Cascade secures $3.5 million seed funding to deploy AI in US construction bidding
The construction technology startup, backed by Andreessen Horowitz Speedrun and Ada Ventures, uses historical data to predict bid outcomes for architecture and engineering firms.
Cascade, a construction technology startup, has secured a $3.5 million seed funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz Speedrun, Ada Ventures, and Snowball VC. Founded in 2025 by Hannia Zia and Joana Ferreira, the company utilises artificial intelligence to assist architecture, engineering, and construction firms in identifying and securing projects across US government and private portals.
The platform tracks ongoing and upcoming projects by monitoring signals across US states, local districts, private contracts, and federal agencies. By analysing historical tender data, the system predicts which developers are likely to win specific bids. For instance, if a state announces a new grant, Cascade examines previous winners to forecast likely outcomes, enabling firms to target opportunities with higher probability of success.
Zia and Ferreira established the venture after observing the difficulties their families faced in the construction sector in Pakistan and the Middle East. They describe the current process as a fragmented "treasure hunt," where firms must navigate disparate portals across various jurisdictions to find relevant work. The startup aims to consolidate this data, allowing companies to focus on projects where they have a competitive advantage.
The investment follows an application to Andreessen Horowitz’s Speedrun programme in September 2025. The founders stated that the programme provided necessary visibility and credibility, helping them secure contracts with firms involved in major infrastructure projects, including JFK and La Guardia airports, Four Seasons hotels, and data centres.
Cascade intends to use the fresh capital to expand its market presence, host industry events, and hire additional engineers. While competitors such as GovWin IQ and ConstructConnect operate in the space, the founders argue that Cascade is more AI-native, utilising a feedback loop where customer wins refine the system's predictive capabilities over time.
