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Foldstruct is a graduate of the INNOFENSE Innovation Center operated by iHLS in collaboration with IMoD. This unique acceleration program removes entrance barriers to the technological ecosystem, turning startups into mature, leading companies while connecting them with relevant investors, which is designed to strengthen the links between the civilian and defense markets via the collaborative development of technologies, thus advancing and improving their integration in both markets.
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Eliminating the biggest pain in real estate
In the construction industry, the process of planning and obtaining approval for projects is often slow, inefficient, and fraught with complications. With multiple consultants, planners, and regulators involved, a typical construction project can experience years of back-and-forth revisions before gaining the necessary approvals. This lengthy process can lead to enormous financial losses and delays, particularly when planning errors or compliance issues are discovered late in the game.
Foldstruct’s innovative platform, Checkmate, offers a solution to these challenges by using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to automate code compliance checks during the planning stages of construction, ensuring that all regulatory requirements are met right from the outset.
The AI platform performs automated checks against regulatory standards and pre-programmed specific requirements, identifying potential compliance issues while still in the planning process, before requesting permits and long before construction begins. Using advanced tools such as LLMs, computer vision, and parametric design, the platform can automatically detect discrepancies, fix them, and generate detailed reports that allow regulators and planners to address any issues faster, reducing delays and avoiding costly mistakes. This is especially relevant in places such as the defense industry, where every second counts and where unique requirements apply.
One platform, one source of truth for regulators and planners
Checkmate is designed to integrate seamlessly with any modeling software, providing a “single source of truth” for all stakeholders. This allows real-time collaboration, with an up-to-date error detection system applied to all relevant project stakeholders. This mitigates the endless ping-pong of adjustments and approvals that not only wastes time but also leads to increased costs.
In addition, Checkmate assists those who grant permits: regulators, municipalities, large organizations, and more. Instead of manually examining each project, the system produces an automated detailed report of all compliance issues, which, in turn, shortens the process of permit granting, in addition to reducing human errors in one platform shared by regulators and planners.
Billions in savings
It is estimated that over $250 billion are lost every year in the US alone due to permitting delays, most of which are due to a lack of compliance with regulations and building codes. By automating the compliance process, Checkmate significantly reduces the time spent on revisions and eliminates the need for endless back-and-forth discussions. The result? A streamlined, efficient process that can cut project lead times by up to 50%.
Foldstruct is a startup that is changing the way the construction industry approaches planning and compliance. Founded by CEO Tal Friedman, an architect and computational design engineer, the company aims to simplify and accelerate the planning to fabrication process. With a focus on AI, Checkmate is poised to transform the construction industry, reducing costs, saving time, and ensuring better project outcomes across the board. The company is also a member of Nvidia’s Inception program for promising startups in the field of AI and automation.
“Our goal is simple,” says CEO Tal Friedman. “Construction planning shouldn’t be an obstacle course that takes years to navigate. We should let humans do what humans are good at, and that is design, while letting computers do what they are good at, and that is rule-based thinking. Mixing the two brings us one step closer to singularity in construction. Instead of getting stuck in an endless loop of revisions, adjustments, and discussions, Checkmate ensures that the design is right from the start. This doesn’t just save time and money; it fundamentally changes the way the construction industry works.”
As industries globally begin to adopt more advanced technologies, Checkmate’s innovative approach stands out as a game-changer, offering a smarter, more efficient way to navigate the complexities of planning and regulatory compliance. By streamlining the process from start to finish, Checkmate is setting a new standard for construction planning and approval. While used for construction, the technology can have many future applications for compliance checking of aerospace, automotive, and engineering models.