Bobyard builds AI infrastructure for the construction trades. Founded in 2023 and led by Michael Ding, a Stanford-trained engineer, the company applies computer vision and natural language processing to the reading and analysis of architectural construction drawings, automating material takeoff and quantity counting - work traditionally performed by hand by estimators before a bid is submitted.
Its product, the Bobyard Platform, is designed to interpret drawings in the manner of an expert estimator and produce accurate estimates in minutes rather than the hours or days manual takeoff requires. The company reports the process is roughly 10x faster than manual work, with fewer errors. Engineering work spans computer vision, NLP and machine learning, applied to pre-construction estimating software and construction takeoff automation.
Bobyard raised $35M in a Series A round led by 8VC, with participation from Pear VC, Primary Venture Partners, Tishman Speyer, RXR and Caffeinated Capital. The platform launched with a focus on landscaping and has since expanded to serve finishes, electrical, plumbing and mechanical trades.
