How Fresco is Redefining Construction Site Efficiency with AI

In an industry that is constantly under pressure to deliver projects on time and within budget, one startup has introduced a game-changing solution to ease the daily grind of construction superintendents. Fresco, founded in 2024 by Arvind Veluvali and Akhil Gupta, is a pioneering software that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to help construction professionals streamline documentation processes. The company's mission is to dramatically reduce the time construction superintendents spend on administrative tasks, allowing them to focus on the core aspects of project management. With Fresco, superintendents can complete the documentation process ten times faster, transforming the way construction sites are managed.

Why Did the Founders Create Fresco?

The inception of Fresco was born out of a simple but impactful realization. Arvind and Akhil, the co-founders of Fresco, first met at a social gathering in San Francisco and quickly bonded over their shared interest in solving real-world problems using technology. They were particularly fascinated by the inefficiencies in the construction industry. After spending time talking to construction superintendents, they learned that a significant portion of their workday was spent transcribing and compiling notes into detailed reports. This led to the idea that would eventually become Fresco—an AI-powered tool designed to speed up the documentation process, reducing the hours spent on paperwork and allowing superintendents to return their focus to managing the construction project itself.

The duo spent several weekends conducting interviews with professionals across the construction sector, traveling to job sites in Napa, the South Bay, and San Francisco. They quickly discovered that these professionals were not only overwhelmed by their project management duties but also by the administrative tasks that came with them. The process of generating reports for compliance, regulation, and stakeholder communication was cumbersome and time-consuming. This deep understanding of the problem drove the creation of Fresco.

What Problems Does Fresco Solve for Construction Superintendents?

Construction superintendents are tasked with overseeing a range of critical aspects of a project, from safety and quality to timelines and budgets. However, in recent years, the rise of project management software such as Procore and ACC has significantly increased the demand for documentation, taking up a substantial portion of their workday. According to Fresco’s founders, over 210,000 construction superintendents across the United States find themselves spending as much as three hours a day creating detailed reports, logs, and punch lists to keep various stakeholders informed and ensure compliance with regulations.

This left superintendents in a tough spot—while they were responsible for managing the actual construction process, they were bogged down by an administrative burden that detracted from their ability to effectively supervise and lead teams. Fresco addresses this problem by automating much of the documentation work. By simply recording a short video of their site walk, superintendents can quickly generate detailed reports, reducing the time spent on administrative tasks from hours to just minutes.

How Does Fresco’s AI Technology Work?

Fresco’s primary innovation lies in its use of AI to transform raw video footage into meaningful documentation. On a typical construction site, superintendents often walk around with their smartphones, capturing photos or videos of potential issues or observations. These images and videos need to be manually matched with paper notes and organized into structured reports, a process that can take hours. Fresco, however, uses AI to eliminate the need for manual transcribing and categorization.

With Fresco, superintendents narrate over the videos they record, describing the issue at hand and specifying actions that need to be taken. For example, a superintendent might film a corroded beam and say, “The beam in the southwest corner of room 134 is corroded and needs replacement by Alex.” Fresco’s AI technology automatically extracts this key information—such as the location of the issue, the description, and the action required—and formats it into a rich report, complete with relevant photos. This not only saves time but also ensures that critical details aren’t overlooked.

On average, superintendents using Fresco can complete their documentation 90% faster than they would with traditional methods. The time they save can be redirected towards more impactful tasks, such as ensuring safety on-site or managing project timelines.

How Does Fresco Integrate with Other Construction Management Tools?

Fresco is designed to work seamlessly with leading project management software tools like Procore and ACC. These tools are widely used in the construction industry to manage various aspects of a project, from budgeting and scheduling to communication with stakeholders. While these platforms have been invaluable for project managers, they often require manual data entry, which can lead to redundancy and wasted time.

Fresco offers one-click integrations with Procore and ACC, allowing superintendents to easily transfer the data captured in their reports into these systems without ever leaving the Fresco platform. This eliminates the need for double entry and ensures that the superintendent’s time is spent on more productive activities. By streamlining the process, Fresco reduces the time spent on administrative tasks and further enhances the efficiency of the entire project management workflow.

Who Are the Founders of Fresco?

Fresco’s founders bring a wealth of expertise to the startup, combining backgrounds in AI, engineering, and construction. Arvind Veluvali, one of the co-founders, has a strong background in both technology and business. A former NASA scientist, Arvind also has experience in the venture capital world and product development. His diverse career journey has given him a unique perspective on how technology can be applied to solve problems in various industries. He holds a BA and MS from Brown University.

Akhil Gupta, the other co-founder, brings deep expertise in AI and machine learning. He has worked with cutting-edge technologies at MIT and Johns Hopkins University, as well as in the tech industry at TikTok and Lumen Energy. Akhil’s passion for using AI to drive efficiency and innovation was a key factor in the development of Fresco. He holds a BA and MA from Johns Hopkins University and has been focused on applying AI to improve the construction industry since 2022.

Together, Arvind and Akhil have combined their skills and knowledge to build Fresco, creating a solution that addresses a pressing need in the construction sector.

How Is Fresco Positioned to Disrupt the Construction Industry?

Fresco is poised to revolutionize the construction industry by automating one of its most tedious and time-consuming tasks: documentation. The construction sector has been slow to adopt new technologies compared to other industries, but startups like Fresco are changing that narrative. By leveraging AI, Fresco offers a solution that not only speeds up administrative tasks but also improves accuracy and reduces the potential for errors.

As the construction industry continues to face pressures related to project timelines, budgets, and compliance, tools like Fresco will become indispensable for construction professionals. The ability to create detailed reports and punch lists in minutes, rather than hours, frees up valuable time for superintendents to focus on critical tasks that drive the success of a project. This shift towards automation and AI is not just a trend but a fundamental change in how construction sites will be managed in the future.

What’s Next for Fresco?

Since its launch in 2024, Fresco has been steadily growing and expanding its user base. The startup’s focus remains on making construction documentation faster, more accurate, and more efficient. The team is actively working on enhancing the platform’s capabilities and exploring new ways to integrate Fresco with additional tools used in the construction industry.

As Fresco continues to evolve, the company is committed to solving more pain points for construction professionals and ultimately helping them focus on what matters most—delivering successful projects on time and under budget.

With its innovative AI-driven approach, Fresco is setting a new standard for documentation in the construction industry. By automating the mundane, it’s allowing superintendents to focus on the tasks that truly drive project success, paving the way for a more efficient and productive future in construction.