Bobyard Raises $35M Series A to Expand AI-Powered Construction Takeoff and Estimating Platform
Bobyard, a San Francisco–based construction technology startup that leverages artificial intelligence to transform how contractors perform takeoffs and estimates, has secured $35 million in Series A funding to accelerate product development and expand into new verticals across the construction trades. The financing round, completed in December 2025, underscores growing investor interest in applied AI solutions that streamline manual processes and boost productivity in traditionally underserved industries.
The Series A round was led by 8VC, the venture capital firm co-founded by Joe Lonsdale, which has backed a range of technology ventures across sectors including AI, infrastructure, and enterprise software. Alongside 8VC, a syndicate of investors participated in the financing, including Pear VC, Primary Venture Partners, Tishman Speyer, RXR, Caffeinated Capital, and Merrick Ventures. This blend of traditional venture firms and strategic real estate investors reflects broad confidence in Bobyard’s vision and its potential to reshape pre-construction workflows.
Founded in 2023 by CEO Michael Ding, a Stanford-trained engineer and award-winning mathematician, Bobyard is building an AI platform that automates the most time-consuming aspects of construction estimating with proprietary computer vision models. These models interpret blueprint images, plans, and visual data to execute quantity and material takeoffs — the foundational step in preparing bids — with significantly greater speed and accuracy than traditional manual approaches. Contractors using the platform have reported up to a 65 percent reduction in takeoff time and 3–5 times more bids submitted per estimator, allowing smaller firms to compete more effectively and increase revenue.
Bobyard’s technology has initially focused on the landscaping trade, which historically has been complex and under-digitized compared with other sectors of the construction industry. By automating up to 70 percent of the takeoff process, the platform enables contractors to generate accurate bids in minutes rather than hours, a step change in efficiency that directly impacts competitiveness and profitability. As the company grows, the funding will support expansion into additional construction trades including drywall, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and framing, broadening its impact across the built environment.
With the new funding, Bobyard plans to invest heavily in enhancing its AI models and product capabilities, scaling its engineering and go-to-market teams, and accelerating customer acquisition. The company’s core mission is to address longstanding inefficiencies in construction estimating, a workflow that has historically relied on manual measurement, counting, and interpretation of complex drawings. By embedding computer vision and AI at the core of this process, Bobyard aims to reduce human error, improve speed, and enable contractors to focus on higher-value activities.
Investor enthusiasm for Bobyard reflects broader trends in venture capital and technology adoption, where applied AI is increasingly seen as a way to modernize industries that have lagged in digital transformation. The participation of both venture firms and strategic stakeholders like Tishman Speyer and RXR — major players in real estate investment and development — highlights the strategic value seen in improving construction workflows, particularly as demand for faster, more reliable project delivery grows.
The capital infusion also enables Bobyard to support existing customers and extend its value proposition beyond landscaping into adjacent segments of the construction market. Contractors working on commercial and residential projects alike have sought tools that can reduce the administrative burden associated with bid preparation, and Bobyard’s AI-driven workflows have demonstrated tangible results in reducing time and cost while enhancing accuracy.
As Bobyard continues to scale, it is expected to deepen partnerships with industry stakeholders, refine its technology stack, and pursue innovations in machine learning and computer vision tailored to the built world. The company’s approach — combining specialized AI, real-world applications, and an understanding of contractor workflows — positions it to capture a significant share of the construction technology market, an area valued in the trillions but historically underserved by software innovation.
Bobyard’s $35 million Series A funding marks a pivotal moment in the company’s growth journey and highlights the potential for AI to transform core aspects of how the world gets built. As it expands into new trades and scales its operations, the startup aims to deliver measurable value for contractors, increase competitiveness for smaller firms, and redefine industry expectations for construction estimating and bid preparation.
