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When
Nov 19, 2025 at 8:30AM - Nov 20, 2025 at 6:00PM
Where
,The Premier Event for Innovators and Investors
Featuring leading venture fund managers, corporate executives, strategic investors, and founders speaking about topics like buildings, infrastructure, and construction tech including; planning and design, pre-construction services, construction, modularization, building products and materials, advanced tools, equipment and robotics, logistics and supply chain, as well as building and infrastructure operations and management. Join us as we take the pulse of the industry's startup ecosystem this year.
Featured Events at Venture East
Aside from a slate of amazing panelists and keynote speakers, Venture East offers attendees unique experiences throughout the event. Facilitated networking for both startups and investors, a demo day competition, and small forum meetings have pushed this event beyond a typical conference.
BuiltWorlds Startup Members
Interested in becoming a featured startup member?
2025 Speakers Include:
Dealmaker's Alley Investor Participants
Dealmaker’s Alley, which was first conceptualized at the 2023 Venture West Conference, is a unique opportunity for solution providers to schedule one-on-one meetings in a quiet space with some of the leading investors in the sector.
Venture East Pre-Event & General Sessions
Day 1 Schedule
Venture Forum Meeting (CLOSED TO VENTURE & INVESTMENT TRACK MEMBERS) | Wednesday, November 19, 2025
8:30AM - 9:00AM: Coffee & Networking
9:00AM - 10:30AM: Venture Forum Meeting
Welcome & Introduction:
David Hindley, VP Corporate Development, Autodesk
Forum Discussion:
Evolving CVC Models: Redefining Success and Building Resilience in the Built World:
In today’s built environment, corporate venture capital arms are taking increasingly diverse approaches—balancing strategic alignment, innovation, and financial returns amid shifting priorities. This session brings together CVC leaders, including those from UFP Industries, Andersen Ventures+, and Hilti Venture, to discuss how their models are evolving, what true venture success means, and how they integrate startup innovation and manage risks. The group will share experiences on structuring CVCs for longevity, collaborating with peers, and adapting to industry changes, helping CVCs shape long-term impact and value in an interconnected market.
Speakers:
Ross Bosn, Managing Director, UFP Industries
Erik Von Glan, Manager, Andersen Ventures+, Andersen Corporation
Subham Kedia, Investor, Hilti Venture, Hilti
Construction Tech Working Group Meeting (CLOSED TO CONSTRUCTION TECH TRACK MEMBERS) | Wednesday, November 19, 2025
11:30AM-12:00PM: The State of Construction Tech Lunch and Learn
12:00PM-12:15PM: Innovation Spotlight: Consigli Construction
12:15PM-1:00PM: Open discussion
This in-person, members-only working group session brings together participants in BuiltWorlds’ Construction Tech Research Track for an interactive exploration of technology adoption trends across the industry. The session will open with a networking lunch, followed by a presentation of The State of Construction Tech 2025, highlighting key insights on how firms are navigating resistance and building readiness for innovation. An Innovation Spotlight will offer a real-world perspective on how one contractor is advancing digital transformation on its jobsites. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange perspectives and discuss emerging priorities shaping the next phase of construction technology.
Speakers:
Jack Moran, Senior Construction Technology Manager, Consigli Construction
Audrey Lynch, Director of Research, BuiltWorlds
Suffolk BOOST Cohort 6 Demo Day | Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Agenda:
2:00PM - 2:30PM: Networking
2:30PM - 4:30PM: Demo Day Programming
4:30PM - 5:30PM: Networking
5:30PM - 6:00PM: Bus to Castle Island Brewing
6:00PM - 9:00PM: Reception at Castle Island Brewing (10 Old Colony Ave, Boston, MA 02127)
Day 2 Schedule
Breakfast
Opening Remarks
Keynote
Speaker:
John Fish, Chairman and CEO, Suffolk
Is AI Eating the World?
AI is rapidly transforming the built environment, driving massive change across design, construction, operations, and infrastructure. In "Is AI Eating the World," industry leaders discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping processes, unlocking new efficiencies, and creating both challenges and opportunities for companies in this space. Explore real-world applications, hurdles to adoption, and what the accelerating growth of AI means for the future of built world innovation.
Panel:
Ty Findley, Co-Founder and General Partner, Ironspring Ventures
Dr. René Morkos, Founder and CEO, ALICE Technologies
Patrick Lalonde, Sr. Director Digital Project Delivery, EllisDon Corporation
Tom Scarangello, Managing Principal, Senior Advisor, Thornton Tomasetti
Arvind Veluvali, CEO and Co-Founder, Fresco
DealMaker's Alley
Networking Break
Breakout Room: Industrial Policy and Venture Investing
As venture funds engaged in heavily regulated industries, the role firms play is fundamentally transforming. From disruptive technologies to structural changes in capital liquidity, policy is becoming not just a passive consideration but an area of competitive advantage. Taking lessons on proactive policy engagement from sectors like pharma and telecoms, this session explores the changing dynamics affecting the world of infrastructure investing.
Speaker:
Nicholas Ryan, Advisor, Sclata Advisory
Construction Supply Chain Management Solutions
Next generation software solutions are transforming the construction supply chain, reducing costs and addressing sustainability. Technologies are focused on three critical areas: supply chain operations, financial management of vendors and materials, and the growing push to reduce the industry's carbon footprint. This panel features industry professionals and CEOs from several firms pushing the boundaries in this space.
Moderator:
Jeff Herriman, Managing Director, Ascentage
Panel:
Ojonimi Bako, Co-Founder and CEO, Kaya AI
Michael Ho, Founder and CEO, Bespoke Metrics
Seth Dawson, Founder and CEO, Paperless Environments
The New Rules of Venture Fund Investment
What happens when venture funds take the stage to pitch themselves instead of the other way around? "The New Rules of Venture Fund Investment" flips the script, giving venture and corporate venture capitalists the spotlight to present their platforms, share their investment theses, highlight portfolio successes, and outline the unique advantages they offer as partners. Learn firsthand what makes each fund distinctive, how they support companies beyond capital, and their visions for the future. This “reverse pitch” session offers startups unprecedented insight into what today’s top investors bring to the table, helping founders make more informed choices about their funding partners.
Panel:
Vivin Hegde, General Partner and Founding Partner, Zacua Ventures
David Friedman, Partner, MetaProp
Kurt Ramirez, Partner, Nine Four Ventures
Eric Lamb, Operating Partner, Blackhorn Ventures
Lunch
Searching for Exits
Despite record venture funding in built world tech, few startups have achieved successful exits. "Searching for Exits" dives into why exits remain elusive, what it means for investors and founders, and whether the secondary market, consolidation, or repricing will unlock new opportunities. Hear how funds, investors, and startups are adapting to this tough landscape, and what strategies may drive the next wave of exits and liquidity in the industry.
Moderator:
Grant McCullagh, Managing Director, AEC Angels
Panel:
Matt Rechtin, Managing Director, Meridian Capital
Jesse Devitte, Co-Founder & General Partner, Building Ventures
Jim Lynch, Principal, JLConsult1
Lookback / Lookahead
Join leading growth and later-stage companies as they share candid reflections on their journeys: the challenges faced, lessons learned, and key moments of transformation. In "Lookback / Lookahead," panelists will offer insights into what it takes to scale in the built world, and reveal how their experiences are shaping their strategies and aspirations for the future. This session provides a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the realities of building successful ventures—and a forward-looking perspective on what's next.
Panel:
Audrey Pinkerton, CEO, Nexii
Vikas Enti, Co-Founder and CEO, Reframe Systems
Sarah Buchner, Founder and CEO, Trunk Tools
Bassem Hamdy, Co-Founder and CEO, Briq
The Trillion-Dollar Question: How to Make AI Work for Corporate Innovation & Core Business Modernization
AI has promised to transform construction and heavy industry — but an alarming 90%+ of corporate pilots fail to scale or deliver any real business value. The issue isn’t the technology; it’s the lack of connection between AI efforts and corporate growth goals paired with fundamental implementation malpractice.
In this masterclass our panel tackles the trillion-dollar question: how can we make AI actually work for corporate innovation and venturing? We’ll share lessons from real-world programs showing why AI efforts often stall inside large organizations and what frameworks can make them succeed.
You will hear from leading experts in both conventional and industrialized construction who will highlight real-world critical construction challenges that could yield major profitability and productivity gains through AI. Our AI systems architect will then outline the technical design of solutions for these high-ROI opportunities and we will explore the nuts and bolts of successful implementation.
Together, the panel will reveal a repeatable model to move beyond “AI theater” and build scalable, venture-driven innovation portfolios that directly impact the corporate bottom line.
Moderator:
Nolan Browne, Founder & CEO, ADL Ventures
Panel:
Ben Hershey, CEO, 4Ward Solutions Group
Erik Allen, CTO, Echelon
Jack Moran, Senior Construction Technology Director, Consigli Construction Co., Inc.
Kaushal Diwan, Corporate Director, Strategic Investments & Partnerships, DPR Construction
Breakout Room: Abundance, AI innovations and Building Faster, Better and Cheaper
This breakout session will discuss the substantial need to innovate in building infrastructure, data centers, housing and more in the coming years. In particular, this session will dive into how AI innovations can significantly change how we build in the United States, with discussion led by a former State Infrastructure leader and a cutting edge AI Startup.
Speakers:
Jamey Tesler, Executive Director, Mass Mobility Hub
Stamati Liapis, Co-Founder & CTO, Enlaye
John Pignato, Technical Lead, Cyvl.ai
Networking Break
Checking in with Leading Accelerators
How are top accelerators and incubators shaping the future of built environment innovation? "Checking in with Leading Accelerators" brings together leaders from the sector’s most influential programs to discuss their approaches, cohort successes, and the evolving needs of startups in construction and built environment tech. Panelists will share behind-the-scenes perspectives on how their programs drive growth, foster industry connections, and adapt to changing market dynamics. Discover what’s next for acceleration in the built world, and how these platforms are preparing the next generation of breakthrough companies.
Panel:
Parker Mundt, Partner and Head of Platform, Suffolk Technologies | Suffolk BOOST Program
David Frankel, Strategic Partnerships and Alliances, Trimble | Trimble 0-60 Program
Aki Manda, Kajima | Kajima Innovation Day
Grant McCullagh, Director, Thornton Tomasetti | CORE studio and TTWiiN
Bhragan Paramanantham, Head of Content, Formwork Labs
Demo Day
AIRA, Fresco, Ulama, Wavelogix, Collars, TENDERD, Tinybox Systems, Structural Steel Technologies, neARabl, ArtifexAI
Judges:
Michel Nasilowski, External Venturing Manager, Saint-Gobain
Mayra Arntz, Senior Associate, Building Ventures
Tanja Kufner, Head of Ventures, Nemetschek Group
Jonson Berman, Vice President, Investment, Suffolk Technologies
Dai Ohama, General Manager, Innovation and Incubation Office, Kajima
Jesse Roth, Startup Partnership Manager, Amrize
Erik Von Glan, Manager, Andersen Ventures+, Andersen Corporation
Subham Kedia, Investor, Hilti Venture
Tatiana Gholmie, Managing Director, Imad Ventures
Reception
Member Registration
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2025 Sponsorship Info
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