PlanGrid

PlanGrid is a construction technology brand centered on digitizing the drawings, documents, and field workflows used by construction teams. Founded in San Francisco in 2011, the company developed software that allowed contractors and other project participants to carry current construction blueprints on mobile devices rather than relying primarily on paper drawing sets. Users could view plans on tablets, phones, and Windows devices, add field markups, attach progress photographs, track issues, and communicate project information across the jobsite and office. The product addressed a persistent operational problem in construction: project drawings and specifications change frequently, while superseded versions can remain in circulation across a fragmented network of general contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, and owners. PlanGrid’s central value proposition was to create a shared digital record with drawing version control and accessible field documentation. Its mobile-first approach was designed for workers and supervisors who needed information in active construction environments rather than only at a desk. PlanGrid’s early financing came from seed-stage backers that included Y Combinator, Sam Altman, Paul Buchheit, and 500 Startups. The company subsequently raised an $18 million Series A led by Sequoia Capital in May 2015 and a $40 million Series B led by Tenaya Capital in November 2015. These financings supported the expansion of its construction software platform and commercial reach. Chief executive Tracy Young was recognized by Fast Company in 2015 among its Most Creative People in Business. Autodesk announced in November 2018 that it intended to acquire PlanGrid for approximately $875 million, and the transaction closed on December 20, 2018. After the acquisition, PlanGrid became part of Autodesk’s construction software portfolio. The brand and its capabilities complemented Autodesk’s broader offerings for design, construction, project management, and the built environment. PlanGrid is therefore best understood as a construction software brand within Autodesk rather than as an independent publicly listed company. Its principal use cases include sheet and blueprint distribution, drawing comparison and version control, field markups, progress-photo documentation, issue tracking, and project-document collaboration. The brand’s positioning is practical and field-oriented: it connects project information to onsite construction activity, helps teams work from current documents, and provides a common digital workspace for participants who may otherwise use disconnected systems. The available reference material does not establish a separate current corporate structure, standalone financial reporting, or a complete list of post-acquisition products; those matters should be verified against current Autodesk documentation.

PlanGrid was founded in San Francisco in 2011 by Ryan Sutton-Gee, Tracy Young, Kenny Stone, and Antoine Hersen. The founders focused on a practical problem in construction: workers and project managers often had to handle large paper drawing sets while trying to keep track of revisions, field changes, photographs, and unresolved issues. PlanGrid’s response was a mobile-first software product that digitized construction blueprints and made them available on tablets, phones, and Windows devices. The platform was designed for use across the construction workflow. Teams could store and view drawings, distribute updated sheets, make field markups, record progress photographs, and track issues. Version control was particularly important because construction projects can involve frequent revisions and many participants. By giving users a shared digital record, PlanGrid sought to reduce reliance on outdated drawings and improve communication between jobsites and offices. The company received early support from Y Combinator, Sam Altman, Paul Buchheit, and 500 Startups. In May 2015, it raised an $18 million Series A led by Sequoia Capital. In November of the same year, it raised a $40 million Series B led by Tenaya Capital. The funding supported the company’s product development and growth in the construction software market. Co-founder and chief executive Tracy Young was also recognized by Fast Company in 2015 in its Most Creative People in Business feature. PlanGrid’s governance included prominent technology and investment figures. Its board was reported to include George Hu, formerly Salesforce’s chief operating officer; Doug Leone, a Sequoia Capital partner; and Carol Bartz, a former Autodesk chief executive. These connections reflected the company’s position at the intersection of enterprise software, venture capital, and construction technology. In November 2018, Autodesk announced an agreement to acquire PlanGrid for approximately $875 million. The transaction was completed on December 20, 2018. The acquisition placed PlanGrid within Autodesk’s construction portfolio and connected its field-document capabilities with Autodesk’s broader design and construction software ecosystem. PlanGrid consequently shifted from an independently financed software company to an Autodesk-owned brand and product capability. The available reference material does not provide a complete account of later standalone product branding, leadership changes, financial performance, or the precise current relationship between PlanGrid products and Autodesk Construction Cloud. Those details require confirmation from current Autodesk sources. The historical identity of PlanGrid, however, is clear: it is a construction productivity and collaboration software brand whose main contribution was bringing blueprint management and field documentation onto mobile digital workflows.

• 2018

  Autodesk announces acquisition

  [1]PlanGriden.wikipedia.org

  Autodesk announces an agreement to acquire PlanGrid for approximately $875 million.

• 2018

  Acquisition closes

  [1]PlanGriden.wikipedia.org

  Autodesk completes its acquisition of PlanGrid on December 20, 2018.

• 2015

  Series A financing

  [1]PlanGriden.wikipedia.org

  PlanGrid raises an $18 million Series A round led by Sequoia Capital.

• 2015

  Series B financing

  [1]PlanGriden.wikipedia.org

  PlanGrid raises a $40 million Series B round led by Tenaya Capital.

• 2011

  PlanGrid is founded

  [1]PlanGriden.wikipedia.org

  PlanGrid is established in San Francisco by Ryan Sutton-Gee, Tracy Young, Kenny Stone, and Antoine Hersen to develop digital tools for construction teams.

A field-oriented construction collaboration platform that turns drawings and project documents into a shared, mobile-accessible source of information for jobsites and project offices.

• Construction document and field collaboration software · 2011

  PlanGrid

  PlanGrid’s core software digitizes construction drawings and makes them available to field and office teams on mobile and Windows devices. Its documented capabilities include storing and viewing blueprints, maintaining drawing versions, adding field markups, attaching progress photographs, and tracking project issues. The product is intended to help construction participants work from current information and maintain a more accessible record of activity on the jobsite.

• Construction project management

  PlanGrid Build

  PlanGrid Build is identified in the available dossier as a flagship offering associated with PlanGrid’s construction workflow. It represents the brand’s focus on coordinating drawings, documents, field observations, and project communication for construction teams. The available sources do not provide enough detail to document a complete feature list or current standalone packaging.

• 2018

  PlanGrid agrees to be acquired by AutodeskM&A

  Background

  PlanGrid had built a construction-focused software platform for digital drawings, field markups, progress photographs, and issue tracking. Autodesk sought to expand its construction technology portfolio and connect field workflows with its broader design and construction products.

  Action taken

  Autodesk announced an approximately $875 million acquisition in November 2018, and the transaction closed on December 20, 2018.

  Aftermath

  PlanGrid became an Autodesk-owned construction software brand and its capabilities were incorporated into Autodesk’s broader construction portfolio. The available reference material does not establish the full extent of subsequent product integration.

  Announced acquisition value. 875 million USD announced transaction value (November 2018 announcement)

  Source

1. 1PlanGriden.wikipedia.org
2. 2PlanGrid official websiteplangrid.com