United States, September 4, 2025
News Summary
Hilti Ventures has hired Subham Kedia as a senior associate to lead deal sourcing and support for startups in AI-powered robotics, next-generation construction software and modularisation. Kedia brings a mix of recent strategy and operations experience plus prior venture investment work focused on early-stage construction technology. The role bridges hardware and software disciplines, emphasizing automation, factory-built modular methods and AI-enabled scheduling and planning tools. The hire aligns with Hilti Ventures’ broader activity in contech, including participation in an $11 million Series A for a scheduling startup, and signals ongoing corporate interest in reducing delays and boosting on-site productivity.
Hilti Ventures hires Subham Kedia to back AI-powered robotics, next-generation software and modular construction
The corporate venture capital arm of Hilti has announced the addition of Subham Kedia as a senior associate, signaling a sharpened focus on AI-powered robotics, next-generation construction software and sustainable construction methods such as modularisation. The hire comes as Hilti Ventures broadens its scope beyond traditional tools toward software partnerships and robotics-enabled solutions for the construction industry.
Kedia arrives after a stint as strategy and operations manager for NCR Voyix, followed by time as senior investment associate at Zacua Ventures, a venture capital firm that backs early-stage construction technology startups. In his new role, he will work on deals tied to AI-powered robotics, next-generation construction software and sustainable practices such as modularisation, according to the firm.
Hilti Ventures funds and supports contech projects, aiming to connect product manufacturers with software and data-enabled services. By adding Kedia, the VC arm intends to strengthen its ability to back startups that combine hardware, software and data to improve productivity on the jobsite and across the construction lifecycle.
Outbuild’s Series A underscores a broader push into scheduling software
In a notable move in November, Hilti Ventures participated in an $11 million Series A round for Outbuild, a San Francisco-based construction scheduling and planning software company. The round was led by Sway Ventures, with participation from Hilti Ventures, Trimble Ventures, BGV and Zacua Ventures. Outbuild says its product provides real-time insights and analytics through customizable dashboards to help construction professionals optimize schedules, boost efficiency and cut delays.
The investment is earmarked to drive commercial growth and support a significant expansion of Outbuild’s team, with plans to advance an AI-inclusive product roadmap. The funding round aligns with a broader industry trajectory toward software-based coordination and data-driven project management in the construction sector.
Context: a rising wave of contech investments
Industry observers note that contech investments have continued to rise, buoyed by tools that address estimating, scheduling, modular construction and field management. In recent cycles, modular builders, AI-based contract platforms and scheduling software have attracted venture capital and corporate backing. Notable examples include modular timber-hybrid building initiatives, large financing rounds for reality capture and data management platforms, and AI-enabled estimating tools that streamline workflows on busy job sites. In parallel, firms increasingly report that contech investments have expanded significantly in size and breadth across regions, with multiple rounds targeting expansion of product lines and market presence.
Analysts also point to quarterly reports indicating growth in contech funding, with total investments reaching hundreds of millions of dollars across dozens of deals in a given quarter. The ecosystem includes European modular construction firms, North American scheduling software providers and reality capture platforms, all drawing interest from corporate and independent investors alike. One regional modular player announced a €100 million financing round supported by several strategic backers, while a French reality capture firm raised tens of millions in a Series B led by a Paris-based firm. Other ventures in the field have completed multi-million-dollar seed rounds or Series B rounds, signaling ongoing appetite for technology that improves planning, execution and QA on construction sites.
Beyond capital activity, industry players are integrating with established platforms to improve asset tracking, project management and field productivity. Partnerships and integrations between software ecosystems and asset-tracking tools are becoming common as contractors seek to streamline workflows and reduce non-productive time. The shift toward software-enabled collaboration is coupled with a push for safer and more efficient job sites, with emphasis on data-driven decision making and predictive maintenance for equipment, including batteries and electrified components as fleets modernize.
Broader industry backdrop and future directions
The landscape shows continued interest in solutions that combine hardware with software, including AI-powered robotics, modularisation of buildings and next-generation construction software. Corporate and independent funds alike are backing platforms that can deliver on-site productivity gains, better scheduling, real-time analytics and safer, more transparent workflows. In parallel, market players highlight the importance of integration with existing asset-management tools and the need for consultative implementation support to realize productivity benefits.
Within Hilti’s broader strategy, the emphasis is shifting toward software partnerships and services that complement its tool and asset-management offerings. Company executives note that the most valuable software solutions are those that help contractors recover productivity and reduce waste, a goal aligned with Hilti’s network of subcontractors and tradespeople across concrete, HVAC, mechanical services and interior construction. Growth in project management software is seen as a key lever for enhancing jobsite performance when deployed alongside hardware and asset-tracking systems.
Industry observers also describe a landscape where a handful of global firms provide a mix of venture capital, corporate venture funding and strategic guidance to early-stage construction technology companies. The environment encourages startups to scale quickly while meeting real-world needs on site, particularly in fields like scheduling, risk management, contract management and modular construction. The ongoing flow of funding, partnerships and product roadmaps suggests a continued push toward integrated, data-driven solutions that can help construction teams plan, execute and monitor projects with greater visibility and less downtime.
Implications for Hilti and the market
The Subham Kedia appointment and Outbuild investment reflect a trend of combining hardware, software and data capabilities to improve construction outcomes. For Hilti, the move underlines a commitment to broaden its ecosystem with software-driven services and analytics, while continuing to leverage its network of field professionals and contractors. For the market, the momentum signals that startups with scalable models for field-ready software and modular building processes may attract ongoing investment and strategic partnerships as the industry seeks to boost productivity and reduce delays on complex projects.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Subham Kedia and what is his role?
- Subham Kedia has joined Hilti Ventures as a senior associate, focusing on deals in AI-powered robotics, next-generation construction software and modular construction methods.
- What is Hilti Ventures?
- Hilti Ventures is the corporate venture capital arm of Hilti, supporting startups that align with Hilti’s interests in construction technology and related services.
- What is Outbuild and what did its Series A involve?
- Outbuild is a scheduling and planning software company for construction. It raised an $11 million Series A led by Sway Ventures, with participation from Hilti Ventures, Trimble Ventures, BGV and Zacua Ventures, to expand growth and advance its product roadmap.
- What does the funding mean for contech investments?
- The funding signals ongoing interest in construction technology that combines software, data and hardware to improve jobsite productivity, scheduling accuracy and project visibility.
- What other trends are evident in the contech space?
- Investors are backing modular construction, AI-enabled estimating and contract management, with a focus on scalable platforms, field management tools and data-driven decision making.
Key features and quick takeaways
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| New hire | Subham Kedia appointed as senior associate at Hilti Ventures |
| Focus areas | AI-powered robotics, next-generation construction software, modular construction |
| Notable investment mentioned | Outbuild Series A for scheduling software; round led by Sway Ventures; other backers include Hilti Ventures, Trimble Ventures, BGV, Zacua Ventures |
| Outbuild product | Real-time insights, customizable dashboards, scheduling optimization, efficiency gains |
| Industry context | Contech funding continues to rise with AI, modular construction and software-enabled project management at the forefront |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
Additional Resources
- Global Venturing: Subham Kedia joins Hilti Ventures
- Wikipedia: Hilti
- Equipment World: Hilti partners with tech companies (Fieldwire, Trackunit)
- Google Search: Hilti Ventures corporate venture construction tech
- Construction Dive: Contech funding round — Gropyus document crunch
- Google Scholar: construction technology modular construction
- PR Newswire: Outbuild secures $11 million in Series A
- Encyclopedia Britannica: modular construction
- CEMEX: Construction industry’s flagship startup competition kicks off its 9th edition
- Google News: construction technology startups funding
