Startup CivilGrid Aims to Illuminate Underground Infrastructure with $26 Million Raise

Josh Mackanic, a former engineer at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), has embarked on a mission to revolutionize how we understand underground utilities. After a decade with PG&E, he was inspired to leave when he faced a costly three-day ordeal involving an unknown buried pipe during an excavation. This incident, which could have resulted in significant damage, highlighted a major issue: utility companies like PG&E lack comprehensive knowledge about what lies beneath the surface.

To tackle this problem, Mackanic founded CivilGrid in 2020. The startup aims to provide a centralized platform that compiles various data regarding utility assets, property ownership, and environmental regulations. He describes CivilGrid as a “Google Maps for what’s underground,” offering invaluable insights to governments, civil engineering firms, and utilities, including his former employer. Recently, the company secured a hefty $26 million in Series A funding, led by Spark Capital, with participation from several other early-stage investors.

CivilGrid's innovative approach is already making waves in California's utility sector. PG&E has utilized the platform to identify a staggering $60 million in avoidable costs related to paving across 1,600 planned gas distribution projects. Christine Cowsert, PG&E's senior vice president, emphasized the importance of tools like CivilGrid in enhancing safety and efficiency while meeting the state’s growing energy demands.

Mackanic’s vision extends beyond merely providing data. He aspires to automate processes for engineers, streamlining the decision-making about infrastructure placement and permitting. As he puts it, “After giving them the constraints, it’s not too hard for me to say, ‘Well, I would recommend that you put the pipe down right here, and here are the permits you need.’” This proactive approach aims to mitigate the red tape that often hinders construction projects.

While the concept of improving visibility into underground infrastructure may not be groundbreaking, Mackanic believes CivilGrid's unique data collection and relationship-building strategies set it apart. He recognized that the challenges of understanding subterranean utilities were best addressed from an external perspective, which motivated his departure from PG&E.

Reflecting on his career path, Mackanic noted that while he once viewed utility work as mundane, his time at PG&E revealed the critical role these services play in everyday life. “The reality is, unfortunately, we do ourselves a disservice in not championing the extent to which they work wonders every day,” he remarked, highlighting the high stakes involved in ensuring that essential services run smoothly.

Source: techcrunch.com