Sitemate, a Sydney-based startup specializing in no-code software tools for the construction sector, has successfully secured $5.2 million in funding.
Sitemate, a company focused on digitizing heavy industries such as construction, mining, and manufacturing, has successfully raised a significant funding round led by Blackbird. Existing investors Shearwater Capital and angel investors Tim Doyle and Rory San Miguel also participated in the round.
The association between Blackbird and Sitemate goes back to 2017 when Sitemate, then known as Construction Cloud, joined the Startmate program. At that time, Sitemate was considered the least likely to survive, but Blackbird General Partner Nick Crocker, who was running the program, has witnessed the company’s impressive growth.
Blackbird Principal Tom Humphrey, who has now joined Sitemate’s board, draws comparisons between Sitemate and the successful Sydney-based software giant Atlassian. He believes that Sitemate’s trajectory aligns more closely with Atlassian’s product-focused approach rather than that of a typical proptech firm like Aconex.
Sitemate aims to bring real-time collaboration and a seamless product experience to the millions of workers in heavy industries who rely on hardhats and steel-capped work boots. Similar to how Atlassian revolutionized software development, Sitemate seeks to provide a similar impact for the construction and related sectors.
The rise of no-code tools such as Canva, Jira, Trello, and Slack has facilitated streamlined digital processes at minimal costs. Sitemate’s co-founder and CEO, Hartley Pike, an engineer with experience in the construction sector, explains that the company’s product is designed to digitize “Built World” companies. These encompass heavy industries like construction, oil and gas, mining, manufacturing, energy, power, utilities, transport, agriculture, and facilities management.
Pike emphasizes that many companies in these industries still rely on paper forms, physical folders, and outdated software to document, track, and manage work. He recounts spending half a day every week collecting paperwork and the remaining half distributing it during his time in the sector. Pike dispels the notion that the workforce in these industries is resistant to change, asserting that the software solutions available to them simply haven’t been up to par in terms of usability and efficiency.
Sitemate’s flagship product, the Dashpivot Systems Cloud, is a hybrid solution that combines a digital database for the office and an on-the-job app. It empowers companies to select, create, and customize various digital processes and complex workflows that involve multiple project parties and stakeholders. This results in time and cost savings, improved compliance, and better outcomes for all parties involved.
Zac Zavos, Managing Partner at Shearwater Capital, initially invested in Sitemate in 2019 and has increased his investment in this funding round. He commends the Sitemate team for their deep understanding of the problem they are solving and their ability to consistently grow their customer base, even during challenging economic cycles.
Sitemate has established a global customer base, with operations in Sydney and London. The company plans to open a North American office later this year, further expanding its presence in the market.
