Our Story: Forged on the Jobsite
Every great innovation starts with a simple, frustrating problem. For us, that problem was staring our founder, Trevan Baxter, in the face every day on the construction site. He was shocked and annoyed by the industry's reliance on outdated methods—a world where profitability was a function of experience, and a company's success often depended on finding that one "old guy who just knows" how to bid a job right.
Hours were wasted on subjective estimates, scribbled on paper or cobbled together in complex spreadsheets. Trevan knew there had to be a better way. While working as Director of Operations at Kaliber Construction, he focused on standardizing processes and implementing technology wherever he could. But the true "aha!" moment came with the release of ChatGPT 3.5. He saw it not just as a new piece of tech, but as the long-overdue catalyst that could finally bring the construction industry into the 21st century. It was time to take the chance.
From a Problem to a Platform
An idea is one thing; building it is another. Trevan teamed up with his brother and co-founder, Kaden Baxter, to create the solution. The partnership was a perfect blend of expertise: Trevan, with his deep knowledge of construction operations and data-driven efficiency, and Kaden, a software engineer with hands-on construction experience who could translate the complexities of the jobsite into clean, powerful code.
Their shared time at Kaliber Construction meant they both understood the grit and the reality of the trade. They weren't outsiders looking in; they were insiders determined to build the tools they wished they'd had themselves. This principle became our bedrock: Construction before Tech. We walk, talk, and think like contractors, applying technology not for its own sake, but to solve real-world problems.
Our first mission was to attack the single biggest administrative burden: the bidding process. We rolled up our sleeves and built flatwork.ai, a platform focused entirely on helping concrete contractors create fast, accurate, multi-option quotes. We got it into the hands of our first beta customers and began the crucial process of listening, refining, and proving that our idea could make a real difference.
Our Vision for the Future
Today, flatwork.ai is the result of that journey. It's a platform that automates administrative burdens, freeing contractors to do what they do best—deliver quality work on site.
Our mission is to free every contractor from the chains of administrative work. Our vision is to automate the entire construction vertical, not from the top down, but from the trade up. We started with concrete because we know it best, but we are building a foundation to expand to all trades, creating a single, automated ecosystem for the entire industry.
We live at the bleeding edge of technology because we believe in an expanding pie, where innovation creates new opportunities and mutual success for everyone. We are shortening the distance from Silicon Valley to the jobsite, with a long-term vision that one day may even extend into the physical space with robotics and automated work.
We are flatwork.ai
We're a construction company, powered by technology.
And we're just getting started.
As Director of Operations at Kaliber Construction, Trevan combined his expertise in construction operations and data analysis to identify critical inefficiencies in the concrete contracting process. Recognizing the potential of automation to transform the industry, he developed a platform designed specifically for concrete contractors, enabling them to streamline customer acquisition, project management, and other routine tasks. This innovation allows contractors to spend less time in the office and more time on what they do best - delivering quality work on site.
Kaden Baxter brings a unique blend of technical expertise and hands-on experience to flatwork.ai. With experience in Software Engineering at Snow College and Firenote, and construction experience at Kaliber Construction, Kaden excels at translating complex concepts into practical solutions. His background working in concrete contracting and in the software industry, enables him to drive innovation in building transformative software for the construction industry.
Jonny Gilman is a Founding Engineer at flatwork.ai, bringing deep technical expertise and innovative problem-solving to the platform. With a passion for building scalable solutions that bridge the gap between complex technology and real-world construction challenges, Jonny plays a crucial role in developing the core systems that power our automated construction workflows.
Andrew Boyer serves as Principal Engineer at flatwork.ai, leading the technical vision and architecture of our construction automation platform. With extensive experience in building enterprise-grade systems, Andrew ensures our technology stack is robust, scalable, and capable of handling the complex demands of the construction industry while maintaining the high performance our contractors depend on.
Our Values
These core principles guide everything we do and shape how we build the future of construction technology.
Create Value
We believe in an expanding pie where mutual success is achieved through innovation and the creation of new opportunities for everyone.
Blue-Collar Ethic
We are dedicated to rolling up our sleeves, being the first to engage and the last to leave. Everyone owns the whole company's success – no one's above any task.
Live at the Bleeding Edge
We don't chase trends; we set them. We're thinking, building, and deploying the tech that others haven't even dreamed of yet.
Construction before Tech
We build from the ground up. Our tech is forged in the contractor's boots-on-the-ground reality, bridging the gap from Silicon Valley directly to the job site.
Unwavering Customer Commitment
We deliver hands-on, 24/7, US-based support, valuing personal connections and meeting every customer's needs precisely where they are, ensuring an uncompromising experience.
Our Mission
Our mission is to automate administrative burdens for contractors, freeing them to focus their expertise on high-value on-site execution and project success.
Our Vision
Automate the entire construction vertical, beginning at the trade level. We are currently focused on concrete but aim to expand to all trades, approaching automation from a trade-up rather than a project manager-down perspective.