Former PG&E Engineer Raises 26 Million Dollars for Underground Mapping Startup CivilGrid

Josh Mackanic spent a decade at a major utility before deciding to tackle a hidden problem in infrastructure projects.

His experience showed how unknown underground pipes and cables cause costly delays and safety risks during construction.

Why Underground Data Gaps Cost Billions

Every year the United States sees roughly 200000 utility strikes that damage buried assets and halt work.

Fragmented records across different owners make it hard for planners to see the full picture before digging begins.

CivilGrid aggregates utility maps property data and environmental rules into one shared digital platform.

Early users include utilities and engineering firms that report faster project scoping and fewer surprises in the field.

How CivilGrid Could Reshape Infrastructure Delivery

The new funding will help the company expand nationwide and add features like automated permit recommendations.

One major utility already used the tool to spot 60 million dollars in avoidable paving costs across 1600 gas projects.

Beyond direct savings the platform may speed up the buildout of data centers grid upgrades and housing by cutting planning time.

Smaller engineering teams and local governments stand to gain the most because they often lack the resources of large utilities.

In the next 12 months CivilGrid aims to deepen automation and enter more states while utilities face rising demand for reliable infrastructure.

Historically infrastructure data has stayed siloed inside individual companies leading to repeated errors and higher costs across the sector.

Founders in construction and energy should watch how better subsurface visibility changes risk models and bidding strategies.