PlanGrid (Autodesk)
Introduction
PlanGrid is a cloud-based construction productivity software platform designed to streamline collaboration and real-time access to project documents, including blueprints, specifications, photos, RFIs (requests for information), and field reports, primarily for general contractors, subcontractors, and building owners.[1][2]
Founded in 2011 in San Francisco, California, by Tracy Young, Ralph Gootee, Ryan Sutton-Gee, Kenny Stone, and Antoine Hersen, PlanGrid emerged from the founders' frustration with outdated paper-based processes in the construction industry.[3][4] The company quickly gained traction with its mobile-first approach, enabling users to access and update project data via iOS and Android apps, alongside desktop support for Windows.[1] By 2018, PlanGrid had raised $69 million in funding from investors including Y Combinator, Sequoia Capital, and Tenaya Capital, and was deployed on over 1 million construction projects across more than 100 countries.[5][6]
In November 2018, Autodesk announced its acquisition of PlanGrid for $875 million (net of cash), which was completed in December of that year, integrating the platform into Autodesk's Construction Cloud ecosystem alongside tools like BIM 360 and BuildingConnected.[7][8] In 2021, PlanGrid was rebranded as Autodesk Build within the Autodesk Construction Cloud. This integration enhanced its capabilities with advanced features such as BIM (Building Information Modeling) data visualization in 2D and 3D, automated risk analysis using machine learning, schedule management, and cost controls, all accessible through the Autodesk Build app.[1][9][10] As of 2025, Autodesk Build continues to innovate, including integrations for no-code custom workflows via Autodesk Construction Cloud Connect and educational programs for training construction professionals in schools and unions, with PlanGrid remaining operational and no plans for shutdown.[11][12][13]
History
Founding
PlanGrid was founded in 2011 in San Francisco, California, by Tracy Young, Ralph Gootee, Ryan Sutton-Gee, Kenny Stone, and Antoine Hersen.[4] The co-founders brought a mix of backgrounds in construction engineering and technology; for instance, Young had worked as a construction engineer, Sutton-Gee held an MS in civil engineering from Stanford and experience at construction firms like ITSI Gilbane, while Gootee and Stone contributed expertise in graphics and software engineering from roles at companies like Pixar and Connamara Systems.[14][15][16]