Errors in construction projects cost the industry billions of dollars every year, and many of them occur even before construction starts. The new LEAD company Symbios AI wants to change that. Using AI, the company analyzes large amounts of project documents to detect errors at an early stage, cutting both costs and delays.
The company, which was recently accepted for incubation at LEAD, was founded two years ago by Axel Holst, Axel Gustavsson, Felix Blomé and Manfred Clase. The four founders have different entrances to each other; childhood friends, fellow students and common contacts through Linköping University. Together they started Symbios AI with a common ambition: to solve a concrete and costly problem in the construction industry.
– We saw an opportunity to use AI where it actually makes a big difference. The construction industry stood out immediately,” says CEO Axel Holst.
His connection to the industry is both personal and practical. With parents in the construction sector and his own experience as a site manager, he has seen the problems up close.
– One in four dollars invested in construction projects is spent on construction errors, and up to 70% of them are already in the documentation. At the same time, large projects can involve tens of thousands of documents. It is practically impossible to manually capture all risks in time.
That’s where Symbios AI’s solution comes in. By analyzing project documentation, the system can identify contradictions, ambiguities, and other risk factors, such as discrepancies in volume or vague wording that can lead to costly misunderstandings.
– This benefits both clients and contractors. Problems that would otherwise have stopped work later can be caught before they become costly.
After nine months with pilot customers, the product is now fully developed and used by paying customers. Interest is high, with some 80 operators already showing interest, and a broad launch is planned for the fall.
Through LEAD, the company now hopes to get help with the next phase, including coaching, recruitment and contact with investors.
– LEAD will be an important support as we now scale up the business,” concludes Axel Holst.
