Focused exclusively on venture capital opportunities in “technology for the built world,” Brick & Mortar Ventures identifies, backs, and enables emerging companies developing innovative software and hardware solutions for the industries of architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and facilities management (FM). Its hyper-focused mandate allows Brick & Mortar to continuously develop industry expertise and relationships across these large and growing verticals and build value to its portfolio by taking a hands-on, active role as an investor and partner to its companies.
Brick & Mortar Ventures leverages its management’s combined experience and valuable networks within the design, construction, and facilities management industries to (i) identify and evaluate new technologies, and (ii) add concrete value to its portfolio through introducing partnership opportunities, facilitating distribution agreements, and matching companies with industry luminaries as value-add advisors and directors.
Darren Bechtel brings over 7 years of engineering, design, and construction management professional experience to the Brick & Mortar team, as well as over 8 years of venture investing as the founder and managing director of South Park Ventures (formerly Deebek Ventures), with a portfolio of over 35 seed and early stage investments. Darren is a Stanford-trained engineer and Stanford MBA who remains closely connected to the young Stanford entrepreneurial community. Darren is also founder and developer of Soma CoLab, a San Francisco-based co-working and incubator space for Stanford alumni. Darren is involved in the the boards of six startup companies and serves as a technology innovation advisor to the Bechtel Group, a global leader in engineering, construction, and project management. Darren’s venture portfolio includes investments in: PlanGrid, FieldWire, FLUX, BuildingConnected, Rhumbix, BuildZoom, Zlien, HoloBuilder, EverCharge, PaintZen, Ravti, ALICE, Enmetric, Getable, and SmartNest.
Brick & Mortar Ventures will opportunistically syndicate deals as parallel funds alongside its primary participation as a direct investor through its dedicated venture capital fund.