The Challenge of Paperwork in Construction: The Story of Sara Buchner and Trunk Tools

In the construction world, the burden of paperwork is no secret. Managing the deluge of documents can be a significant challenge. According to a recent survey, one-third of construction professionals struggle to access paper documents, and a quarter believe that incorrect documentation leads to project delays.

Sara Buchner’s Journey: From Carpenter to Tech Innovator

Sara Buchner, formerly a carpenter, is now the founder of Trunk Tools. Sara began her carpentry career at the age of 12 in a small village in Austria. After many years in the construction industry, her PhD research revealed that she could drive significant change through technology. This realization inspired her to move to Silicon Valley and pursue an MBA at Stanford.

Trunk Tools: A Revolution in Document Management

Trunk Tools offers a platform that can efficiently manage extensive documentation. It understands and processes PDFs, spreadsheets, drawings, blueprints, and tables, and functions like a chatbot by answering questions (e.g., “What power outlets are in the art studio?”). Additionally, it links construction activities with their supporting documents to identify potential issues.

Sara says, “Traditional construction software like Procore focuses on documenting workflows and storing data. Our system, with the help of AI and Q&A, allows construction teams to interact with information in natural language.”

The 3.6 Million Page Challenge: The Magic of Trunk Tools

Imagine managing documentation for a $500 million high-rise project in NYC, consisting of 3.6 million pages! If these pages were stacked, they would be three times the height of the building. A person would take 50 years to read through them, but Trunk Tools organizes and provides useful information in seconds.

A New Era in Construction Software

In the $7.5 billion construction software market, Trunk Tools competes with rivals like Briq (which automates construction financial processes using AI), Join (a decision-making platform), and PlanRadar (which digitizes construction and real estate documents).

Trunk Tools has attracted “double-digit” numbers of construction industry customers and thousands of users. Recently, the company closed a $20 million Series A funding round led by Redpoint. With this new funding, Trunk Tools will expand its New York-based team and work on new projects, including a construction worker incentive program.

Sara states, “Until now, construction technology has focused solely on digitization—turning paper tasks into computer tasks. But slipped timelines and rework can significantly impact the thin margins of construction projects, and Trunk Tools can solve this problem.”