Green Building Software: $36M VC → Automated Design (+ Backed by Iron Man)

Explore how cove.tool combines machine learning, performance analytics, and cost optimization to make buildings greener, faster, and cheaper.

PODCAST GUEST BIO:

Co-led by Cofounder and CEO Sandeep Ahuja, cove.tool is an end-to-end automated green building performance software suite. It produces beautiful analysis graphics for energy, daylight, carbon, HVAC design, and more. Using machine learning, it considers thousands of options in order to select the lowest cost and highest performance material components for new construction and renovations. 

cove.tool has raised over $36M of venture capital funding, including investors such as FootPrint Coalition (Robert Downey, Jr.'s fund), Third Sphere, URBAN-X, and Mucker Capital.

Sandeep is also the founder of a successful sustainability consulting firm Pattern r+d. She has presented at the UN environment assembly, with 1,500 global delegates, on the impact of building on climate change, showcased at the Tedx Atlanta, SXSW, won the Forbes 30 under 30, and Atlanta Startup Battle. 

Multiple publications have written about Sandeep's impact in the AEC industry including Architect magazine, Tech Crunch, Site Selection, and ArchDaily. With her desire to bring automation into the AEC world, she is pioneering the integration of building performance into the design and construction process by developing and using intelligent technology and software. Sandeep has presented at multiple architectural and engineering conferences including AIA, ACUI, ASHRAE, Facades+, Tech+, Build Tech, DBL.

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QUESTIONS THAT WE COVERED:

Business

• What does your company do? What makes you unique versus the competition?
• How are you funding your growth — e.g., revenue, VC, CVC, government grants, M&A? What are 1-2 lessons you’ve learned along the way?
• Outside of your current business, what other 1-2 climate or sustainability sectors seem like promising areas in which to start a business? What might those solutions look like?

Personal

• If you had to start over, what are 1-2 tips you’d give yourself in order to be faster, more effective, and higher impact?
• What are some habits and routines that keep you focused, healthy, and sane — e.g., meditations, exercise, productivity hacks?
• What recommendations do you have for our audience — books, podcasts, quotes, tools?
• What’s the nicest thing anyone has ever done for you — outside of your own family?

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PODCAST HOST:

Entrepreneurs for Impact is the only private mastermind community for growth-stage CEOs and investors fighting climate change. We’re on a mission to help climate leaders supercharge their impacts, share best practices, expand their networks, and reach their full potential.

Our invite-only cohorts of 12 executives catalyze personal development and business growth via monthly meetings, annual retreats, a member-only Climate Investor Database, and 1:1 coaching and strategy calls.

Today’s highly curated Mastermind members represent over $5B in market cap or assets under management, and are influencing corporate priorities and infrastructure much bigger than that.

Peer groups are led by Dr. Chris Wedding who brings $1B+ of investment experience, 60,000+ professional students taught, 25 years of meditation, an obsession with constant improvement, and far too many mistakes to keep to himself.

• Website: www.entrepreneursforimpact.com
• Membership benefits: https://bit.ly/3l12Gyg
• Sample Mastermind members: https://bit.ly/3ipSehS
• Request more information on membership: https://bit.ly/3mj48eM