This Startup Just Raised $5.3M to Fix Construction’s $1.6 Trillion Supply Chain Problem

Kaya AI eliminates silos by connecting with existing workflow tools, providing complete visibility across the supply chain.

Construction is sometimes seen as the foundation of global progress, although it remains one of the least digitised businesses. Critical infrastructure projects, such as data centres, rely on inefficient supply chains, which cause costly delays and resource waste. Against this backdrop, Kaya AI, a supply chain intelligence platform, has emerged to address these issues head on. The startup has officially emerged from stealth mode, announcing $5.3 million in pre-seed fundraising backed by major investors such as 53 Stations, Suffolk Technologies, and Soma Capital.

A Vision Born from Experience

Ojonimi Bako, Kaya AI’s CEO and co-founder, shares a deeply personal narrative about the company’s growth. Bako grew up in a small Nigerian town before relocating to Ohio at the age of 12. His family’s emphasis on education and tenacity influenced his path. Bako studied industrial engineering at Ohio State University, with a concentration on operations research and applied maths, and went on to work for Accenture, obtaining practical experience in emerging markets such as Kenya, South Africa, and Egypt.

This exposure to complex systems and the desire to create solutions from the ground up eventually led him to Silicon Valley, where Kaya AI was born. “Data centers, infrastructure, and other mission-critical projects are at the forefront of global growth, yet their supply chains remain riddled with inefficiencies and delays,” Bako explained. “Kaya AI’s AI-native platform addresses these challenges, reducing the time teams spend from managing procurement through delivery by 80% and ensuring seamless project execution.”

Kaya AI’s platform uses artificial intelligence, data analytics, and automation to address inefficiencies in supply chains for data centre and infrastructure projects, two of the construction industry’s most complex sectors. Its unique features, such as real-time lead time tracking, procurement automation, and AI-powered assistants like “Jarvis,” give teams a centralised system for streamlining communication, automating activities, and delivering actionable intelligence.

Kaya AI eliminates silos by connecting with existing workflow tools, providing complete visibility across the supply chain. This feature has been transformative for some of the country’s largest general contractors, allowing them to manage billions of dollars in construction projects.

The company’s pre-seed funding round saw participation from an impressive lineup of investors. Leading the round were 53 Stations, Suffolk Technologies, and Soma Capital, with additional backing from Barclays Black Formation Investments (BBFI) managed by Zeal Capital Partners, RXR, Mantis VC, and Virta Ventures. Kaya AI also garnered support from 4DX Ventures, TO Ventures, Optimist Ventures, and others.

Jason Pritzker, co-founder and managing partner of 53 Stations, emphasized the importance of the platform: “At 53 Stations and The Pritzker Organization, we look for transformative technology partners in spaces we know well. Through our partnership with Lithko Contracting and STV, we experience firsthand the difficulties and inefficiencies of material procurement for construction. We believe Kaya AI is well-positioned to help address these inefficiencies through simple-to-use, AI-driven software.”

Suffolk Technologies, a key investor and strategic partner, has also adopted Kaya AI across its projects. “Kaya AI tackles a critical challenge in construction: supply chain management,” said Parker Mundt, vice president at Suffolk Technologies. During a recent deployment, Kaya AI reduced a three-month procurement process to one week, improved lead time accuracy by 90%, and cut procurement tracking time by 80%.

Recognition and Momentum

Kaya AI made effects in the construction industry even before its formal launch. It won the Supply Chain category of the 2024 Construction Startup Competition, outperforming competitors from over 80 nations. It was also one of seven firms chosen for Suffolk Technologies’ BOOST 4 accelerator program, which provided mentorship and access to industry professionals.

The accolades don’t stop there. During BOOST Demo Day, Kaya AI earned the “People’s Choice Award,” further validating its potential to transform construction supply chains. Phil Lawson-Shanks, chief innovation officer at Aligned Data Centers, praised the platform, saying, “Kaya AI is redefining how construction supply chains are managed, offering a level of precision and intelligence that the industry has long needed.”

With its funding, Kaya AI plans to accelerate the development of its AI-native platform, expand its engineering and operations teams, and increase marketing efforts to drive market adoption. The company’s focus is not just on technology but also on creating a meaningful impact in one of the most underserved industries.

For those less familiar, 75% of the world’s infrastructure needed by 2050 has yet to be built. However, the world cannot continue building the way it has over the past 25 years. Construction remains one of the last and most critical industries to digitize. Recognizing this immense challenge and opportunity, Nicholas Selz, co-founder and president of Kaya AI, reflected, “So, along with my co-founder, Ojonimi Bako, we decided to do it ourselves.”

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Picture of Anshika Mathews
Anshika Mathews
Anshika is the Senior Content Strategist for AIM Research. She holds a keen interest in technology and related policy-making and its impact on society. She can be reached at anshika.mathews@aimresearch.co
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