TruBuild Lands $1M Seed Round to Reduce Costly Project Variations with AI

TruBuild Co-Founders: Disrat Degefa and Sari Sabban

TruBuild, the AI-powered construction technology startup focused on preventing delays and unexpected costs in project delivery, has successfully closed a $1 million seed round. The round included participation from Waʼed Ventures, the $500 million venture capital arm of Saudi Aramco, Dar Ventures, the venture arm of Dar, as well as Plug & Play Ventures, OQAL, Taz Investment, and strategic angel investors including Simon Moon, former CEO of Atkins Middle East. TruBuild received an early investment from Antler MENAP as part of the cohort in Riyadh 2023.

“We fully believe in TruBuildʼs mission to eliminate costly project changes and variations, in line with our mission to invest in impactful businesses in the construction sector.ˮ 

 Anas Algahtani, Wa'ed Ventures.

 “TruBuild is combining the best of British construction expertise with cutting edge Saudi AI R&D to support the realisation of the Saudi Vision 2030 and beyondˮ

Matt Jones, Saudi British Joint Business Council.

Addressing One of Constructionʼs Most Expensive Challenges

Every year, project changes and cost overruns lead to more than $1.6 trillion in unplanned expenses worldwide, equivalent to 15% of total project costs.

TruBuildʼs AI platform works quietly in the background, analysing project data to spot risks early and provide real-time insights. It integrates directly with tools teams already use, helping project owners, consultants and contractors stay aligned, make decisions faster, and reduce back-and-forth.

“Weʼre not here to disrupt for the sake of it,ˮ said Bisrat Degefa, CEO of TruBuild. “Weʼre here to make everyday decisions easier through objective data, and to help project teams avoid the kinds of issues theyʼve faced for years.ˮ

Real-World Support from Industry Leaders

TruBuild is working with major organisations in Saudi Arabia, including Osool Real Estate Company.

“TruBuild’s approach is an integral part of our digital strategy, allowing Osool to procure and develop projects more efficiently,” said David Watkins, Chief Project Development Officer at Osool Real Estate. 

Led by Global Industry Leaders

TruBuild is founded by professionals with decades of hands-on experience in construction and technology:

Bisrat Degefa, CEO Former Global Director of Atkins and Gleeds, with more than 15 years of experience leading delivery on complex, multi-billion-dollar projects totaling over $34 billion.

Dr. Sari Sabban, CTO A two-time Fulbright Scholar, AI developer, and patent holder with almost two decades of experience in ML development and R&D.

“With the backing of thoughtful investors and strategic partners, weʼre focused on solving real pain points for teams in the fieldˮ said Degefa. “Weʼre proud to contribute to a more predictable and transparent construction process, creating the next paradigm shift in construction technology.ˮ

Next Steps for TruBuild

The seed funding will be used to enhance TruBuildʼs AI platform, grow its engineering and commercial teams, and scale its impact across Saudi Arabia and abroad.

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