Suffolk Technologies recently hosted its 5th Annual BOOST Demo Day, marking a key milestone for its built world accelerator program. The event, held at Suffolk’s National Headquarters in Roxbury, Massachusetts, was a part of an expanded Boston Built Week. This weeklong celebration included collaborations with organizations such as the Foundation for Innovation in Real Estate, Built Worlds, and the C-Tech Club.
The Suffolk Technologies BOOST program serves as a unique bridge between industry and innovation, connecting entrepreneurs with real-world applications. By fostering a dynamic community of global leaders—including general contractors, trade partners, building owners/operators, materials suppliers, technology providers, and a robust alumni network—BOOST empowers innovators to develop and refine their products while also providing large operators the opportunity to stay ahead of emerging trends and drive the adoption of new technologies within their organizations.
Demo Day gave the five startups in the BOOST 5 cohort—Artic, Genia, Kroo, novl, and Tangible—a chance to showcase their products and progress to an audience of over 400 investors, potential customers, industry leaders, and entrepreneurs. Additionally, four more startups from Suffolk Technologies’ existing portfolio—Anodet, Ediphi, Exodigo, and Handle—presented their innovative solutions for advancing the built environment.
“This year was our most impactful BOOST program to date,” said Parker Mundt, VP of Platform at Suffolk Technologies. “We partnered with 36 industry-leading operators, extended the program to eight weeks, initiated seven paid pilots, and launched two new products. We also welcomed the largest audience in the program’s history to Demo Day. There’s a wealth of construction tech startups out there ready to make a difference, and we’re excited to continue growing our BOOST program and investing in their futures. In just five years, we’ve only scratched the surface.”
The event began with a fireside chat featuring William Schlacks, Co-founder and President of EquipmentShare, and Puneet Mahajan, Suffolk’s CFO. Their discussion covered EquipmentShare’s founding, the role of data in construction, and Schlacks’ entrepreneurial journey.
“Six years ago, after assessing the construction industry’s slow pace of innovation, we launched an accelerator program like no other,” said John Fish, Chairman and CEO of Suffolk. “Today, the Suffolk Technologies BOOST program is the country’s most innovative accelerator for built world startups, aiming to disrupt and transform the construction industry. Congratulations to this year’s entrepreneurs and startups for their dedication and achievements.”
During the eight-week program, BOOST 5 participants attended specialized workshops led by industry experts on topics such as go-to-market strategies, risk management, hiring, legal issues, and fundraising. They also formed partnerships with leaders throughout the building supply chain and launched new products, secured pilot projects, and developed case studies.
Genia was awarded the “People’s Choice Award” through a live vote after the pitches. Additional awards were presented to Joshua Weyand, Suffolk Team Member of the Year, and several Operating Partners, including Axiom Builders, Bouygues, Century Drywall, Simpson Strong-Tie, and Weyerhaeuser. Following the pitches, 14 startups exhibited in Suffolk’s café, including the nine presenters and BOOST alumni like Kaya AI, Qflow, Rugged Robotics, Trunk Tools, and Wint.
With the conclusion of BOOST 5, the program has now graduated 30 companies that have raised more than $525 million in venture funding, continuing to drive meaningful change in the AECO industry.
BOOST 2024 is presented in partnership with 36 industry partners, including Autodesk, Moog Construction, Holcim, Axiom Builders, McCusker-Gill, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Procore Technologies, Suffolk Construction, Swire Properties, and others.
