Cascade, a New York-based AI startup developing predictive business development software for the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, announced on July 21 that it has raised $3.5 million in seed funding.
The financing round was led by Andreessen Horowitz Speedrun, with participation from Ada Ventures, Blitzscaling Ventures, Indico Capital, shuckerVC, G2C Ventures, and Snowball VC. The company said the new capital will support product development, customer acquisition, and expansion of its industry network across the United States.
Founded by former Google executives Hannia Zia and Joana Ferreira, Cascade develops AI software that analyzes publicly available data—including bond filings, building permits, capital improvement plans, property transactions, earnings transcripts, government budgets, and public meeting records—to identify construction projects during their earliest planning stages.
The company says customers have already used the platform to uncover more than $10 billion in potential project opportunities. Its client base includes firms involved in projects at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport, luxury hotels, data centers, and nuclear facilities.
Moving beyond traditional bid tracking
Most business development platforms used in the construction industry focus on projects after procurement has officially begun. Cascade instead seeks to identify early indicators that suggest new developments are taking shape, allowing firms to engage with potential opportunities months before formal bidding starts.
The platform continuously analyzes a wide range of public information sources and applies AI models to estimate the type of project being planned, its likely timeline, and which firms may be well positioned to compete. It also integrates existing business relationships through enterprise software such as Microsoft Outlook to help users identify potential clients, partners, and teaming opportunities.
According to CEO Hannia Zia, many firms lose business not because they fail to submit competitive proposals but because they never become aware of opportunities early enough to participate.
The company said its predictive models continue to improve as additional customers, project outcomes, and market data expand the platform's understanding of industry patterns.
Early adoption among AEC firms
Cascade said several architecture, engineering, and construction firms have adopted the platform to improve business development and strategic planning.
Luxury architecture firm Smallwood reported using Cascade to identify projects that conventional industry databases had not captured, including a recent project valued at approximately $6 million.
Florida-based S.A. Casey Construction, whose portfolio includes work at the Kia Center, Orange County Government facilities, and major commercial developments, said the platform has improved project planning and reduced the manual effort required to organize business opportunities.
Another early customer, Munoz Engineering, which has participated in projects including LaGuardia Airport, Moynihan Train Hall, and the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, said the software provides greater visibility into future opportunities in New York City's highly competitive construction market.
Applying AI techniques from large-scale data analysis
Cascade was founded by Hannia Zia and Joana Ferreira after the two worked together at UnlikelyAI, an artificial intelligence startup founded by the inventor of Amazon Alexa.
Before launching Cascade, Zia served as Vice President of Product, while Ferreira led development of the company's AI platform and knowledge graph technologies.
Ferreira said the company applies analytical methods similar to those used in financial markets, where large volumes of fragmented information are processed to identify future trends. Cascade adapts that approach to the construction sector by detecting signals that may indicate where new projects are emerging.
The founders also describe their interest in construction as personal. Ferreira grew up in a Portuguese community closely tied to construction and carpentry, while Zia's father previously operated a construction business. Early discussions with construction executives ultimately led to Cascade's first commercial customers.
Expanding an industry-wide network
The company said the new investment will be used to expand both its AI capabilities and its professional network across the construction industry.
Beyond identifying projects, Cascade aims to connect architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and developers that may benefit from working together on future bids. As participation increases, the company expects its predictive models and partnership recommendations to become more accurate through larger volumes of project and customer data.
Investors said they believe construction remains one of the world's largest industries where business development continues to rely heavily on personal relationships, institutional knowledge, and manual research. They view predictive AI as an opportunity to modernize how firms discover projects, build partnerships, and compete for new work.
Looking ahead, Cascade said its long-term objective extends beyond project discovery. The company plans to support firms throughout the broader project lifecycle—from identifying early development signals and pursuing new business to collaboration, project delivery, and final handover.
As AI adoption accelerates across traditionally conservative industries, Cascade represents a growing group of startups applying predictive analytics to business development rather than design or construction itself. Its approach reflects a broader shift toward using AI to improve strategic decision-making at the earliest stages of major infrastructure and commercial projects.
