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Cascade raises $3.5M to help construction firms find and win projects
Cascade, a startup helping architecture, engineering and construction firms find and win project bids, has raised $3.5 million in seed funding. The round was led by Andreessen Horowitz's Speedrun programme, alongside Ada Ventures and Snowball VC, and reflects growing investor interest in AI tools tailored to the construction industry, where firms often struggle to track opportunities scattered across numerous public and private portals.
Founded in 2025 by Hannia Zia and Joana Ferreira, Cascade uses AI to monitor upcoming and ongoing construction projects across US states, cities, counties and federal agencies, then predicts which firms are likely to win specific contracts based on historical tender data. The company, which has already signed clients that built JFK and La Guardia airports and Four Seasons hotels, plans to use the new funding to expand its go-to-market efforts, host industry events and hire additional engineers. It competes with established players such as GovWin IQ and ConstructConnect, though its founders argue Cascade is more AI-native, improving its predictions as customers feed back bid outcomes.
In short
- Cascade raised $3.5M seed funding led by a16z Speedrun.
- Its AI predicts which construction firms will win specific project bids.
- Clients include builders of JFK, La Guardia and Four Seasons projects.
Explained simply
Architecture, engineering and construction firms often find work by bidding for contracts to build or improve things such as roads, airports and buildings. Details of these opportunities can be spread across many public-sector and private-sector websites, making them difficult to track.
Cascade is a company founded in 2025 by Hannia Zia and Joana Ferreira. It uses AI to gather information about construction projects and estimate which firms may be best placed to win contracts, drawing on past tender data.
Firms including GovWin IQ and ConstructConnect also help businesses find project opportunities. Tools in this market matter because finding a suitable bid early can shape which work a firm pursues and how it competes for contracts.