{"data":{"news":{"items":[{"title":"Inaugural CSC APAC winner crowned as event showcases advances in construction technology","date":"2026-10-26 20:47:01","id":6469,"author":"","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2026/10/1792990024966_BCA_Day1-32 copy 2.jpg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

Civils.ai was crowned the gold winner of the inaugural Construction Startup Competition (CSC) Asia Pacific (APAC) Pitch Day. The event took place on 2 September 2026 at the ConTech Summit in Singapore, held during International Built Environment Week (IBEW) 2026.

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As the gold winner, Civils.ai received a €10,000 cash prize sponsored by Meta, entry into the CSC’s Top 30, giving the company a chance to compete in the global finals, and access to one of the most influential networks of venture capital and stakeholders in the BE industry.

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Now in its landmark 10th edition, the CSC is widely regarded as the most prestigious global contest in the construction technology (ConTech) space. The event is jointly organised by Cemex Ventures, Caterpillar, Dysruptek by Haskell, Hilti Venture, Vinci Group’s Leonard, Nova by Saint-Gobain, Trimble, Zacua Ventures, Ferrovial, and the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).

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“Many ConTech startups today face the same kinds of challenges and are embarking on the same journey. Though their tech is good, moving beyond small pilot trials to commercial scale is tough. You need capital, you need real-world construction sites to test your machines, and you need actual buyers who are ready to adopt them,” said Alvin Tan, Singapore’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development, in his closing address at the ConTech Summit.

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“In Singapore, the government is working hand in hand with the industry to give you that test track and commercial runway. The 10th edition of the Construction Startup Competition plays a big part in this effort. Today’s inaugural APAC Pitch Day shows that Singapore is growing into a regional hub for ConTech innovation by connecting inventors with builders and investors.”

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The CSC’s expansion into APAC comes at a significant juncture. According to industry reports, investments in the global ConTech ecosystem are at an all-time high, having reached US$6.57 billion in 2025. Notably, the APAC region is fast becoming a key engine of this growth, accounting for almost 20% of total investment in 2025, as reported by Cemex Ventures.

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In tandem with the increased investment, the pace of innovation across the sector is accelerating. This year, the CSC saw a 40% increase in applications compared with 2025, with a record number of nearly 800 submissions from over 60 countries globally.

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Speaking at the ConTech Summit in Singapore, Jesús Ortiz, head of Cemex Ventures, revealed that this year’s CSC received 182 APAC applications, a 243% increase from 53 in 2025. “APAC is bending the curve,” he said, adding that submissions came from Singapore (53), India (46), Australia (26), Hong Kong (20) and China (12), among others. “Singapore alone matched the whole of APAC last year.”

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“Three things a decade has taught us,” noted Mr Ortiz. “Ecosystems beat solo scouting, with 10 partners seeing the same long list and scoring it together for better coverage and harder judgement.”

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“A customer beats a round,” he continued. “Plants, fleets and sites are where technology becomes real, and the industry controls access to all three. Lastly, supply follows credible demand. Technology moves toward the markets where someone will actually buy, and Singapore proved it in one cycle.”

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The innovations

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Out of the six APAC Track winners, five startups accepted the invitation to present at the APAC Pitch Day in Singapore. These included Arbel.ai, Civils.ai, Concrete.AI, Bton.io and LightYX. [Scroll down to see more photos.]

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The five companies represent the cutting edge of construction technology innovation, spanning artificial intelligence, digital workflows and advanced construction analytics across pre-construction, jobsite productivity, and BE sustainability.

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Civils.ai
\nThe APAC gold winner, Civils.ai, is an AI co-pilot for civil engineers that extracts and cross-checks data from drawings, contracts and geotechnical reports, cutting takeoff time by up to 90%.

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According to Cemex Ventures, Civils.ai was selected as the gold winner for its “AI-powered platform designed to automate some of the most repetitive and error-prone tasks in preconstruction. By combining AI-driven quantity takeoffs with intelligent review and cross-checking of complex construction drawings, specifications and project documentation, Civils.ai enables teams to significantly reduce manual effort, improve accuracy and identify potential issues earlier in the project lifecycle.”

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“Its construction-specific approach has the potential to increase the capacity of estimating and preconstruction teams while enabling faster, more reliable and data-driven decision-making across the industry,” Cemex Ventures added.

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Arbel.ai
\nArbel.ai transforms drone footage into searchable, conversational site intelligence, giving owners and EPCs planned-vs-actual visibility on progress, quality and safety – without manual reporting.

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The system has been deployed on large-scale projects, such as railways, highways, and oil and gas developments. Designed for ease of use, it requires only drone scans, has no BIM dependency, and enables ultra-fast onboarding.

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LightYX
\nLightYX uses a laser-projection system that displays BIM plans directly onto floors, walls and ceilings, replacing chalk lines and tape measures for layout crews. The tool offers accuracy of up to 1/8 in and helps improve consistency.

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Layouts can also be modified in real time on-site via a mobile app. By streamlining workflows, LightYX’s tool significantly reduces manpower requirements and facilitates timely project delivery.

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Bton.io
\nBton.io produces patented low-clinker mix technology that cuts concrete’s CO2 footprint by up to 70%, with carbon-sinking additives making it climate-positive.

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The company is redesigning concrete production, aiming to decarbonise concrete at a lower cost. Having deployed its technology in Europe, it is now expanding into APAC and looking to scale its solution in the region.

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ConcreteAI
\nConcreteAI uses Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to monitor in-situ concrete strength and temperature in real time, cutting casting-cycle waiting times by over 30% and reducing reliance on cube testing.

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The system enables faster construction, thus improving productivity; better quality, as it provides quick, reliable thermal crack-risk assessments and proactive QA/QC data control; and lower emissions through low-carbon mixes. It has been deployed on projects worldwide, including several high-profile developments such as Singapore’s Changi Airport Terminal 5, Bahrain International Airport and Melbourne’s North East Link.

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How the system cuts embodied carbon: early-age strength data avoids over-specification; 20 kg of CO2 saved per cu m with no grade upgrade; crack-risk warnings prevent wasted pours; and the elimination of repeat cube testing minimises waste and transport.

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Following the completion of the APAC Pitch Day, the competition will now continue in the USA and Finland. The USA Pitch Day will be held from 9 to 11 November 2026 in Las Vegas, where Civils.ai will be among the finalists. The EU Pitch Day will take place in Helsinki, Finland, from 16 to 19 November 2026.

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All images above: BCA

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Singapore will host the inaugural Asia Pacific (APAC) Pitch Day for the 10th edition of the Construction Startup Competition (CSC) in 2026, announced the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), one of the event’s organising partners.

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The debut of CSC in Singapore marks a significant milestone, cementing the country’s position as a premier regional hub for construction technology (Contech). This event will facilitate greater exchange of innovative global solutions with local and regional built environment (BE) firms, while providing Singapore’s startups with the chance to engage with the world’s leading venture capital and construction firms.

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“Acute needs in the global BE sector – spanning the demand for greater sophistication in design to the need for greater efficiency and productivity – have driven momentum for BE firms to search for innovative technologies and solutions. This growing demand has fuelled significant investment growth, with global Contech investment doubling from 2024 to reach US$6.57 billion in 2025, the highest level of capital allocation to date,” explained BCA.

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“The APAC region is also fast becoming a key engine of this global Contech flywheel, accounting for almost 20% of global Contech investment in 2025,” the authority added, citing a report by Cemex Ventures. “By hosting the CSC APAC Pitch Day, Singapore is strategically positioning itself at the nexus of this ecosystem, bridging the gap between global capital and regional innovation.”

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In addition to BCA, the other organising partners are Cemex Ventures, Caterpillar, Dysruptek by Haskell, Hilti Venture, Vinci Group’s Leonard, Nova by Saint-Gobain, Trimble, Zacua Ventures and Ferrovial.

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APAC Pitch Day

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The APAC Pitch Day welcomes submissions from applicants across the Asia Pacific region from 4 May to 28 June 2026. Five finalists will be invited to present their solutions at the event, which will take place during the International Built Environment Week (IBEW) 2026’s Contech Summit on 2 September in Singapore.

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These finalists will join the top 50 global entries, participating in either the US Pitch Day (in Las Vegas, US) or the European Pitch Day (in Helsinki, Finland). Winners will receive cash prizes, access to one of the most influential networks in the industry, and a place among the top 30 global entries in the CSC.

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The event seeks to attract promising startups from across the region, giving local and regional BE firms a direct pipeline to identify and evaluate technologies that are ready to be piloted or adopted, while also introducing CSC’s global network of partners and investors to Singapore’s innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem.

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For Singapore’s startups, the APAC Pitch Day on home ground is a chance to compete and be recognised on the world stage, as well as secure networking and investment opportunities to scale and establish their solutions globally.

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This year’s edition of CSC covers five categories, aligned with the sector’s evolving priorities:

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Preconstruction Tech: Technologies that use data, analytics and digital planning to improve decision-making before construction begins.
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Jobsite Productivity & Building Systems: Solutions that optimise on-site execution by improving labour, equipment and building system performance.
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ClimaTech for the Built World: Technologies that reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and enable sustainability across buildings and construction.
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Smart Manufacturing & Logistics: Digital and automated solutions that enhance production efficiency, supply chain coordination and material flows.
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Smart Buildings and Infrastructure: Connected systems that use data, sensors and automation to operate buildings and infrastructure more efficiently, safely and intelligently.
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With these categories, the competition aims to spotlight the technologies driving higher efficiency, resilience, sustainability and performance across the construction value chain.

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Global platform

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The CSC has become the leading global platform for disruptive construction technology since its inception in 2017. Through its past nine editions, the event has empowered over 4,100 startups from more than 80 countries, offering them wider industry recognition, opportunities to pilot their solutions in real projects, funding from global venture capitalists, and strategic partnerships with BE industry leaders.

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As of 2025, 44 finalist startups, including Singapore’s Ailytics, have advanced to the US and European Pitch Days, collectively securing over US$448 million in investment. Ailytics was also named a finalist winner at the CSC European Pitch Day 2025, a testament to the global competitiveness of Singapore’s homegrown innovation.

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“Singapore’s Contech ecosystem has crossed a new growth threshold, positioning us to lead the next wave of innovation and technology development. BCA is proud to welcome the inaugural APAC edition of the CSC to Singapore – a move that establishes the country as a gateway for introducing Contech innovation from the US and European markets to the rest of APAC,” said Heng Teck Thai, deputy CEO at BCA.

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“Our CSC partners will benefit by unlocking connections within the APAC region, whilst giving our local solution providers access to these international markets. Having greater exposure to the best cutting-edge solutions globally will help to accelerate Singapore’s BE transformation through innovation and technology.”

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Given the global reach of its partners, CSC 2026 is expected to see an increase in applications, as it showcases the most innovative solutions around the world, continues growing the Contech ecosystem, and enables the agile adoption of applicants’ innovative technologies and business models.

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Image 1: Artem Labunsky/Unsplash

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Liebherr Ehingen is inviting its customers’ mobile crane operators to take part in the international ‘Game of Cranes’ competition. The participants will compete in three disciplines: safety, dexterity and technical understanding.

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“The job of a crane driver requires technical understanding, dexterity and a sense of responsibility. With the ‘Game of Cranes’, we not only want to honour the skills of crane drivers, but also raise awareness of the profession,” said Michaela Gogeißl from Liebherr Customer Training.

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How to join?

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Registration: From 7 April to 31 May 2025, companies can register their mobile crane operators who will participate on their behalf in the competition, using the QR code with a link to the Liebherr homepage, or click here. All mobile crane customers of Liebherr can join, worldwide.

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Voting: On behalf of their company, the registered crane operators promote their participation in the competition with a video or a photo, demonstrating their skills, on social media. Whether in a two-axle model or a 1,200-t crane, the most impressive operation is what counts – so the more votes the video receives by July 2025, the better. According to Liebherr, crawler cranes are not part of the competition.

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Qualification: Who makes it to the preliminary round in September 2025 depends on various factors – both the number of votes and the judgement of Liebherr’s mobile crane experts.

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Preliminary round: Following successful qualification, the participants will go to the preliminary round. Depending on the customer location, a total of five representatives from participating companies from each region travel either to Newport News (USA), Guaratinguetá (Brazil), Adelaide (Australia), Azuqueca de Henares (Spain) or Dammam (Saudi Arabia). Here, the crane operators will be able to demonstrate their skills and expertise in the three disciplines.

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Final: The five best crane operators will be invited to Ehingen (Germany) in November 2025 for the final round. The top three winners will receive vouchers for their companies (first place €2,500, second place €1,250, and third place €500) to redeem in the Liebherr shop – unlimited in time and applicable to multiple purchases.

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