“Construction Barely Touched By AI,” Says Startup CEO After $6M Raise

Silicon Valley startup Neuron Factory secures seed funding and major European partnership to deploy AI agents across construction projects.

A new AI startup is betting that artificial intelligence can solve one of the world’s oldest industries’ biggest problems: inefficiency.

Neuron Factory announced that it has raised $6 million in seed funding and partnered with Cordeel Group, a major European construction company, to deploy what it calls “AI coworkers” across construction projects.

The Silicon Valley-based company’s platform uses AI agents that can coordinate tasks, delegate work, and make decisions in real-time across construction sites. Unlike simple automation tools, these AI systems are designed to understand the complex relationships between different roles, tasks, and knowledge within construction projects.

“Construction stands as one of the largest and most intricate global industries—yet it remains largely untouched by the transformative power of real AI,” said Zaid Kahn, Neuron Factory’s CEO and co-founder. “We’re creating AI that doesn’t just assist it actively collaborates with human teams.”

Heavyweight Team Takes on Industry Giant

The company was founded by three technology veterans with impressive credentials. Kahn previously served as Vice President of Engineering at Microsoft, while co-founder Salil Pandit held leadership roles at autonomous vehicle company Waymo and fintech firm PrimaryBid. The third co-founder, Tom De Raedt, founded cloud infrastructure company Escher Cloud.

Their target is an industry ripe for disruption. Construction has long struggled with project delays, cost overruns, and coordination problems across multiple contractors and suppliers. The industry still relies heavily on disconnected legacy software systems and paper-based processes.

European Giant Goes All-In on AI

Cordeel Group, which operates across Europe as a full-service construction partner, will be the first company to pilot Neuron Factory’s platform. The Belgian-based company sees AI as essential to meeting growing demands for faster, more sustainable construction.

As Pascale Van Damme, Cordeel’s CEO mentioned that this isn’t just about efficiency, it’s about creating a transparent, data-driven construction ecosystem,. The company plans to use the AI platform to create detailed “building passports” that track materials and processes, supporting European Union climate goals.

The Technology Behind the Hype

Neuron Factory’s core innovation is what it calls an “enterprise task graph,” a system that maps out how tasks, roles, and knowledge connect across an organization. This allows AI agents to understand context and make intelligent decisions rather than simply following pre-programmed rules.

The platform is designed to integrate with existing construction software rather than replacing it entirely, potentially making adoption easier for an industry known for being slow to embrace new technology.

Investor Confidence Despite Market Challenges

The oversubscribed funding round was led by Activant Capital, Colle Capital, Karman Ventures, and Punch Capital. Strategic investors included Filip Cordeel, Chairman of Cordeel Group.

“They’re not just building another enterprise tool they’re creating a new way for people and AI to work together,” said Victoria Grace, founding partner at Colle Capital.

The investment comes as many AI startups struggle to prove their value beyond initial hype. Neuron Factory’s focus on a specific industry with clear pain points may help it avoid the challenges facing more general-purpose AI companies.

Founded just three months ago in February 2025, Neuron Factory represents a new wave of AI companies targeting traditional industries with specialized solutions rather than broad-based tools.

The construction industry, worth trillions globally, has historically been resistant to technological change. Whether AI coworkers can succeed where other digital transformation efforts have struggled remains to be seen.