For architecture and engineering firms, winning new projects often means logging into dozens of government portals, each with its own login and data format. A startup called Cascade wants to change that by using artificial intelligence to predict which projects a company should pursue, and even which developers are likely to win them. Main Developments Cascade has raised $3.5 million in seed funding from Andreessen Horowitz Speedrun, Ada Ventures, and Snowball VC. The startup, launched in 2025, helps construction firms track ongoing and upcoming projects across U.S. states, local districts, federal agencies, and private contracts. The platform uses AI to analyze tender data and predict which developers are most likely to win contracts. For example, if a state announces a $100 million affordable housing grant, Cascade identifies which developers won similar grants previously and advises clients to approach them. Read also: Global Push to Restrict Kids' Social Media: A Country-by-Country Guide Founders Hannia Zia and Joana Ferreira applied to a16z's Speedrun accelerator last September. The pressure of demo day and exposure to other founders helped them sign contracts with firms that built JFK and La Guardia airports, Four Seasons hotels, and data centers. Background Zia and Ferreira built Cascade after witnessing the difficulty construction businesses face in securing predictable work. Ferreira's mother worked for a company selling materials to construction firms, and her uncle built mansions in the Middle East. Zia's father tried starting a construction business in Pakistan but couldn't sustain it. Zia describes the current process of finding projects as a “constant treasure hunt.” Firms must log into each state, city, district, county, and federal agency's portal separately. “So if you’re really good at building suspension bridges, you have to find all of those opportunities across these disparate portals,” she said. Existing competitors include GovWin IQ and ConstructConnect, but Ferreira argues Cascade is more AI-native. “Every time a customer wins a bid, they give feedback, so the system keeps getting smarter. Over time, we'll have a complete map of the industry that our AI can traverse to predict the best projects and leads for each customer,” she said. Why It Matters Construction firms often struggle to maintain a steady pipeline of work, even when they are highly skilled. Cascade's approach could level the playing field, giving smaller companies access to the same data and predictive insights that larger firms might have. Speedrun provided what Zia called “a stamp of approval to close big deals.” The accelerator's network helped Cascade secure contracts with major infrastructure builders, demonstrating that AI-driven procurement tools are gaining traction in a traditionally relationship-based industry. What's Next Cascade plans to use the new funding to go to market, host industry events, and hire more engineers. The company will likely expand its dataset across more states and contract types, further refining its predictive models. As the system collects more feedback from winning bids, its recommendations are expected to become more accurate, potentially making it indispensable for firms that want to stay competitive in a fragmented procurement landscape.