A Paris-based startup, Freeda, is making strides in the construction industry by addressing a prevalent issue: errors in construction plans. These inconsistencies often lead to significant delays and financial burdens for project owners. The startup recently secured €3.4 million in funding, led by Frst and Brick & Mortar Ventures, to further its development and expansion. Freeda’s recognition in Station F’s Future 40 highlights its potential to innovate in this space with its AI-driven platform that streamlines plan verification.
How Has Construction Plan Verification Evolved?
In the past, checking construction plans for errors required a substantial manual effort, often exceeding 100 hours per project. These intensive processes not only resulted in inefficiencies but also failed to catch critical oversights, subsequently causing costly redesigns and project delays. Freeda’s system enhances the traditional method by significantly reducing the time needed for plan verification, using a combination of AI technology and field expertise. Where manual checks fall short, Freeda offers a solution that aims to expedite this essential step in project development.
What Challenges Does Freeda Aim to Overcome?
Freeda targets the prevalent issue of plan inconsistencies and regulatory non-compliance that lead to delays in construction projects. Their approach combines AI with expert knowledge from architects and engineers to ensure plans meet necessary standards. This methodology not only reduces the time required for verification but also brings greater accuracy. According to Mariano Rodriguez, CSO and co-founder of Freeda, tackling the complexity inherent in architectural plans is key.
Architectural plans aren’t just voluminous — their complexity is on another level. OCR isn’t enough: geometry, topology, units — two centimetres of discrepancy can fail an inspection. This very complexity represents a massive opportunity, and our expertise lies in transforming it into clear, automatable verification processes.
Freeda’s AI-powered platform is designed to identify errors within 48 hours, thereby significantly hastening the verification process. This swift analysis aids in bringing forward project revenues and also allows design teams to redirect their focus from repetitive tasks to more creatively oriented work. Freeda paves the way for better cost control as delays and budget overruns become less frequent.
The recent funding will enable Freeda to expand its reach, adapting its platform to meet local standards globally. With over 10,000 plans already verified and a goal to analyze 1 million plans by 2026, Freeda is setting its sights on a broader market in Europe, the UK, the US, and the Middle East. Freeda founders emphasize that human oversight remains crucial, even as AI assumes a larger role in construction plan verification.
Recognising that AI alone isn’t enough, we’re expanding our team and adapting globally, leveraging field expertise for a robust analysis.
Freeda’s targeted growth and strategic use of funds suggest a strong commitment to refining verification processes in the construction industry. Focusing on standard compliance and error reduction can help relieve common industry pain points. This approach potentially leads to more efficient project completions, satisfying the financial goals of stakeholders. By combining AI with expert input, Freeda’s platform could offer robust support for diverse construction projects around the world.
