Build, an AI-native operating platform for the real estate and infrastructure sectors, has secured $8.5 million in seed funding led by Index Ventures. The investment will accelerate development of the company’s flagship AI platform, Dougie, which automates complex site sourcing and engineering due diligence workflows.
Co-founded by Belfast-native architect James Stirrat-Ellis (formerly of Heatherwick Studio) and AI researcher Ben McClusky (formerly of Gorillas), the company is targeting a massive, underserved segment of the real estate market. The round also saw participation from Pebblebed, Puzzle Ventures, Tiny.vc, and tech figures including OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar and Blackstone CTO John Stecher.
Zoning, Power, and Due Diligence in 75 Minutes
Real estate and infrastructure projects—such as data centers, logistics hubs, and mixed-use developments—require massive upfront investment in technical due diligence. Developers must analyze zoning laws, local utility grids, environmental regulations, and soil conditions before acquiring land. Historically, this process takes up to six weeks, requiring multiple specialized engineering consultants and costing tens of thousands of dollars.
Build's platform, Dougie, automates this entire feasibility phase. By ingesting over 1,600 geospatial, legal, and environmental databases, the AI can analyze site viability, map zoning restrictions, estimate grid connection costs, and produce comprehensive technical reports within 75 minutes.
"Professional services consume between 5% to 10% of total project costs in a $23 trillion asset class," explained CEO James Stirrat-Ellis. "By automating the repetitive technical mapping and due diligence, we allow developers to identify the best sites and start building in a fraction of the time."
A Unique Operating Model: Software as a Service + Delivery
Unlike traditional Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies that sell access to raw software platforms, Build operates as an "AI-augmented services company." Customers request specific development feasibility reports, and Build utilizes its internal AI agents combined with human expert review to deliver complete, certified packages.
This hybrid approach ensures high accuracy and regulatory compliance—both of which are critical in real estate. The model has already attracted institutional clients managing a combined $2 trillion in assets, including the UK government and global developer Tishman Speyer.
"Infrastructure development is the backbone of the modern economy, from logistics to the data centers powering AI," said Index Ventures partner Charlie Taylor. "Build is bringing a modern, AI-powered operating system to an industry that has historically relied on spreadsheets and manual research."
