Investors eye startups focused on automating construction

Investors are pumping in billions of dollars into the construction technology sector, according to a Wall Street Journal report and Construction Dive. 

According to the report, research company CREtech found that venture capital investment in private construction technology firms increased from $352 million in 2016 to more than $6 billion in 2018. At the end of June, 2019 investments totaled more than $4 billion, signaling that capital investments into the sector this year could exceed those made in 2018.

Startups are poised to bring to market new technologies and techniques to raise construction efficiency. The products could help tame rising construction costs and address a persistent shortage of qualified trade workers.

Investors that make the right bets could reap big payoffs in an industry that experts say is ready for automation.