Construction is still one of the least digitized industries in the world. On billion-dollar projects, many teams still rely on spreadsheets, radios, and rough estimates. Without real-time data, managers often struggle to track what’s happening on the ground. Workers go uncounted. Safety risks are missed. Productivity? No one knows until it’s too late.
That’s exactly what WakeCap wants to fix.
The Saudi-based startup just raised $28 million in Series A funding to modernize job sites through real-time worker tracking and data insights. The round was led by UP.Partners, with support from Graphene Ventures and several strategic investors across the U.S., Asia, and the Middle East.
Founded in 2017 by Dr. Hassan Albalawi, WakeCap offers a non-intrusive, sensor-based system. It fits easily into existing construction workflows, helping companies boost productivity and keep teams safe without disrupting their daily routines. Ishita Sood, who joined as co-founder and COO later that year, helped shape the company’s early operations and scale.
Since then, WakeCap has tracked over 150 million hours of labor and has supported projects valued at more than $80 billion. Clients include Aramco, NEOM, Qiddiya, and King Salman Park—plus ongoing work in the U.S., UAE, and Japan.
Unlike other construction tech, WakeCap’s gear is built for tough environments. The system runs in the background, collecting data from worker wearables and on-site equipment. This tech has already delivered major results: a 91% drop in safety incidents, 25% higher productivity, and a 70% improvement in response times when issues arise.
Albalawi says the new funding will help WakeCap expand globally and deepen partnerships with platforms like Oracle and OpenSpace. “Real-time site data changes how projects run. This investment lets us deliver faster reporting, better insights, and safer work environments,” he shared.
Investor Adam Grosser, Managing Partner at UP.Partners, believes WakeCap is tapping into two massive trends—rising infrastructure investments and the digital overhaul of construction. “WakeCap brings visibility and trust to the field,” he said. “As governments pour trillions into new development, this tech becomes essential.”
The global construction tech market is heating up fast. Governments are spending more on infrastructure and demanding better safety and accountability. In Saudi Arabia alone, nearly $1 trillion is flowing into large-scale projects.
WakeCap is one of the few startups from the region to make a tech acquisition in Silicon Valley, a sign that its ambitions go far beyond the Gulf. With fresh capital, the company plans to scale in current markets, enter new regions, and hire across engineering, product, and customer teams.
Graphene Ventures’ Nabil Borhanu also backed the round. He sees WakeCap as a company ready to lead this transformation. “Their platform is proven. Their mission is clear. And their partnerships are deep,” he said. “WakeCap shows us what the future of construction looks like—smart, connected, and global.”
The real value? WakeCap is shifting the power of data from the boardroom to the boots on the ground. It’s helping project managers see problems sooner, act faster, and protect workers better. In a high-risk, high-cost industry, that kind of clarity isn’t just helpful—it’s game-changing.
