Technology & Innovation

Suffolk Technologies Opens Applications for ‘Boost’ Program

In its second year, Suffolk Technologies’ “Boost” program connects technology startup founders with industry experts and academics to solve the built world’s most pressing challenges.

Boston – Suffolk Technologies has opened applications for its second annual “Boost” program, an intense six-week program that connects built world technology startup founders with Suffolk leaders, industry experts and academics to solve the startups’ proposed industry challenges, expand their networks and showcase their products.

Suffolk Technologies is the venture capital investment arm of real estate and construction enterprise Suffolk. “Boost” is presented in partnership with Procore, RXR Realty, EquipmentShare, OpenSpace, and the MIT Center for Real Estate. The program will be led by Parker Mundt, operating director of Suffolk Technologies.

“Suffolk Technologies and Boost allow us to identify and partner with some of the most innovative, disruptive startups in the built world that will help us transform our industry for generations to come,” said John Fish, chairman and CEO of Suffolk.

The Boost I Cohort was comprised of Canvas, PassiveLogic, Flexbase, Diamond Age, and THRUX.  As a result of their participation in the Boost program and the support and engagement from Suffolk leaders, these companies launched new products, onboarded major customers, and raised significant institutional capital.

“Through Boost, we had all these experts in the room driving toward our goal,” stated Kevin Albert, founder and CEO of Canvas, a participating company in the first Boost program. “Suffolk is taking a proactive approach to innovation across the industry and this program was critical to our achieving a more holistic view about how to deliver value and improve project outcomes.” Canvas recently closed a $24 million dollar series of fundraising.

Applications for Boost II are being accepted through Sept. 22, with finalists announced in mid-October.

“The Suffolk Boost program is one of a kind in the built world and provided us with direct and valuable product feedback as we first launched to market. Today, less than a year later, we are growing our operation and have already onboarded more than 100 customers,” said Zaid Rahman, founder and CEO of Flexbase, another participating company in Boost I.

The Boost program will consist of several elements, including: 1) lectures and discussion sessions led by Suffolk leaders, successful contech + proptech founders, MIT professors and industry influencers; 2) dedicated time with Suffolk’s Solution Directors who will partner with the finalists and potentially test their solutions on Suffolk project sites; and 3) a Demo Day for finalist startups to share their solutions with industry influencers and investors.

“A strong vision and relentless desire for innovation are critical for success and sustainable growth in our industry. At Suffolk, we are continuously exploring new technologies, solutions and partners that will add value for key stakeholders across the entire building lifecycle and push our industry forward. We are absolutely committed to redefining what it means to be a builder,” said Fish.

“We were impressed with last year’s Boost cohort and are excited to continue the momentum with a new host of startups dedicated to addressing some of the greatest challenges in our industry. We look forward to working closely with this next class of innovators and bringing their solutions to the built world,” said Jit Kee Chin, chief data and innovation officer for Suffolk.