Nonlinear Emerges from Stealth with $1.1M Pre-Seed to Bring Custom AI Workflows to AEC Industry
SAN FRANCISCO — Nonlinear, an AI-first construction technology startup, has officially launched after operating in stealth mode since 2023. The company is introducing a customizable AI platform designed to help Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) firms streamline operations, automate document-heavy tasks, and reduce project costs. The launch is backed by $1.1 million in pre-seed funding led by Silicon Valley firm Unusual Ventures, with support from industry-focused angel investors.
The founders — Stanford graduates Sheel Sansare, Adam Banga, and Sunny Yu — bring a combined background in artificial intelligence, design automation, and construction workflows. Their goal is to solve one of the sector’s most persistent problems: the inefficiency caused by disjointed systems and manual document management.
The Problem: Time Lost in PDFs and Fragmented Tools
The AEC industry still relies heavily on static formats like PDFs for high-stakes documents such as submittals, specifications, and contracts. A 2022 report from Autodesk and FMI found that construction professionals lose 13 hours per week searching for project data, and 35% of total time is consumed by nonproductive activities like sorting documents, resolving errors, or tracking down missing information.
AEC firms have experimented with generative AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT, but adoption has stalled. Without structure, guardrails, data integrations, or standardized prompts, firms struggle to implement AI meaningfully across teams.
“AI in construction doesn’t fail because the models aren’t powerful, it fails because teams don’t know how to use them consistently,” said Sheel Sansare, CEO of Nonlinear. “With Nonlinear, we take the guesswork out and enable teams to package prompts, tribal knowledge, and proprietary data into workflows that can actually be reused. Now, teams can move beyond ad-hoc experimentation and achieve lasting AI value.”
The Platform: Modular, No-Code, and Built for Scale
The Nonlinear platform acts as an AI workflow builder that allows firms to create, customize, and deploy automations across departments and projects. Teams can use prebuilt workflows or design their own and roll them out firm-wide.
Expected applications include:
- Automated QA/QC of reports and design documents
- Submittal reviews against specs
- Proposal generation and RFP responses
- Quantity takeoff and estimation automation
Workflows can run directly within existing tools such as Microsoft Teams and Outlook, and integrate with platforms like Autodesk Construction Cloud and Procore.
Early Users Report Faster Processes and Firm-Wide Adoption
Early adopters are seeing a reduction in manual effort and improved collaboration.
Will Cooksey, Chief Operating Officer at Preload, shared:
“At Preload, we began using Nonlinear to speed up our overall takeoff and estimation process. With their platform, we can now design powerful, custom AI apps in one system, making it much easier to adopt firm-wide compared to several point solutions.”
Denise Davis, Contracts Manager at Gulf Coast Underground, added:
“Nonlinear has simplified a process that once pulled time from multiple people. Now, our workflows are clear, efficient, and easier on the entire team.”
What’s Ahead
With its funding secured and platform launched, Nonlinear plans to:
- Expand integrations with key AEC project management tools
- Add more prebuilt, domain-specific workflows
- Scale user onboarding and training capabilities
- Support firms transitioning from pilot projects to organization-wide adoption
AEC companies interested in demos or pilot access can request more information at www.nonlinear.build.
About Nonlinear
Founded in 2023, Nonlinear develops AI-powered solutions for the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction industry. Its no-code workflow builder helps firms automate repetitive, document-intensive tasks and focus on higher-value problem-solving. Funded by Unusual Ventures and industry investors, Nonlinear is headquartered in San Francisco and focused on shaping the future of construction technology.
Originally reported by Non Linear in Construction Dive.
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