Latest news with #BuildOps
Associated Press
23-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Mike Rowe to Headline BuildOps Forge 2025: Champion of Skilled Labor Joins the Premier Event for the Trades
Iconic 'Dirty Jobs' Host to Inspire Commercial Contractors at Premier Industry Event in San Diego LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESS Newswire / July 23, 2025 / BuildOps, the all-in-one platform built for commercial contractors, today announced that Mike Rowe-Emmy Award-winning TV host, New York Times bestselling author, and CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation-will headline BuildOps Forge 2025, the company's flagship conference for the trades. BuildOps Forge is set to take place October 13-15 in San Diego. BuildOps Forge 2025 brings together the professionals who maintain and build America's critical infrastructure-from HVAC and electrical contractors to plumbing and fire safety experts. Attendees will experience three days of practical education, peer-to-peer learning, and industry-shaping dialogue, now energized by one of the most recognized voices championing the trades. 'Mike Rowe has done more to dignify the trades than anyone in modern media,' said Alok Chanani, CEO of BuildOps. 'He understands that building a great career doesn't require a desk or a degree. It takes skill. It takes grit. And it takes someone to tell that story. That's exactly why he's joining us at Forge.' Through his mikeroweWORKS Foundation, Rowe has awarded millions in scholarships to aspiring tradespeople and led national efforts to close the skills gap. His message-that a career in the trades can offer purpose, prosperity, and a path to ownership-continues to resonate with workers and employers alike. 'The next generation isn't being told the full story,' Rowe said. 'The trades aren't a fallback. They're a way forward-for families, for businesses, and for the entire country. I'm excited to join BuildOps Forge to speak directly with the builders and makers of the world-the men and women who keep our systems running, our lights on, and our economy moving. They deserve not just appreciation, but opportunity.' From shifting regulations and surging energy demand to workforce shortages and new technology, commercial contractors are navigating an industry in flux. BuildOps Forge offers a vital platform to regroup, retool, and collectively take control of the future. The event combines tactical training and exclusive BuildOps roadmap access with big-picture insight from industry leaders and peers. It's a high-impact experience designed to sharpen skills, strengthen networks, and move the trades forward-together. 'There's never been more pressure-or more possibility-in this industry,' said Steve Chew, BuildOps Co-Founder. 'Forge exists to meet that moment. It's where contractors come to level up, lead boldly, and build what's next.' BuildOps Forge has a history of bringing extraordinary voices to the trades, including leadership expert Jocko Willink, Medal of Honor recipient Lt. Colonel William Swenson, and boxing legend Mike Tyson. In 2025, Mike Rowe continues that legacy-spotlighting the people who keep America's infrastructure moving and the future of skilled work alive. For more information about BuildOps Forge 2025, including the agenda, speaker lineup, and registration details, please visit About BuildOps Forge BuildOps Forge is the premier conference for commercial contractors. Designed for business owners, operations leaders, and field professionals, it provides expert-led training, invaluable peer insights, and an exclusive look at the future of the trades industry. About BuildOps BuildOps is the only all-in-one business platform built exclusively for commercial contractors. By combining project management, service, dispatching, invoicing, and AI-powered automation, BuildOps helps contractors work smarter, grow faster, and stay ahead of the competition. To learn more about BuildOps and how we're driving innovation in the trades, visit Media Contact Justin Mauldin Salient PR [email protected] 737.234.0936 SOURCE: BuildOps press release
Axios
24-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
California software startup BuildOps plans 290-person office in downtown Raleigh
BuildOps, a California-based startup that makes software for commercial contractors, such as HVAC and plumbing companies, plans to open a 290-person office in Raleigh. Why it matters: At a time when the tech industry has pulled back on hiring, BuildOps' new Raleigh hub will both create new opportunities for local workers and provide a shot in the arm for the city's recovering office market. This will be the company's third hub in addition to Los Angeles and Toronto. Driving the news: BuildOps' expansion into Raleigh was revealed at the state's Economic Investment Committee meeting on Tuesday morning, when the state voted to award the company incentives to expand here. If it meets hiring and investment goals, BuildOps would be eligible for state and local incentives worth around $3 million through 2037. Zoom in: Founded in 2018, BuildOps' platform helps commercial contracting companies manage their fleet of employees in the field, schedule dispatches, handle payments and tackle a variety of other tasks. In March, BuildOps raised $127 million from investors, giving the company a valuation of $1 billion, according to TechCrunch. Details: BuildOps plans to hire across all positions, from customer success and sales to development roles. The average wage is expected to be around $110,000, according to the state's Commerce Department. BuildOps expects to ramp up hiring between 2025 and 2029. Raleigh was competing with Austin for the hub, according to a presentation from the Commerce Department. What they're saying: Steve Chew, a co-founder of BuildOps, told Axios that the company has not yet signed a lease for an office but wants to be in downtown. The company operates a hybrid in-office schedule, he added, so the focus will be on hiring people who can come into the office two to three times a week. The company is hoping to aggressively expand on the East Coast, according to Chew, and Raleigh's talent concentration and cost of living stood out among other cities it considered. "One of the big drivers for our decision to open the office in Raleigh was just the wealth of university talent in the area," he said, noting the company had encouraging meetings with N.C. State and other local education institutions. "I think it's very optimistic for us to be hiring aggressively at this stage when a lot of other companies are cutting costs and hunkering down," he added. "It makes it more competitive for job seekers, but I think that's an advantage to us, because we now are able to leverage an office like Raleigh to attract the best talent."
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LA's Next Unicorn: BuildOps Lands $127M Series C, Expanding the Largest Commercial Trade Contractor Platform in the Country
Meritech, BOND, and SE Ventures Invest in Platform Fueling Record ROI for Commercial Giants LOS ANGELES, CA / / March 21, 2025 / BuildOps, the all-in-one platform exclusively built for modern commercial contractors, announced today that it has raised $127 million in Series C funding led by Meritech Capital Partners, propelling the company to unicorn status with a valuation of $1 billion. The funding also includes new participation from BOND and SE Ventures, the venture capital firm backed by Schneider Electric and is joined by BuildOps' existing investors, including Fika Ventures, Next47, StepStone Group, and Titanium Ventures. BuildOps is also backed by notable investors 01A, Founders Fund, B Capital, MetaProp, 137 Ventures, and Liquid2. Partner at Meritech, Paul Madera, will join BuildOps' board, alongside other highly acclaimed members: former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo, Fika Founder TX Zhuo, former Boost Mobile CEO Stephen Stokols, and Next47 General Partner Matthew Cowan. This investment further cements BuildOps as the largest and most influential commercial trade contractor platform in the country. "We've spent years watching commercial contractors- the guys who keep our lights on and pipes flowing-get crushed by chaos they don't deserve," said Paul Madera, former fighter pilot and founding partner at Meritech Capital Partners. "BuildOps is the first enterprise software solution we've seen that actually gets it and fills an industry-wide need: a platform that doesn't just patch holes; it facilitates control and management of workflow from the shop floor to the job site. We're leading this round because these folks build our world, and BuildOps is hell-bent on making these businesses more efficient, effective and productive - this is a very large market that is wide open for BuildOps." The latest funding accelerates BuildOps' deployment of cutting-edge AI technology, including predictive analytics that identifies maintenance needs before they become costly, AI-powered scheduling, and real-time project tracking. This next-gen tech doesn't just automate-it positions contractors to predict, plan, and profit in ways previously impossible. Industry giants like J.H. Kelly, Haynes Mechanical, Baker Electric, Crete United, Modigent, Kelso, and Service Logic are leveraging BuildOps to achieve incredible efficiency gains, cut administrative overhead, speed invoicing, and maximize technician productivity. J.H. Kelly, a leading multi-trade specialty contractor with over 1,200 employees across its construction and mechanical/electrical service groups, shared the impact of BuildOps on their operations: "BuildOps has revolutionized our operational efficiency. From real-time quoting and customer communication to billing and cash flow management, BuildOps has fundamentally changed how we do business," said Rob Harris, EVP of Business Development at J.H. Kelly. "Its predictive analytics enable real-time operations, allowing us to focus on growth while staying deeply connected with our customers. The platform's seamless integration has driven double-digit growth and significantly boosted profitability-truly a game-changer." Service Logic, the largest privately held network of HVAC and mechanical services companies in the U.S. and Canada, achieved over $2 billion in revenue in 2024, with more than 100 locations nationwide. Jason Richardson, CEO of Service Logic, shared: "We are excited for the BuildOps team on their latest round of funding, which will allow them to continue fueling innovative developments of the platform. We look forward to seeing the additional functionalities and growing our partnership with BuildOps." BuildOps serves contractors across the U.S. and Canada, providing a strategic advantage that drives real growth and profitability. As major industry players increasingly adopt the platform, BuildOps is becoming the definitive technology partner for commercial contracting businesses poised to lead their markets. "I talk to contractors every day-HVAC pros, plumbers, electricians-and they're busting their backs keeping our world running, but the deck's stacked against them with staffing shortages, skyrocketing costs, and tech that is stuck in the Stone Age," said Alok Chanani, CEO of BuildOps. "It fires me up because they deserve better-tools that don't just keep up but actually let them run circles around the chaos. That's what we're building at BuildOps: a way for them to take charge, grow without breaking, and deliver like the heroes they are." *** About BuildOps BuildOps is the only all-in-one business platform built exclusively for commercial contractors. By combining project management, service, dispatching, invoicing, and AI-powered automation, BuildOps helps contractors work smarter, grow faster, and stay ahead of the competition. To learn more about BuildOps and how we're driving innovation in the trades, visit About Meritech Meritech is one of the original venture growth investor firms and invests $20 - $100 million into rapidly growing technology companies across the US and internationally. Over the past 25 years, Meritech has managed over $6 Billion and invested in many of the most successful venture-backed companies of that period to include Braze, Coupa, Datadog, Facebook, Mulesoft, NetSuite, Salesforce, Snowflake, Roblox and Tableau. The Meritech investing and support philosophy is simple: we exist to help teams build market-leading companies in the technology markets that matter. We believe our companies should be center stage as enduring brands and entrepreneurs are the drivers of success. We do one thing: invest in the best late-stage tech companies in the universe. Media Contact Justin MauldinSalient PRachievemore@ SOURCE: BuildOps View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BuildOps valued at $1 billion in funding round, plans to scale operations amid strong demand
By Akash Sriram (Reuters) - BuildOps said on Friday it has raised $127 million in a late-stage funding round at a valuation of $1 billion, as it looks to scale operations and meet growing demand from contractors for its AI-enabled software platform. The Series C funding round was led by Meritech Capital Partners and saw participation from new investors such as Schneider Electric's SE Ventures and BOND Capital as well as existing investors Fika Ventures and Next47, among others. Advancements in AI and easier access to such technologies have opened avenues for new sectors to improve productivity and reduce costs. BuildOps, which offers a consolidated platform for commercial contractors to manage accounts, customer relationships and other operations, has seen huge demand for its services, the company said. "The modern contractor that we work with is now going to have the insights from volumes of data that we're putting AI against to try to project cost overruns before they happen," Chief Operating Officer John Laino told Reuters. "Historically, they would have to wait three or four months into a project, and sometimes it was too late to course-correct." The company, backed by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, has been growing at a 100% rate for several years and expects to grow at a high rate in the short-to-medium term, CEO Alok Chanani said, adding that going public is part of the vision. He, however, did not specify a timeline. "We're in a hyper-growth stage today, and so, profitability is not a core focus of the business right now. Our focus is really on growth and investing heavily in R&D and product development and continuing to expand our market reach and customer acquisition," Chanani said. The company expects to make strategic acquisitions that could be mutually beneficial. BuildOps had bought PWSWARE, the parent company of software platform Perfectware Solutions, in 2023 for an undisclosed amount.
Reuters
21-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
BuildOps valued at $1 billion in funding round, plans to scale operations amid strong demand
March 21 (Reuters) - BuildOps said on Friday it has raised $127 million in a late-stage funding round at a valuation of $1 billion, as it looks to scale operations and meet growing demand from contractors for its AI-enabled software platform. The Series C funding round was led by Meritech Capital Partners and saw participation from new investors such as Schneider Electric's SE Ventures and BOND Capital as well as existing investors Fika Ventures and Next47, among others. Advancements in AI and easier access to such technologies have opened avenues for new sectors to improve productivity and reduce costs. BuildOps, which offers a consolidated platform for commercial contractors to manage accounts, customer relationships and other operations, has seen huge demand for its services, the company said. "The modern contractor that we work with is now going to have the insights from volumes of data that we're putting AI against to try to project cost overruns before they happen," Chief Operating Officer John Laino told Reuters. "Historically, they would have to wait three or four months into a project, and sometimes it was too late to course-correct." The company, backed by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund, has been growing at a 100% rate for several years and expects to grow at a high rate in the short-to-medium term, CEO Alok Chanani said, adding that going public is part of the vision. He, however, did not specify a timeline. "We're in a hyper-growth stage today, and so, profitability is not a core focus of the business right now. Our focus is really on growth and investing heavily in R&D and product development and continuing to expand our market reach and customer acquisition," Chanani said. The company expects to make strategic acquisitions that could be mutually beneficial. BuildOps had bought PWSWARE, the parent company of software platform Perfectware Solutions, in 2023 for an undisclosed amount.
