Brick and Mortar Ventures

Brick and Mortar Ventures is a specialized venture capital firm dedicated to identifying, investing in, and fostering the growth of emerging companies globally. The firm focuses exclusively on innovative software and hardware solutions tailored for the architecture, engineering, construction (AEC), and facilities management industries. Their mission is to help the world build better by backing entrepreneurs who are disrupting one of the largest sectors of the global economy, which has historically been slow to adopt new technologies.

Founded in 2015 by Darren Bechtel, Brick and Mortar Ventures emerged from Bechtel's extensive experience in venture investing and his background as an engineer, operator, and CEO in the AEC sector. Recognizing the immense opportunities for innovation in the built world, Bechtel formalized his investment process by establishing the firm. In 2019, Brick and Mortar Ventures announced a $100 million fund, supported by major industry players such as Ardex, Autodesk, Cemex, United Rentals, Hilti, Obayashi, and Google's Sidewalk Labs.

The firm's portfolio includes notable investments in companies that have significantly impacted the construction technology landscape. Past and present investments feature companies like PlanGrid, Levelset, Fieldwire, BuildingConnected, Rhumbix, BuildZoom, SafeAI, and Curbio. More recent investments include Freeda, Downstream, Planera, Rivet Work, Ernest, Boom & Bucket, Fohlio, and TrustUp. These companies span various solutions, from digital blueprints and construction management software to autonomous equipment and pre-sale home renovations, aiming to enhance efficiency, productivity, and safety in the built environment.

The Brick and Mortar Ventures team comprises professionals with deep industry expertise. Darren Bechtel, as Founder and Managing Director, brings a legacy from his family's global engineering construction firm, Bechtel. General Partner Kaustubh Pandya offers experience as a forensic structural engineer and strategy consultant. Partners Curtis Rodgers and Austin Yount contribute backgrounds in construction process improvement and investment banking, respectively. The firm also has a global presence with Guillaume Bazouin leading EMEA investments from Paris, France, and Aditya Thakur serving as a Venture Partner in Pune, India, focusing on the APAC region. Alice Leung, Principal of Platform & Product Strategy, brings experience from DPR Construction, further strengthening the team's understanding of construction technologies.