The $15 trillion-dollar construction industry is long overdue for technology-based disruption, and investors are picking up on the opportunity. VC funds around the world invested a whopping $50 billion in construction startups over the last four years (double the previous period).
As part of our going series of free fundraising resources and investor lists for founders, this article will explore the top 7 active VC firms and investors focused on construction startups, with details on each firm’s investment focus, history and fund size.
1. BGF (Business Growth Fund)
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BGF is the most active and influential investor in small and mid-sized businesses in the UK. An established and independent company, they have £2.5bn to support a range of growing companies – early-stage, growth-stage and quoted – across every region and sector in the UK and Ireland. BGF is a minority, non-controlling equity partner with a patient outlook, based on shared, long-term goals with the management teams they back. With a 150+ strong team, BGF offers an unparalleled international network of business leaders, sector experts and board-level non-executives. BGF also provides in-house support, including chair and senior executive selection and appointments.
- Founded: 2011
- Fund Size: 597300000
- Website: bgf.co.uk
2. Real Ventures
Real Ventures is an early-stage venture firm focused on serving daring entrepreneurs with the ambition to create successful, global companies. Since 2007, Real Ventures has dedicated itself to building the Canadian startup ecosystem on the belief that people, not money, build game-changing companies. Real Ventures provides stage-specific guidance, mentorship, and access to networks and resources to fast-track founders’ personal and company growth. Real Ventures manages $325 million across five funds and its active portfolio of 100+ companies is currently valued at $10 billion. Real Ventures est une société de capital risque de préamorçage qui s’adresse aux entrepreneurs qui osent créer des entreprises mondiales prospères. Depuis 2007, Real Ventures se consacre au développement de l’écosystème canadien des startups en croyant fermement que ce sont les gens, et non l’argent, qui bâtissent les entreprises qui changeront la donne. Real Ventures offre du mentorat en soutien aux fondateurs à chaque étape de leur parcours, ainsi qu’un accès aux ressources et aux réseaux permettant d’accélérer leur développement personnel et la croissance de leurs entreprises. Real Ventures gère 325 millions de dollars répartis en 5 fonds pour un portefeuille actif de plus de 100 d’entreprises, représentant une valorisation totale évaluée actuellement à 10 milliards de dollars.
- Founded: 2007
- Fund Size: 272300000
- Website: realventures.com
3. Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital
Chrysalix is a global venture capital fund with a long history commercializing step-change innovation for resource intensive industries. They invest in intelligent systems, energy technology and resource productivity solutions to deliver outsized financial returns and environmental sustainability. By teaming up with leading industrial companies and outstanding entrepreneurs, Chrysalix connects market driven problems to breakthrough solutions.
- Founded: 2001
- Fund Size: 25000000
- Website: chrysalix.com
4. Afore
Afore Capital is a Pre-Seed VC with $300 million in AUM co-founded by Anamitra Banerji & Gaurav Jain. They support product-oriented founders building software companies at the very earliest stages. Our sweet spot is investing $1-2m+ into founders’ first institutional round. Afore believes that before there’s a company, before there’s a business, there’s a product-oriented founder leading by product. Afore was started to back these founders at the pre-seed stage exclusively, on day zero of their journey, bringing with them 16 years of product experience and 7 years of institutional investing experience.
- Founded: 2016
- Fund Size: 300000000
- Website: afore.vc
5. Lemnos
Lemnos is a pre-seed and seed investor providing capital to hardware startups.
- Founded: 2011
- Fund Size: 71900000
- Website: lemnos.vc
6. Assurance Mezzanine Fund
Assurance Capital is a private investment firm providing $3 to $20 million of customized growth solutions to profitable, lower-middle-market companies nationwide. They look to invest in established companies operated by experienced and proven management teams with a history of building enterprise value. Assurance Capital was created by former industry executives and experienced investors who highly value their relationships with management teams. Assurance Capital operates two investment vehicles: Assurance Growth Partners is a private equity fund that makes control equity investments in private, lower middle market, U.S. based companies. Assurance Mezzanine Fund is a private debt fund providing $3 to $20 million of customized growth solutions to profitable, lower-middle-market companies.
- Founded: 2017
- Fund Size: 20000000
- Website: assurancemezz.com
7. Kusto Vietnam
Kusto Group has 15 years’ experience of building businesses and today works with more than 30 companies across four continents. Our key markets are oil and gas, agriculture, real estate, construction materials. Kusto Group commits to develop national and international champions in all invested sectors. From its headquarters in Singapore, the Kusto Group has a global reach. It is currently operating in Vietnam, China, Thailand, India, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, and Canada. Kusto Vietnam invested in Vietnam since 2005 and has contributed to various success stories of market leaders in the country. They specialize in providing growth capital to fast-growing businesses that can benefit from the team’s expertise and flexible approach. Kusto Vietnam has successfully invested in over ten companies whose revenues have grown an average of 30% a year, thereby turning them into national champions. The current portfolio’s fair market value implies more than 3 times cash-on-cash return. The portfolio includes companies in real estate, construction and building materials sectors, transportation and logistics, retail and other consumer-driven sectors. Kusto Vietnam commits to support visionary entrepreneurs and management teams who strive to transform and improve the country’s business landscape. Headquartered is located in booming Ho Chi Minh City, Kusto Vietnam.
- Founded: 2005
- Fund Size: 50000000
- Website: https://kusto.com.vn/en/
Raising funding for your startup? Create the perfect construction pitch deck:
Are you interested in learning how to write and design a winning pitch deck for your startup? You may be interested in our popular Construction Pitch Deck template — designed by experts who have helped startups close millions in funding from top investors. Here are some other resources for founders in the construction space:
- Guide to creating a construction pitch deck
- Examples of successful construction startup pitch decks
- Comprehensive recipe for the perfect pitch deck
