Early-Stage
Startups
A few years ago, we formed Syska (Hennessy) Innovations in an effort to invest in early-stage companies and pilot their software and products. Our goals for doing this are three-fold: leverage our core expertise, provide added value, and demonstrate industry leadership.
Leverage Core Expertise
Leverage Syska Hennessy’s core expertise in consulting engineering to identify early-stage investable opportunities that might not be recognized by traditional venture-capital funds.
Added-Value Approach
Add value to our investments by using non-cash resources unique to Syska Hennessy, like projects, domain expertise, connections to collaborators, and industry exposure.
Demonstrate Industry Leadership
Serve as a model for the industry to follow by supporting a culture of innovation and technology within and beyond Syska Hennessy.
Our Investments
Our Areas of Focus
To guide our investment choices, we established the following innovation focus “buckets”:
- Eco-innovation
- Industrialization of design
- Products and methods
- SMART buildings
- Project design
- Project Management
- Digitalization
Does your start-up fit into one of these buckets?
CONTACT USInvestment Focus
Early Stage Investments. Syska’s leadership in consulting engineering provides a market understanding which represents an opportunity to invest in companies who are early in their journeys. Early stage companies are firms which have formed a strong vision for their product or service, but which have not yet started to generate sustaining or growth revenue.
Product-Market Fit in the AEC Industry. The AEC industry is a complex marketplace and environment. Syska focuses on companies who provide tangible impacts to the lifecycle of This includes improvements to workflows during design, construction, and operations.
Strong Leadership. The AEC industry values the ability to lead teams, projects, and strategy, so we focus on investments where startups are led by individuals who can effectively work with internal and external teams.
Scalability. Technology companies have the ability to grow in scale and impact. Syska partners with companies that have the vision to grow to become industry leading solutions to the processes they impact.
Opportunity for Added Value. Being more than just a financial resource is important to Syska and we examine the opportunities for added value during the investment evaluation process
Investment Evaluation Criteria
- Problem
- Solution
- Team
- Milestones/financials
- Market/competition
- Protectability
- Unfair Advantages
- Sustainability / Public Good
1 What is the problem you are trying to solve? How common is this problem and what are proof points that indicate the depth of this problem? What are the current alternative paths to mitigating this problem?
2 What is the problem you are trying to solve? How common is this problem and what are proof points that indicate the depth of this problem? What are the current alternative paths to mitigating this problem?
3 What is the problem you are trying to solve? How common is this problem and what are proof points that indicate the depth of this problem? What are the current alternative paths to mitigating this problem?
4 What is the problem you are trying to solve? How common is this problem and what are proof points that indicate the depth of this problem? What are the current alternative paths to mitigating this problem?
5 What is the problem you are trying to solve? How common is this problem and what are proof points that indicate the depth of this problem? What are the current alternative paths to mitigating this problem?
6 What is the problem you are trying to solve? How common is this problem and what are proof points that indicate the depth of this problem? What are the current alternative paths to mitigating this problem?
7 What is the problem you are trying to solve? How common is this problem and what are proof points that indicate the depth of this problem? What are the current alternative paths to mitigating this problem?
8 What is the problem you are trying to solve? How common is this problem and what are proof points that indicate the depth of this problem? What are the current alternative paths to mitigating this problem?