Darren Bechtel

Since 2015, Brick & Mortar Ventures has focused its venture capital philosophy on early-stage construction technology investment.

Led by founder Darren Bechtel, the firm was the first to focus on the contech value chain, investing in emerging startups around the world in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector and trying to improve operations and management of buildings and infrastructure.

“In 2025, contech, and more broadly technology for the built environment, is moving from point solutions to full-stack transformation,” Bechtel said in a statement. “The next wave of winners will integrate AI, robotics and materials science to create more sustainable, data-driven and adaptive built environments — and Brick & Mortar is proud to be at the center of that evolution.”

Brick & Mortar boasts a global portfolio of more than 70 investments spanning construction automation, advanced materials, building operations software, robotics and energy management. Its portfolio companies have collectively raised over $2 billion in follow-on funding.

In addition, the firm manages more than $300 million across three core funds, with leading investments in technologies that drive efficiency, sustainability and safety across the entire building/asset life cycle.

The firm’s major category exits include Bechtel’s being the largest seed round investor in PlanGrid (acquired by Autodesk) and Levelset (acquired by Procore); and an early investor in Fieldwire (acquired by Hilti) and BuildingConnected (acquired by Autodesk) — all four of which helped establish the foundation of the modern construction tech ecosystem.

Brick & Mortar also emphasizes sustainability and resilience by investing in solutions that decarbonize construction, extend building lifespans, and improve disaster readiness, which it considers key themes for the next decade of real estate innovation.

A scion of the Bechtel Group construction and engineering dynasty, Darren Bechtel is a frequent speaker at conferences such as BuiltWorlds, Future Place/FCON and CREtech, as well as a mentor to emerging founders in proptech and construction tech, and an adviser to industry organizations trying for digital transformation.