San Francisco-based AI startup Mach9 has raised $34 million in Series A funding to expand its AI-powered software for surveying and civil engineering. The round was co-led by First Round Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from Prudence and existing investor Quiet Capital. The investment brings Mach9’s total funding to $49 million and will support the development of its technology as demand grows for infrastructure maintenance and modernisation across the United States.
Founded by Alex Baikovitz, Haowen Shi, Michael Mong and Zach Sussman, Mach9 develops AI-powered computer-aided design (CAD) software that converts three-dimensional scans of physical infrastructure into engineering-ready drawings. The founders met at Carnegie Mellon University’s Robotics Institute and previously worked on technologies involving robotics, perception and autonomous systems at companies and organisations including Tesla, SpaceX, Apple, NASA and Google X.
Automating Infrastructure Surveying With AI
Civil engineering projects typically begin with surveying existing infrastructure, including roads, utilities, construction sites and transportation networks. Although technologies such as LiDAR allow surveyors to collect detailed 3D data relatively quickly, converting those scans into technical drawings remains a labour-intensive process that can take weeks or months.
Mach9 addresses this challenge by using AI to identify physical features within 3D scans and automatically generate CAD drawings. Engineering teams can upload data collected using their existing surveying equipment, and the software identifies elements such as curbs, road signs, utility poles, lane markings and overhead wires. Surveyors and engineers can then review, edit and finalise the resulting drawings using Mach9’s tools.
According to the company, its software can accelerate the process by up to 10 times while reducing costs to approximately one-fifth of traditional methods, with centimetre-level accuracy. The technology is designed to help engineering firms process larger volumes of surveying data without proportionally increasing the manual work required to prepare technical documentation.
Mach9 reports that its platform has been used across more than 2,500 projects in all 50 US states, covering over 100,000 miles of infrastructure corridors. Its customers include engineering firms WSP, HNTB and NV5, as well as transportation agencies such as Caltrans, the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Maryland State Highway Administration.
Funding to Expand AI Software for Civil Engineering
The $34 million Series A will support Mach9’s efforts to expand its AI software as infrastructure owners and engineering firms face increasing demand for surveying, maintenance and construction projects. The company is targeting workflows where large volumes of physical infrastructure data must be converted into accurate engineering documentation before design and construction work can begin.
Mach9’s technology is already being used in projects involving transportation safety, urban infrastructure and telecommunications. In San Diego, Caltrans is using the platform to inventory rumble strips and other road-safety features along Interstate 8. In San Francisco, engineering firm Kier + Wright is using Mach9 to support pedestrian safety improvements around schools, while Fibersmith is applying the software to a broadband infrastructure project in Louisiana intended to connect 125,000 homes and businesses.
The company also reports productivity improvements among engineering customers. Pennoni, a US engineering consultancy, said Mach9 enables its team to complete 50% more work with the same experienced staff, increasing its capacity to take on additional projects.
With the new financing, Mach9 plans to continue developing AI-powered CAD technology for civil engineering and surveying, helping infrastructure teams convert physical-world data into technical documentation more efficiently.
