SXSW Pitch Finalist: Cove.tool
The Forrest Four-Cast: January 30, 2020
Bringing together sustainability and efficient architectural practices, the team at Cove.tool is committed to fighting climate change one building at a time.
One of 50 finalists for SXSW Pitch 2020, Cove.tool is a game-changing, machine learning technology that helps users discover smarter ways to make their buildings energy efficient while saving on construction costs.
The software product grew from tools and processes developed by Pattern r+d, a sustainability consulting firm run by Cove.tool co-founders Sandeep Ahuja and Patrick Chopson (both building scientists and architects).
They saw a need for an easy-to-understand decision-making tool that could enable all major players involved in building design (architects, engineers, contractors and real estate developers) to see and compare options for cost and energy savings.
Based in Atlanta (which has been named the best city in the U.S. for startups that isn’t San Francisco or New York), Cove.tool has buildings in Canada, South America, Europe, Africa and Australia, as well as across America.
CEO Sandeep Ahuja recently presented on the impact of buildings on climate change at the United Nations environment assembly, showcased at Tedx Atlanta, and won the Atlanta Startup Battle and an award from Forbes, placing her among North America’s top 30 entrepreneurs working in the energy sector aged 30 or under.
She answered some questions in advance of her SXSW 2020 pitch in the category Smart Cities, Transportation & Logistics Technology (9:30 to 10:30 am Saturday, March 14) before a panel of expert judges and a live audience.
Winners in each of the 10 categories will be announced at the Pitch Awards Ceremony, at 6:30 pm Sunday, March 15. SXSW attendees are also invited to Meet the Finalists from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Monday, March 16. All SXSW Pitch events take place at the Hilton Austin Downtown.
What problem does CoveTool solve?
Building causes 40% of total carbon emissions causing climate change.
What is your top goal for CoveTool for 2020?
To make sure every new construction and renovation is optimized for energy and cost.
Tell us your favorite things about being in Atlanta.
The weather, the community, having Georgia Tech in our backyard for talent, the cost of living, connectivity to all major cities.
With the exception of Cove.Tool, what tech trend is your team most excited about?
Autonomous driving.
What has the startup experience taught you about life?
Persistence.
What motto or quote do you live by?
This will sound like a cat poster, but it is what it is: “Yes, I Can.”
What do you reach for when you are low on energy?
Cappuccinos all the way.
If you were offered the opportunity to colonize Mars (with no guarantee that you would return to Earth), would you go? Why or why not?
I would want to colonize mars under these circumstances. First, if our current world had grossly failed to rise up to the climate change disaster. Second, if our current world keeps going down the path of surveillance, manipulation (i.e. Cambridge Analytica) and lack of freedom. Sadly, both of these reasons seem more real than I would like!
Look for more interviews with other finalists in this space between now and the start of SXSW Pitch on Saturday, March 14. So far, installments in this series have covered Intvo, an AI-software designed to improve traffic safety, Sapient, a smart outlet system that saves energy, and Radiobotics, which automates medical imaging analysis to improve results and efficiency.
If you are an entrepreneur, check out the SXSW 2020 Startups Track, which runs March 13–17. This track brings together founders and funders and showcases exciting new companies, products, services, and business models across different verticals and industries.
Hugh Forrest serves as Chief Programming Officer at SXSW, the world’s most unique gathering of creative professionals. He also tries to write at least four paragraphs per day on Medium. These posts often cover tech-related trends; other times they focus on books, pop culture, sports and other current events.
