Kiwi construction tech platform launches in US market

New Zealand-founded Mooven has launched in the United States, opening an office in San Francisco to lead the company's global expansion.

Established in 2017, the Kiwi tech startup's latest office will continue its mission of reshaping economics and how infrastructure is delivered, as well as the resulting community impact.

"There's an expanding gap between what is being delivered and what is actually needed for transport infrastructure in the United States," Mooven CEO and co-founder Micah Gabriels says.

"With 43% of the country's roads in poor or mediocre condition, these challenges cannot be solved by maintaining the status quo.

"The industry has suffered flat productivity for decades, with other sectors speeding ahead in line with the digital economy.

Mooven previously achieved success in the ANZ market during its efforts to assist government authorities and construction companies in implementing smarter ways of working to accelerate the transition to smart cities.

The company does this by affording decision-makers greater access to the right data and contextual awareness, which helps them speed up completing infrastructure projects without disrupting local communities.

The contextual insights indicate the impact these projects will have on the transport network, such as traffic congestion and noise pollution and allow delivery teams to plan smarter and adjust when needed.

Mooven notes that its expansion to the US follows the passing of President Biden's USD $1 trillion infrastructure bill, which will offer significant stimulus funding and growth for the sector, intending to repair a backlog in transport systems, modernise existing infrastructure and support the move to a clean economy.

Although, the company adds that there is pressure to act quickly.

"In the past, there hasn't been enough money to maintain historic roads, nor enough to build new. Too often, we've seen the US treat infrastructure investment as a political football, but now the challenge is to spend Biden's stimulus quickly and efficiently," Gabriels notes.

"However, this is a challenge in a sector McKinsey identifies less than 3% of projects are completed on time and [within] budget, largely due to historical inefficiencies that have too long impacted the way construction outfits work.

"In a political environment where complaints and public opinion matter, the pressure is on to implement wider productivity benefits and make sure progress can occur without grinding cities to a halt.

"Mooven comes in as firebreak, providing context that spans far beyond what it has previously relied on, so teams can work faster and smarter.

The San Francisco branch will be Mooven's main US office, primarily focusing its efforts on the west coast of North America, with the area frequenting heavier traffic congestion and less developed public transport.

"Our experience in Australia and New Zealand put us in a unique position to export our advanced IP and knowledge to a similar but much larger market," Gabriels adds.

"The US, like Australia and New Zealand are unusual in the developed world with large road networks per capita and relatively low public transport usage.

Mooven will capitalise on its existing ANZ customer base with a presence in the US market to drive its ambitious goal of achieving a 20% increase in US infrastructure delivered for the same budget.

This includes Lendlease, Transurban, Jacobs, AECOM and WSP.

According to Gabriels, breaking into the US market will position Mooven to make a tangible and lasting impact on the way infrastructure is delivered worldwide, so it can succeed in its mission to create space for cities to thrive.