Atlanta’s latest construction-focused technology startup is looking to bring the puzzle pieces together for busy architects.
Skema, which was recently accepted into ATDC’s (Advanced Technology Development Center) Accelerate Program, uses artificial intelligence to overcome long-standing limitations seen across the AEC (architecture engineering construction) industry.
The startup’s platform looks at all the projects a firm has and builds a catalog of design elements. These become what the team refers to as “3D puzzle pieces” that can be replicated and morphed to help an architect more quickly build out project blueprints down the road.
Building The Puzzle Pieces Of Skema
These puzzle pieces are particularly useful for architects, engineers, and construction professionals working with “repeatable elements,” said Richard Harpham. So once a firm has designed something like a bathroom, a kitchen, or a hospital room that works, they can easily bring that element into other parts of the design.
This helps architects avoid the “mundane” and “repetitive” tasks that are necessary in the early stages of the BIM (Building Information Modeling) process, added Harpham. This can help architects automate up to 80 percent of the design process, according to the Skema team.
Beneath those 3D puzzle pieces is a robust machine learning model that powers Skema. Designs are protected, so copyrighted material is not shared with other Skema clients.
“We learn from [client’s] use within [the platform’s] design environment, not from training it on their previous data,” added co-founder and CTO Marty Rozmanith.
Building The Skema “Dream Team”
The startup, which officially launched in 2023, is co-founded by a “dream team” that brings a wealth of knowledge in the AEC software space. Alongside Rozmanith and Harpham are co-founders Charlie Cichetti (Atlanta-based CEO), Kristina Bach (President), and Arol Wolford (Atlanta-based veteran of the construction software industry).
Cichetti previously co-founded Atlanta-based Aetos Imaging, a visual maintenance management software for facility managers. Rozmanith and Harpham built up their careers at Autodesk and Revit, two of the largest and most well-known construction-focused software companies. Bach, an architect by training, brings extensive experience in the LEED building and sustainability space to the team.
Local investors have jumped at the opportunity to back the Skema team.
Atlanta-based Jeff Shaw, Senior Managing Director with Bridge Investment Group and CEO Bridge Commercial Real Estate, is one such investor.
“I have not seen a tool that harnesses AI more effectively than Skema to save time and money at the most critical times in the development process. I’m a fan of the Skema team and their proven track record,” Shaw added.
What’s Next For Skema
Of course in 2024, just about every startup is going to have a focus on AI. But for the Skema team, the underlying technology has to be applied in a regimented fashion to make an impact.
“We’re very measured about how we apply [AI]. And the reason for that is we are doing generative things where when we give certain inputs, we want to make sure that we always get predictable outputs,” added Rozmanith.
While the co-founding team is spread out across the country, Cichetti said that building a hub in Atlanta is strategic both for finding talent and customers.
The team is currently in the process of raising its seed round, which has already gained traction with angels and VC firms focused on the AEC industry.
