Southeast’s BuildTech Ecosystem Thrives Amid Construction Growth

News Summary

The Southeast region of the United States is experiencing significant growth in the construction industry, with notable startups strengthening the BuildTech ecosystem. Companies like ProNovos are innovating processes, addressing cash flow challenges, and enhancing contractor payments. Events like BuildTech Connect showcase emerging technologies and startups focused on transforming construction practices. The rise of construction technology and PropTech startups signals a new era of innovation and opportunity in the region, with the upcoming Southeast Build Conference set to further connect industry professionals.

Southeast’s BuildTech Ecosystem Thrives Amid Explosive Growth in Construction Startups

The Southeast region of the United States is witnessing a remarkable surge in the construction industry, marked by the presence of cranes across major cities such as Metro Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, and Miami.

This boom in construction activity has fostered the growth of a vibrant BuildTech ecosystem, incorporating not only traditional construction enterprises but also innovative construction technology and PropTech startups. The focus of these startups is to reshape existing processes in design, finance, and construction, striving to resolve long-standing challenges within the industry.

A significant player in this ecosystem is ProNovos, based in Atlanta, which specializes in providing forecasting tools and financial insights to streamline contractor payments. The company’s Growth Manager, John O’Bryan, highlighted the industry-wide issue of cash flow, noting that the average Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) for construction companies ranges from 51 to 83 days. This situation notably impacts subcontractors who often face cash flow difficulties due to extended payment cycles. In response to this challenge, ProNovos recently introduced a new feature, QuickPay, designed to expedite payments to subcontractors and tackle delays in the industry’s payment cycle.

To showcase the intersection of technology and construction, the inaugural BuildTech Connect event took place in downtown Atlanta, organized by key players such as Skanska, Atlanta Tech Village, and Atlanta Ventures. The event featured prominent speakers from various startups, including Undaunted, focusing on robotic security, cove, which integrates AI in architecture, and SmartPM, dedicated to analytics for construction teams.

According to data from Crunchbase, the Southeast now boasts approximately 679 active companies involved in construction, PropTech, smart building, and general BuildTech sectors. The recent acquisition activity in this space underscores the growing interest in these tech-driven innovations. For instance, among notable acquisitions is Ladder, a workforce platform based in Atlanta, acquired in late 2024, and Flashtract, a billing and payments platform, which was recently acquired. Another significant acquisition was Procore’s purchase of Levelset, a construction payments SaaS platform headquartered in New Orleans, for a substantial $500 million in 2021.

Many innovative startups are emerging from this ecosystem, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in construction and PropTech. For example, Kairos in Atlanta focuses on operational risk management technologies and recently raised $5.1 million. Another startup, led by Josh Levy, specializes in a contract intelligence platform and secured $21.5 million in Series B funding in 2024.

Additional notable startups include Kaitlin Hagan’s recruiting platform for commercial construction and Jonathan Dickerson’s marketplace connecting lenders and borrowers in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Noteworthy funding achievements include SmartPM, which raised $5.5 million in Series A funding in 2024, and a robotics systems startup led by Brent Wadas in Durham, North Carolina, which obtained $12.4 million in late 2023.

The emergence of startups addressing real estate investing, rentals, and homeownership in the Southeast is equally noteworthy. Companies such as Falaya in Baton Rouge, RentCheck in New Orleans, and Smart Alto in Birmingham are contributing to a broad range of solutions tailored to the real estate market.

Looking ahead, the Southeast Build Conference (SEBC) is set to take place on July 24-25, 2025, at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Florida. This event will spotlight industry innovations and provide a platform for professionals to connect over the latest developments in construction technology. Miter Brands has already been confirmed as a gold sponsor of the SEBC, highlighting cutting-edge products including those from PGT Custom Windows and Doors and MI Windows and Doors.

As the Southeast’s construction sector continues to expand and adapt, the rise of the BuildTech ecosystem presents a new horizon filled with opportunities for innovation and growth.

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Additional Resources

• Hypepotamus: BuildTech Startups to Know in 2025
• ENR: Southeast Builders See Demand Rising in 22
• Morningstar: Miter Brands to Attend and Sponsor Southeast Building Conference
• Flagler News Weekly: Future Builders of America Team Wins at SEBC
• PR Newswire: BuildTech Asia 2024 Advances Regional Collaboration
• Wikipedia: Construction
• Google Search: BuildTech
• Google Scholar: Construction Technology
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Construction
• Google News: BuildTech