BuiltWorlds' Maverick Awards recognize individuals who are driving meaningful impact throughout the built environment, honoring leaders across the industry. From innovators advancing new technologies to practitioners reshaping on-the-ground delivery, it celebrates the people whose vision, dedication, and contributions are elevating how our world is designed, constructed, and operated.
To learn more about BuiltWorlds' 2026 Mavericks, click on each individual's name to view their bio within the BuiltWorlds' member platform (restricted to members). To learn more about their organization, click on the company names to view its BuiltWorlds company page.
Join Us in Celebrating the Mavericks at BuiltWorlds' Chicago Global Summit
April 14-16, 2026 | Chicago, IL
The annual Chicago Global Summit explores the broad spectrum of trends, challenges and opportunities currently defining innovation in the AEC/O industry, both in the Americas as well as around the world. The event is designed to encourage a global exchange of ideas and information.
ENTREPRENEURS
HASSAN ALBALAWI
FOUNDER & CEO
WAKECAP
Hassan Albalawi is a construction technology founder and CEO of WakeCap, focused on advancing modern project control through smart sensors, AI, and real-time field intelligence. Albalawi and his team work closely with owners, contractors, and project teams across large-scale and complex projects in Saudi Arabia, the GCC, the US, and Brazil to improve safety, productivity, and schedule reliability. WakeCap raised $28 million in Series A funding in May 2025 to scale its construction management platform globally. With a PhD in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Duke University, Albalawi brings a strong technical foundation combined with a field-first mindset. He is known for spending extensive time on job sites to understand operational realities and translate them into practical, scalable digital solutions. His work centers on bridging the gap between what project controls promise and what actually happens on site—helping teams make faster, data-backed decisions and deliver more predictable outcomes.
OJONIMI BAKO
CO-FOUNDER & CEO
KAYA AI
Ojonimi Bako is the co-founder and CEO of Kaya AI, a construction technology company focused on modernizing procurement and supply chain decision-making. In 2025, he launched Kaya AI to tackle one of the industry’s most under-digitized and delay-prone functions, shifting procurement from a reactive, manual process into a data-driven part of early project planning. Under his leadership, Kaya AI emerged as a vertically integrated supply chain intelligence platform that analyzes drawings and specifications, generates RFQs, and evaluates sourcing options using real-time pricing, availability, and lead-time data. Bako designed the platform for large, high-risk infrastructure projects from day one, giving teams earlier visibility into cost, schedule, and sustainability tradeoffs when decisions still matter. Backed by $5.3 million in pre-seed funding and early adoption by organizations managing over $15 billion in annual construction spend, his work has delivered measurable impact by reducing downstream RFIs, rework, and wasted time across complex projects.
RAMZI BOUZERDA
FOUNDER & CEO
DROOPLE
Ramzi Bouzerda is the founder and CEO of Droople, leading the development of intelligent water systems that help buildings, cities, and industries measure, understand, and optimize water use in real time. In 2025, he accelerated innovation by integrating Droople’s IoT technology with building management systems, bringing AI-driven water intelligence into construction, operations, and ESG decision-making. Under his leadership, Droople deployed over 10,000 smart water monitoring systems, reducing water waste by up to 40% and enabling predictive maintenance that cuts operational costs. His work has transformed water from a hidden cost into a measurable, sustainable asset, supporting green building certifications and more accurate ESG reporting across Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Beyond technology, Bouzerda champions water transparency and access as a human right, connecting innovation with purpose and inspiring the built-environment ecosystem to prioritize sustainability and stewardship.
EMANUEL HEISENBERG
FOUNDER & CEO
ECOWORKS
Emanuel Heisenberg is the founder and CEO of ecoworks, a Berlin‑based construction technology and general contractor that specializes in serial and sustainable building renovation, helping transform existing residential buildings to energy‑efficient, climate‑friendly standards using industrial prefabrication and digital planning. Before launching ecoworks, Heisenberg helped establish both an energy services company and a geothermal energy firm. As an innovator, he introduced the concept of serial renovation to Germany and led ecoworks in completing the country’s first successful project of this kind. With over 15 years of experience building climate tech companies, he has developed a global network of deep tech and climate tech experts. Heisenberg is also recognized for his expertise in energy and climate policy, having advised the German government, as well as companies and private equity funds. He holds degrees in history and economics from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and the University of Cambridge.
JOSH LEVY
CO-FOUNDER & CEO
DOCUMENT CRUNCH
As co-founder and CEO of Document Crunch, Josh Levy has distinguished himself as a visionary leader reshaping how the construction industry understands and manages contract risk. He guided the company’s evolution into a trusted AI partner by delivering practical, real-world solutions at a time when many organizations were struggling to turn emerging technology into meaningful outcomes. Under his leadership, Document Crunch has introduced impactful platform innovations—including the Construction Contract Checklist, Project Playbook, and CrunchAI™-powered Chat—that embed document compliance seamlessly across the entire construction lifecycle. Levy also led the company through both Series A and Series B funding rounds, fueling rapid team expansion, accelerated product development, and deeper enterprise adoption. Through his combination of strategic clarity, execution, and genuine empathy for the industry, Levy has helped shift compliance from a reactive legal burden into a proactive, operational advantage for construction teams.
MARTIN MUOTO
FOUNDER
MODEL/Z
In 2025, Martin Muoto helped revolutionize housing design, manufacturing, and delivery through initiatives at Model/Z and across the industry. At Model/Z, he transitioned from traditional construction to advanced manufacturing, standardizing a volumetric housing product and improving production systems. This significantly reduced parts, labor, and build time, enabling consistent, cost-effective, code-compliant housing at scale, even in regulated markets like Los Angeles. Simultaneously, Muoto launched Z/Suite, an AI-enabled platform for planning and permitting that addresses preconstruction friction. By integrating entitlement, planning, and construction economics, Z/Suite reduces timelines, lowers risk, and improves capital efficiency for developers and municipalities. Crucially, he validated these innovations at SoLa Impact, using it as a living laboratory for real-world developments serving underserved communities. This proved that advanced manufacturing, standardized design, and intelligent planning are viable under real financial, regulatory, and community constraints.
SEAN PETTERSON
CO-FOUNDER & CEO
SUPERSEDE
Sean Petterson is the co-founder and CEO of Supersede, a company pioneering sustainable, high-performance materials for industrial and commercial use. Petterson began his career in construction, working alongside his father—a formative experience that later inspired him to found StrongArm Technologies, a startup focused on developing wearable safety devices and AI-enabled software to prevent workplace injuries. The company was acquired in 2023 following years of successful commercialization and impact across industrial sectors. Petterson is a named inventor on nine patents in manufacturing, material science, and human-centered industrial design. His expertise spans polymer engineering, injection molding, and the scalable production of high-performance products. At Supersede, he applies this background to lead the development of next-generation building materials designed to replace marine-grade plywood with waterproof, recyclable alternatives. Supersede raised $10M in seed funding in July 2025 to scale production of its Supersede marine board.
MARIELLE PRICE
CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER
FIELDWIRE BY HILTI
Marielle Price is the Chief Strategy Officer at Fieldwire, bringing deep strategic and operational experience across global construction technology organizations. In 2025, she demonstrated exceptional leadership by guiding Fieldwire through a pivotal period, leading its strategic expansion across Europe while laying the groundwork for future growth in Africa and Asia. She also spearheaded a major organizational restructuring following the founder’s departure, strengthening governance, enhancing collaboration, and ensuring tighter integration with Hilti’s business units. Under her leadership, Fieldwire emerged as a model organization within Hilti Construction Software, with its processes and ways of working now adopted as best practices across other teams, while continuing to be a key driver of customer engagement and business growth. Beyond Fieldwire, Price amplified her impact through industry thought leadership, advocating for digitalization, innovation, and helping shape a more modern, inclusive, and forward-looking construction industry.
KEN SOBEL
CEO
HYPERFRAME
Ken Sobel and his team at Hyperframe have created a breakthrough system that makes rolled sheet metal wall framing dramatically faster, cheaper, and more precise. The solution combines patented snap-in connectors, HyperBIM software that auto-generates optimal framing layouts, a robotic prefabrication line with QR-coded components, and an extended-reality app that guides installers exactly where each piece goes. Together, this tech stack enables framing to be installed up to ten times faster by workers trained in minutes, directly addressing the skilled labor shortage and accelerating interior wall completion. Hyperframe also significantly reduces GHG emissions by eliminating steel waste through precision cutting and enabling disassembly and reuse of framing for future tenant reconfigurations. Despite major technical hurdles, COVID disruptions, and a hostile funding environment for prefab construction, Sobel delivered the platform in a capital-efficient way, secured licensing with a major Canadian materials supplier, attracted global interest, and positioned Hyperframe to scale rapidly and transform interior construction.
BuiltWorlds Awards Program
Throughout the year at our Annual Signature Conferences and Global Summits, BuiltWorlds recognizes individuals and organizations driving impact in the built environment. While Mavericks are honored at our Chicago Global Summit, below are other opportunities for you or your organization to gain recognition within the BuiltWorlds community:
Investor Awards
BuiltWorlds' Top Investor Awards celebrate the investment leaders shaping the built environment—not only through the capital they deploy, but through their strategic engagement, ecosystem support, and long-term commitment to advancing innovation across the sector. The 2025 Investor of the Year Awards will be presented to winners at Venture West in San Francisco - March 11-12, 2026.
Applications are now closed.
Global Innovators
BuiltWorlds’ Global Innovator Awards recognize organizations advancing the future of the built environment by embracing and driving the technology that fuels the industry’s digital transformation. Global Innovators are selected from nominations or recognition from the BuiltWorlds team and must meet minimum criteria to be considered for the award. The deadline to nominate your organization is February 18, 2026. Winners will be notified in March 2026. Global Innovators will be celebrated at our annual Paris Global Summit in June 2026.
Construction Tech Awards
Based on information collected from our Benchmarking Program, our construction tech awards recognize both contracting companies and industry solution providers on their achievements. These awards are presented at BuiltWorlds' Annual Construction Tech Conference. Participating contracting firms are eligible for Tech Excellence Awards, while industry solution providers are considered for Contractor's Choice Awards.
To be considered, please click here to complete the survey that best matches your expertise.
INDUSTRY LEADERS
GERMAN APARICIO
PROGRAM MANAGER, EARLY DEVELOPMENT & PARTNER DEVELOPMENT
TRIMBLE
German Aparicio is a strategic innovation leader at Trimble who serves as the architect and driving force behind the Trimble 0–60 Challenge. In 2025, he transformed the program from passive startup scouting into an active co-development engine, aligning early-stage innovation directly with Trimble’s business priorities while bridging startup agility with enterprise-scale execution. Under his leadership, the 0–60 Challenge delivered tangible outcomes, including 10 new Trimble integrations across platforms like Trimble Connect, ProjectSight, SketchUp, and Tekla, breaking down long-standing data silos. He also brought 6 verified, market-ready connected workflows live in the Trimble Marketplace, accelerating real-world adoption of digital-first solutions across jobsites. By doubling down on open innovation, Aparicio reshaped how Trimble and the broader construction industry collaborate with startups—turning ideas into delivered, measurable impact.
WILL CAVENDISH
GLOBAL DIGITAL SERVICES LEADER
ARUP
Will Cavendish is Arup’s global digital services leader, a role he has held since 2018. He is responsible for leading Arup’s work to support clients to take advantage of the major transformation in their world that is being brought by digital and AI, including meeting critical sustainability chalelnges. Cavendish has worked at senior level with clients around the world, in sectors as varied as property, cities, aviation, rail, highways, energy and technology. Previously, he served as Applied Strategy Lead at DeepMind, responsible for understanding the groundbreaking developments taking place in AI, and working with key partners to apply them for public good in areas such as health and energy. Prior to that, he was a senior civil servant, including roles as Director General for Innovation, Growth and technology at the Department of Health, and Director general, International Energy and Climate Change at DECC, and head of the Prime Minister’s Implementation Unit, working directly with then-PM David Cameron.
ERIC CYLWIK
DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION
SUNDT CONSTRUCTION
Eric Cylwik is director of innovation at Sundt Construction, where he leads strategic technology initiatives and digital transformation for one of America’s largest general contractors. With nearly two decades of experience in virtual construction, digital content creation, and organizational innovation, he oversees the integration of cutting-edge solutions and data-driven analytics to advance construction safety and efficiency. In 2025, Cylwik played a pivotal role in Sundt’s partnership with Bedrock Robotics, enabling the successful deployment of an autonomously operated excavator that loaded more than 1,000 haul trucks in live production conditions. This partnership reduced exposure to high-risk tasks, improved precision and schedule reliability, and supported productivity, fuel efficiency, and sustainability goals.
KIM DEYOUNG
VP, DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
SWINERTON
Kim DeYoung is the VP of digital technology at Swinerton, leading enterprise-scale innovation across the company’s projects and regions. In 2025, she shifted Swinerton’s approach from “pilot-first” experimentation to a repeatable delivery model that turns proven technology into measurable outcomes on real jobsites. She implemented an end-to-end digital delivery strategy connecting field execution, project controls, and enterprise platforms, strengthened governance, and ensured AI and data initiatives delivered practical value with secure, scalable controls. Her efforts improved operational consistency, accelerated adoption, and enabled tools to perform reliably in the field while reducing rework and ambiguity. Beyond Swinerton, DeYoung influenced the broader industry by advocating for interoperability, outcome-based evaluation, and field-backed insights, raising the standard for what meaningful construction innovation looks like.
YUJI DOI
CHIEF OF INNOVATION
KAJIMA CORPORATION
Yuji Doi is the chief of innovation at Kajima Corporation, where he leads the sourcing and exploration of the global startup ecosystem to advance the company’s technology strategy. Kajima has a long-standing commitment to industry leadership in technology development and actively seeks partners who can accelerate innovation while opening pathways into new markets. While based in the Bay Area, Doi helped establish the foundation of Kajima’s innovation efforts in the U.S., and he continues to expand and deepen these initiatives in Japan. His background in civil engineering, shaped by work on complex urban projects, informs his ability to identify practical, high-impact products and technologies.
ANN ESBECK
CHIEF INNOVATION OFFICER
BECHTEL
Ann Esbeck is the chief innovation officer at Bechtel Corporation, where she leads efforts to advance safer, cleaner, and more cost-effective project delivery across the construction industry. In 2025, she helped position innovation as a practical driver of customer value, emphasizing disciplined execution and scalable delivery to accelerate solutions that improve safety, performance, and reliability while strengthening the company’s long-term industry leadership. Since joining Bechtel in 2013, she has served global clients in the energy, defense, and space sectors and has led teams spanning innovation, Six Sigma, and business development. She began her career at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and played a role in developing early predictive monitoring systems for complex operations. Esbeck holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Missouri–Columbia.
MARK HEMPHILL
VP, INNOVATION
USG
Mark Hemphill is VP of innovation at USG and a driving force behind the company’s leadership in high-performance, sustainable building materials. He leads the Gypsum Panels Lab at USG’s Corporate Innovation Center, directing cross-functional teams to develop next-generation Sheetrock and Securock panels that advance durability, efficiency, and environmental responsibility. Under his leadership, USG has delivered meaningful breakthroughs in gypsum technology, including lower-carbon, resource-efficient products that meet evolving demands from architects and builders. A prolific inventor with numerous issued and pending patents, Hemphill has consistently translated deep material science expertise into scalable products and improved manufacturing processes. He has also built a strong innovation culture centered on high engagement, collaboration, and translating research into real-world industry outcomes.
GENE HODGE
VP, INNOVATION
MORTENSON
Gene Hodge is the VP of innovation at Mortenson and a key member of the i4 Leadership Team, providing oversight and leadership to Mortenson’s projects. In his role, he ensures project goals are aligned and owners expectations are exceeded. His leadership is based on a long and successful track record in the industry that includes several large, world-class projects. With 20 years as a leader in the AEC industry, Hodge brings a unique skill set to Mortenson’s transformational innovation efforts, creating a central hub integrating all company industrialization efforts to enhance service and project outcomes, as well as the expansion into new markets. Hodge is also engaged in industry programs involving mentorship, community impact, equity and helping to develop what the future of the AEC industry looks like.
THOMAS IOVINO
FOUNDER & CEO
IOVINO ENTERPRISES
Thomas Iovino is an AEC industry leader and entrepreneur with more than 40 years of experience shaping major construction and infrastructure organizations. As the former CEO of OHL North America, he oversaw one of the nation’s leading construction firms and its diverse portfolio of companies, including Judlau Contracting, which he founded, and multiple U.S. and Canadian operating divisions. He is also the chairman and co-founder of several successful specialty contractors spanning rail, electrical, mechanical, demolition, and environmental remediation work. Beyond operations, Iovino has been a respected industry voice through leadership roles in organizations such as the Construction Industry Roundtable and The Moles, where he received the Moles Member Award for outstanding achievement. As a licensed professional engineer with advanced civil engineering degrees, Iovino's career reflects sustained impact through entrepreneurship, industry stewardship, and long-term leadership.
IMAD ITANI
HEAD OF INNOVATION
ALEC ENGINEERING
Imad Itani is the head of innovation at ALEC, one of the Gulf region’s leading construction firms, where he has built and led the company’s innovation function since its inception, shaping its strategy, processes, and culture. With over 20 years of experience delivering complex, high-profile projects, he leverages structured innovation tools, proactive project management, and cross-stakeholder collaboration to modernize construction practices and drive ecosystem-wide value. In 2025, ALEC Holdings reinforced its position as an epicenter of global construction innovation, transitioning into a platform for sourcing and scaling global innovation solutions. Under this broader innovation agenda, the company advanced toward its goal of automating 5% of construction activities by 2030 while unlocking new revenue streams and business opportunities. Itani is an INSEAD EMBA graduate and frequent contributor to industry forums.
CHRIS MASSE
GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT
ELLISDON
Chris Masse is a general superintendent at EllisDon who has emerged as a leading voice for field-driven innovation grounded in real jobsite needs. He created and championed CM Planner, a superintendent-led planning workflow that integrates Fieldwire, Crewscopes, and look-ahead schedules to strengthen short-interval planning and trade coordination. Chris also advanced BIM and reality capture adoption by leading scanning and BIM review workflows and implementing site printing after slab pours to improve as-built accuracy and reduce rework. His field expertise helped shape Buildots into a practical, scalable AI solution for live construction environments, ensuring new technology stayed aligned with how work actually gets done. Beyond the jobsite, Chris has amplified his impact through construction technology podcasts and community storytelling, setting a powerful example of how credible field leadership can drive meaningful industry change.
JENNIFER PRICE
PRESIDENT & CEO
MCELHANNEY
Jennifer Price is the president and CEO of McElhanney Ltd., one of Canada’s largest employee-owned engineering and geomatics firms. Price was appointed CEO in June 2024, and has previously held executive roles at Buro Happold, AECOM, CH2M, and GHD. Price is focused on driving innovation, and controlled growth for McElhanney, while navigating a rapidly changing industry driven by digital transformation and energy transition. In her role as CEO, she’s tackling issues like sustainability and climate resilience, through initiatives like flood mapping, drone technology, and autonomous vessels for hydrographic surveys. Price is passionate about providing opportunities for women in STEM, young professionals, and equity-deserving groups.
VICTOIRE SABY
PROJECT DIRECTOR
SHOP ARCHITECTS
Victoire Saby is an architect and engineer with over 15 years of experience across architecture, urbanism, structural engineering, and research. She currently serves as a project director at SHoP Architects, where she leads complex, multidisciplinary projects that bridge design ambition with technical execution. Previously, she advanced industrialized and offsite construction strategies at Assembly OSM and held engineering roles at Setec Bâtiment. Saby is committed to more sustainable and thoughtful ways of building, with a particular focus on integrating offsite methodologies into large-scale urban projects. She holds advanced degrees in Civil Engineering and Construction, as well as Architecture and Urban Planning.
ASHLEY SAIDI
SR. MANAGER, INNOVATION & CONSTRUCTION TECH
ELLISDON
Ashley Saidi is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in innovation and construction technology. Currently serving as senior manager, innovation and construction tech at EllisDon, Saidi has held various roles within the company, including Digital Construction Manager and VDC Area Manager. With over ten years at EllisDon, Saidi has demonstrated expertise in virtual design and construction, business development, and digital project delivery. She has also been involved with EllisDon’s ConTech Accelerator, a collaborative effort from EllisDon to provide market access, advisory and expertise, and personalized pilot programs for emerging startups within construction. Her career reflects a strong commitment to advancing construction technology and delivering high-quality projects.
DALE SINCLAIR
HEAD OF DIGITAL INNOVATION
WSP
Dale Sinclair is the head of digital innovation at WSP, with more than 35 years of experience as a qualified architect and a reputation as a pragmatic futurist in the built environment. He has led the transformation of project delivery by integrating digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and offsite manufacturing into interdisciplinary design and delivery workflows. Through his global leadership at WSP, Sinclair has advanced platform-based design, kits of parts, and DfMA approaches to address design complexity, productivity, and net-zero challenges. His influence on industry standards is significant, having served as lead author of the RIBA Plan of Work 2013 and contributing to subsequent RIBA and DfMA overlays, as well as authoring multiple books on design management in the digital age. Beyond practice, Sinclair plays a central role in shaping industry-wide digital strategy through leadership positions with the CIC, CLC, BSI, and Bridge AI, helping steer systemic change across the sector.
JULIEN VILLALONGUE
MANAGING DIRECTOR
LEONARD - VINCI
Julien Villalongue is the managing director of Leonard, VINCI’s innovation and foresight platform, bringing more than six years of experience leading strategic innovation within one of the world’s largest construction and concessions groups. In this role, he has built and scaled Leonard into a central engine for identifying emerging trends, anticipating long-term challenges, and incubating high-impact ventures across construction and infrastructure. He has consistently rallied entrepreneurs, innovators, and internal teams to accelerate new business models and technologies, with a strong focus on sustainable cities and future-ready infrastructure. Under his leadership, Leonard has amplified VINCI’s innovation capacity and influence across its global footprint, spanning more than 100 countries. Beyond VINCI, Villalongue contributes to shaping the next generation of engineering and innovation as a board member of École Centrale de Nantes, supporting its leadership in ecological transition and advanced manufacturing.
Join Industry Innovators at our 2026 Construction Tech Conference!
The annual Construction Tech Conference, BuiltWorlds’ largest event, explores the trends and trajectories of innovation and emerging technologies involved in the construction of buildings and infrastructure. The event places an emphasis on field operations, providing actionable insights and proven strategies to effectively evaluate, manage and improve jobsite productivity, efficiency, safety and logistics.
INFLUENCE & EDUCATION
IRO ARMENI
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
Iro Armeni is assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, leading the Gradient Spaces research group. She is interested in interdisciplinary research between Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Visual Machine Perception. Armeni focuses on developing quantitative and data-driven methods that learn from real-world visual data to generate, predict, and simulate new or renewed built environments that place the human in the center. Her goal is to create sustainable, inclusive, and adaptive built environments that can support our current and future physical and digital needs. Armeni completed her PhD at Stanford in 2020, and also holds degrees from Ionian University, University of Tokyo, and National Technical University of Athens.
PHIL BERNSTEIN
DEPUTY DEAN & PROFESSOR IN PRACTICE
YALE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
Phil Bernstein is the deputy dean and a professor in the practice at the Yale School of Architecture, where he teaches courses in professional practice, technology, entrepreneurship, and supply chain . He is a former vice president at Autodesk, where he was responsible for the company’s Building Information Modeling strategy that included the development of the Revit platform. Prior to Autodesk, Bernstein was an associate principal at Cesar Pelli & Associates. He is the author of several books, most recently Architecture Design Data: Practice Competency in the Era of Computation (Birkhauser, 2018), and Machine Learning: Architecture in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (RIBA Publishing 2022, second edition 2025). He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council, and former Chair of the AIA Contracts Documents Committee. Bernstein has been honored twice by DesignIntelligence as one of the “30 Most Admired Educators in Architecture.” He received his B.A. and M.Arch from Yale and is licensed to practice in California.
CHEN FENG
INSTITUTE ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
Chen Feng is an institute associate professor at New York University, Director of the AI4CE Lab, and Founding Co-Director of the NYU Center for Robotics and Embodied Intelligence. He has also been an Amazon Scholar with its Frontier AI & Robotics team since 2026. His research focuses on active and collaborative robot perception and robot learning to address multidisciplinary, use-inspired challenges in construction, manufacturing, and transportation. He is dedicated to developing novel algorithms and systems that enable intelligent agents to understand and interact with dynamic, unstructured environments. Before NYU, he worked as a research scientist in the Computer Vision Group at Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories (MERL) in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he developed patented algorithms for localization, mapping, and 3D deep learning in autonomous vehicles and robotics. Feng earned his doctoral and master's degrees from the University of Michigan between 2010 and 2015, and his bachelor's degree in 2010 from Wuhan University.
DAVID GERBER
PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE, PROGRAM DIRECTOR
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Dr. David Gerber holds a joint appointment at USC’s Viterbi School of Engineering and the USC School of Architecture as a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering Practice and of Architecture. Dr. Gerber is the program Director for the Civil Engineering Building Science undergraduate program and the program Director for the Masters of Science in Emerging Technologies for Construction Program. Dr. Gerber is an associate director in the Office of Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He teaches in the Viterbi School of Engineering, the School of Architecture and at the Viterbi Startup Garage. Dr. Gerber's professional experience includes working in architectural, engineering and technology practices in the United States, Europe, India and Asia. Dr. Gerber’s research has been industry, fellowship, DoD, and NSF funded and is focussed on the development of innovative systems, tools, methods for design of the built environment. He has developed digital twin technologies and advises, and co-advises PhD students from Architecture and Engineering on topics that integrate computer science, robotics, engineering, with architecture.
IVAN MUTIS
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Dr. Ivan Mutis is director of the Advanced Computing, Informatics, Sensing, and Semantics Technology for Civil and Construction Engineering Laboratory (iConsSense Lab), director of the Trimble Technology Lab, and associate professor of civil, architectural, and environmental engineering in the construction engineering and management (CEM) program at the Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), Chicago. With research focusing on the interplay between technology and the social fabric of projects, Dr. Mutis and his team aim to reconceptualize how we design, construct, and experience the built environment. The research goals center on increasing the efficiency and well-being of all project stakeholders, from designers and builders to operators and users. As a lead investigator, Dr. Mutis’ current research portfolio exceeds $1.5M in external awarded funds, which are facilitating a breadth of projects with topics including robotics, unmanned aerial vehicles, and extended reality (XR Virtual, Mixed, and Augmented Reality), workforce development, learning, and interoperability in construction. He founded the Trimble Technology Lab through a 17.5 million USD gift, and as director, he fosters the lab’s mission of benefiting the students and researchers in the Illinois Tech community.
BRIAN TRACY
DIRECTOR OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
AUSONIO
Brian Tracy is Director of Construction Management for Ausonio, Inc., a past chair of the national technology committee for CMAA and a co-author of the 2025 book Managing Construction Technology. Rather than focusing solely on tools, this book emphasizes the human and process-driven factors that ultimately determine success—an approach that has influenced practitioners across the AEC industry. His diverse experience in general contracting and construction management spans education, healthcare, athletics, municipal, energy, and transportation market sectors. Additionally, Tracy has led internal training efforts across several firms and presented to national audiences on effective technology management, blending technical instruction with career coaching. He is also an adjunct professor at his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame, and is currently teaching a course there about managing construction tech.
INVESTORS
MAYRA ARNTZ
PRINCIPAL
BUILDING VENTURES
Mayra Arntz is a principal at Building Ventures, a venture firm investing in companies that reshape the way we design, build, operate, and experience the built environment. Building Ventures is invested in companies including Built Robotics, SmartPM, and Clearstory. Prior to her promotion in November 2025, Arntz served the firm as both an Associate and later a Senior Associate. With her experience growing up in a construction family and beginning her career as a control project manager at commercial and mining projects, she brings key insights to her current role in investing in construction tech. Prior to joining Building Ventures, Arntz worked as strategy lead at Stanley X, the innovation division of Stanley Black & Decker. Previously, she was the head of product at HoloBuilder, acquired by Faro Technologies in 2021. Currently, Arntz is an active member of PeruSV and Women in Construction Tech.
SANG YOON CHOI
DIRECTOR
GS FUTURES
Sang Yoon Choi is a director at GS E&C and a member of the GS Futures team, representing GS E&C in strategic LP activities and built world innovation. GS Futures is a corporate venture capital firm part of GS Holdings, a subsidiary of GS Group of South Korea., that aims to invest in companies at the early stage. Choi has worked in different positions with GS E&C for more than 15 years. He helped launch the FC Fund and collaborates globally with venture partners and startups, drawing on nearly 20 years of procurement, strategy, and on-site project experience.
KAUSHAL DIWAN
CORPORATE DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS & PARTNERSHIPS
DPR CONSTRUCTION
Kaushal Diwan is the corporate director of strategic investments and partnerships at DPR Construction and the leader of WND Ventures, where he has helped redefine how innovation reaches the jobsite. Under his leadership, WND evolved from a traditional corporate venture model into a deeply integrated platform that pairs investment with hands-on operational collaboration, accelerating startup adoption and real-world impact. He has guided investments in and incubation of practical, high-impact technologies, ranging from AI-driven preconstruction and project intelligence tools to robotics that improve safety and reduce physical risk for workers. Diwan has also expanded WND’s influence through direct startup investments and long-term commitments to venture funds that strengthen the broader construction innovation ecosystem. His practitioner-led approach has positioned WND as a model for turning emerging technology into scalable, field-proven solutions that deliver measurable value for owners, builders, and workers alike.
TANJA KUFNER
HEAD OF VENTURES
NEMETSCHEK
Tanja Kufner is ead of startups and ventures at the Nemetschek Group, a leading software provider for the construction industry. Since 1998, she has been an active Early Stage investor. After working for various Funds, CVCs and a Single Family Office, she set up Wayra in Munich and later co-founded the Startupbootcamp Smart Transportation and Energy, a global accelerator around urban mobility in Berlin. Kufner has invested in over 90 startups at various stages of growth and has helped enterprises such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Airbus, Cisco, here, Vinci, Kühne + Nagel, SBB, EnBW, Telefónica, Siemens Mobile, MHP and DB on their innovation journeys. She is regularly recognized as one of the most influential women in Venture Capital. Kufner joined the Nemetschek Group in 2021 and has invested in 14 Startups since joining.
ZEINA MANDOUR
VENTURE INVESTMENT MANAGER
DAR VENTURES BY DAR
Zeina Mandour is a venture investment manager at Dar Ventures, where she plays a key role in advancing innovation across the AEC sector. She helps lead a platform that enables founders to test, validate, and scale solutions by leveraging Dar’s global ecosystem and live project environments. Under her contributions, Dar Ventures has supported more than 15 startups and made strategic investments in multiple high-potential companies. Mandour has also helped drive the DarE Program, a flagship initiative providing grants, mentorship, and market-readiness support to emerging AEC startups. Through her work, she is helping close a long-standing innovation gap in the industry by turning early-stage ideas into market-ready solutions with real-world impact.
SILVIA MOTA
CEO
MEXT: MOTA-ENGIL NEXT
Silvia Mota is CEO of MEXT, the new vehicle of Mota-Engil group dedicated to transformation, innovation, incubation and investments. In her leadership role at MEXT, she champions innovation culture, idea incubation and strategic transformation initiatives that connect internal teams, external partners, startups, universities and industry collaborators to foster entrepreneurship and implement real impact projects across the global organization. Her experience spans multiple areas of the Mota‑Engil ecosystem, including operations, business development, finance and international market entries, giving her a multifaceted foundation to lead innovation and corporate transformation efforts.
JUAN NIETO
FOUNDING & GENERAL PARTNER
ZACUA VENTURES
Juan Nieto is founder and general partner at Zacua Ventures, a global early-stage venture fund tackling the world's biggest challenges across sustainability, productivity and urbanization and backed by some of the most innovative corporations in the built world. Zacua has invested in startups including Document Crunch, Field Materials AI, and Raise Robotics. Prior to founding Zacua, Nieto worked as a ConTech investor for CEMEX CVC unit since 2018, where he developed the Asia Pacific investment strategy, and set up the Shanghai Office in 2019. Prior to this, he worked as an alternative asset manager for Altamar CAM Partners, one of Europe largest private managers, in Madrid, and as a Consultant for Techedge Group in Chicago (USA). Nieto holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Madrid and Tongji University of Shanghai.
KAUSTUBH PANDYA
GENERAL PARTNER
BRICK & MORTAR VENTURES
Kaustubh Pandya is a general partner at Brick & Mortar Ventures, a venture capital firm that identifies, backs, and enables emerging companies developing innovative software and hardware solutions for the industries of architecture, engineering, construction, and facilities management. He brings over eight years of strategy and industry experience in the AEC industry. Prior to Brick & Mortar Ventures, Pandya was with McKinsey & Company for over four years advising engineering & construction firms, investors, construction technology providers, and owners. He also contributed to and co-authored research in construction technology at McKinsey. Before joining McKinsey & Co, he worked as a forensic structural engineer assessing catastrophic failures and improving building resilience. Pandya holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from U.C. Berkeley, a M.S. in Design Construction Integration from Stanford, and an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management.
CHRIS STERN
HEAD & MANAGING DIRECTOR
TRIMBLE VENTURES
Chris Stern is the head and managing director of Trimble Ventures, where he leads Trimble’s strategic investment efforts to turn emerging technology into real-world impact across the construction and built environment. He oversees a $200 million venture platform that has backed more than 20 startups, supporting companies from Series A through Series D with both capital and hands-on business mentorship. Under his leadership, Trimble Ventures has focused on building open, interoperable solutions that integrate seamlessly with Trimble’s broader technology ecosystem. Stern has also helped elevate industry innovation through flagship programs like the Construction Startup Competition and the Trimble 0-60 Challenge, giving entrepreneurs direct access to customers, partners, and pilots. Known for his deep engagement with founders, he has positioned Trimble Ventures as a long-term, practitioner-focused partner for startups shaping the future of construction technology.
Join Industry Investors at our 2026 Venture West Conference!
The annual Venture West Conference is one of two BuiltWorlds events focused on venture investing and overall activity in the built environment. The event examines the flow of and thinking behind investment in the AEC industry from the perspective of investors, startups and contractors. It explores not only what sectors of technology and innovation are receiving attention and the trajectories they’re currently on, but also the myriad strategies stakeholders are implementing to identify and attract potentially valuable startups and investors, go to market and exit in various regions and sectors, and develop relationships and talent for mutual growth and benefit.
TECHNOLOGISTS
SHASHANK BHATIA
CTO & GLOBAL VP OF ENGINEERING
JLG
Shashank Bhatia works at the intersection of autonomy, robotics, electrification, and advanced digital tools in his role as CTO and global VP of engineering at JLG Industries. In early January 2026, JLG announced its acquisition of Canvas, a drywall finishing robotics company founded by Kevin Albert in 2017. Bhatia believes that robotics and automation will play an increasingly important role in the future of construction, and that the Canvas acquisition strengthens JLG’s tech roadmap and accelerates their ability to deliver impactful solutions.
JULIAN GEIGER
CHIEF AI OFFICER
NEMETSCHEK
As VP of Al product and transformation, Julian Geiger leads the development and adoption of Al capabilities across Nemetschek Group to drive customer value and increase internal productivity. His comprehensive approach spans digital strategy, technology platforms, business processes, and organizational culture. With over 16 years of experience at the forefront of technology strategy and product management, Geiger brings a wealth of experience from previous roles at Google, Boston Consulting Group, and BMW. During his tenure at these firms, he was responsible for transformative business strategies, delivering software products, and nurturing transformational partnerships. Geiger possesses deep knowledge in applied Al, data foundation design and analytics.Geiger holds a B.Sc. degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering (TU Munich), a Master's degree in Industrial Engineering (University of Cambridge), and an MBA degree (INSEAD).
ELODIE GUYOT
VP, UPTIME & SERVICE PERFORMANCE
RENAULT TRUCKS
Elodie Guyot is a seasoned technologist in the built environment who led electromobility strategy at Volvo Construction Equipment, driving the development and market introduction of the company’s first electric machines and advocating for zero-emission job sites. After 18 years at Volvo CE, she joined Renault Trucks in 2025 as VP of uptime and service performance for Europe, where she now focuses on enhancing service excellence and fleet reliability through connected, data-driven solutions. Guyot brings deep industry expertise across project and product management, business development, and electromobility, with a track record of delivering impactful results. Her global perspective, shaped by international experience in Asia and Europe, informs her work on complex industry challenges. She continues to influence the dialogue on sustainable construction technologies and service innovation in heavy equipment.
OLIVER KALLENBORN
SR. DIRECTOR, DATA & TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
ATKINSRÉALIS
Oliver Kallenborn is Senior Director of Data and Technology Solutions at AtkinsRéalis and serves as the firm’s Global Technical Lead for Data Intelligence. In this role, he leads the development and implementation of digital capabilities across major projects and programs worldwide, helping teams translate data into actionable outcomes. He brings over 20 years of experience spanning contractor, PMC, and PMO roles on large-scale international infrastructure megaprojects, including rail, airports, motorways, and stadiums. Kallenborn is a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, an MCIArb chartered programme management professional, and has deep expertise in cost, planning, and risk management. He has a strong foundation in big-data, including a Master’s in Bioinformatics from York University and a Bachelor’s in Computational Biology from Warwick. Kallenborn is known for decisive, analytical, and empathetic leadership that drives organizational transformation and team development.
PAUL REYNOLDS
CEO
CALMFLOOR
Paul Reynolds is CEO of CALMFLOOR, where he leads the commercialization of active damping technology for floor vibrations. With over two decades of prior research experience at the Universities of Sheffield and Exeter, he is a world-renowned authority in building vibration performance and control. Paul has provided expert consultancy services on a wide range of structural vibration projects globally, and is now firmly focused on scaling the adoption of CALMFLOOR technology.
STEVE ROWSON
PROFESSOR & DIRECTOR OF VIRGINIA TECH HELMET LAB
VIRGINIA TECH
Steve Rowson is a professor of biomedical engineering and mechanics at Virginia Tech and the director of the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, a research center that develops evidence-based helmet rating systems using biomechanical testing and risk analysis. The Helmet Lab’s STAR (Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk) framework evaluates how well helmets reduce concussion and skull fracture risk by translating real-world impact scenarios into controlled tests and assigning a performance rating. Under his leadership, the lab recently released the first independent ratings system for construction safety helmets, providing data that distinguish between traditional hard hats and more protective Type II helmets. This work equips contractors and workers with objective information to choose better protective equipment, which can significantly reduce injury risk on job sites.
HAMZAH SHANBARI
DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION
HASKELL
Hamzah Shanbari is the Director of Innovation at Haskell, where he leads the exploration and implementation of emerging technologies to improve construction processes and project outcomes. He holds a PhD from the University of Florida and brings extensive experience in the AEC industry. Shanbari began at Haskell in 2016 within the Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) group, contributing to successful coordination projects that advanced the firm’s capabilities. He evaluates and applies technologies including AR/VR, IoT, AI, robotics, and reality capture to drive efficiency and innovation. Shanbari is a recognized thought leader in construction, and has shared insights at conferences and other industry events, and in articles and research reports including recent research on AI. He authored a book titled Paperless Builders: The Why, What, and How of Construction Technology which was published in 2024.
MARIA TELLERIA
CTO
CANVAS
Maria Telleria is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Canvas, a construction robotics company focused on improving productivity, quality, and safety on jobsites. She holds a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and a PhD in mechanical engineering from MIT, where her research centered on robotics, automation, and human–machine collaboration. At Canvas, Telleria has played a central role in developing AI-powered robotic systems that assist skilled trades by automating physically demanding and repetitive tasks such as drywall finishing. Her work emphasizes augmenting, rather than replacing, the construction workforce through practical and deployable robotics. Known for her technical depth and systems-level thinking, she has helped position Canvas as a leader in applied robotics for the built environment. Canvas was acquired by JLG in January 2026.
ROGER WAHL
CTO
INNOVO GROUP
Roger Wahl is the Chief Technology Officer at Innovo Group, where he leads technology strategy for one of the most forward-thinking owners and developers in the built environment. With more than 30 years of global technology leadership, he has built and scaled high-performing digital teams across real estate, energy, consulting, and government sectors. At Innovo, Wahl has been instrumental in embedding data-driven decision-making, advanced digital platforms, and emerging technologies into development, construction, and asset operations. His work focuses on using technology to measurably improve productivity, safety, and sustainability across the real estate lifecycle, while positioning Innovo as a leader in applied innovation. Beyond Innovo, he is actively engaged in venture capital and startups, helping advance transformative technologies that shape the future of the built environment.
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