The ten winners of the Construction Startup Competition 2021 have been announced by CEMEX Ventures, recognizing the most promising startup companies in the construction sector for this year. The overall winner of the competition was Document Crunch, an AI-powered software which can identify and explain critical issues in construction contracts.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, Document Crunch allows users to upload documents online to be reviewed by an AI software to analyze risk, understand waivers, and highlight indemnity and insurance obligations. As well as reviewing construction contracts and insurance policies, the software can also analyze plans, drawings, and specifications, categorizing elements such as design responsibility, confidentiality requirements, hazardous materials, and warranty obligations.

Document Crunch was one of ten winning projects in the competition, which saw entrants pitch their ideas to a jury panel at the BuiltWorlds 2021 Venture East Conference event in Miami. The ten winners were derived from five categories: carbon footprint mitigation, supply chain optimization, efficiency in the jobsite, advanced building materials, and new construction methods.

The other nine winners are as follows:

• AI Clearing, a US-based platform which tracks construction progress using AI-driven data
• hyperTunnel, a UK-based patented method for tunnel construction using AI, machine learning, and swarm robotics
• Nodes & Links, a UK-based platform which creates smart machines to automate project management
• ObraLink, a Chilean data collection system to automate major construction activities such as concrete pouring and formwork
• Presien, an Australian AI visions system which can be fitted to heavy construction vehicles to improve worker and pedestrian safety
• ProcurePro, an Australian digital subcontractor platform which streamlines the procurement process
• RatedPower, a Spanish cloud-based software which can design and engineer utility-scale solar PV plants
• Schüttflix, a German platform for digitally ordering, transporting, delivering, and disposing of bulk material
• WASTEBOX, an Austrian digital waste management platform that automatically connects users with appropriate waste disposal providers

The competition was operated by CEMEX Ventures, together with Dysruptek, Ferrovial, GS Futures, Hilti, VINCI Group’s Leonard, and NOVA by Saint-Gobain. 

Since its establishment in 2017, the competition series has seen more than 2,000 participants, forming part of a ConTech movement which has received over $2 billion in investment in 2021 alone.