, investors and industry partners dedicated time to discuss funding, pilots and partnerships, and early sign-ups get scheduling priority.
The 2027 Investor Awards will be presented at the conference, and BuiltWorlds will release its 2027 Top 50 Venture Investors list ahead of the event.
Apply for the 2027 Investor Awards
The 2027 awards cover four categories: Venture Capital Investor of the Year, Corporate Venture Capital Investor of the Year, Sustainability Investor of the Year and Accelerator Program of the Year.
Investors are evaluated on deals closed from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. Applications must be complete by January 15, 2027.
Apply for the 2027 Investor Awards | Register for AEC Venture & Investment
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