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Soil Connect Secures Strategic Financing Led by Heartland Ventures

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Soil Connect has raised additional funding led by Heartland Ventures, with participation from existing investors including CEMEX Ventures and TIA Ventures, as well as new investors like Romulus Capital and ARKA Ventures. The funds will support technology development and team expansion. Mark Accomando joins the board, along with four construction industry experts. Soil Connect's innovative solutions, such as the eRegulatory module and eTickets, are designed to streamline operations in the construction sector, indicating strong market potential and investor confidence.

Positive
  • Raised strategic funding to enhance technology and product infrastructure.
  • New board member and advisory board with experienced industry professionals.
  • Successful introduction of digital solutions that address pain points in the construction industry.
Negative
  • None.

Romulus Capital/EquipmentShare and ARKA Ventures among new investors

CEMEX Ventures, TIA Ventures and AB Investment Group also participated, representing expansion of funding from key investors

Heartland’s Mark Accomando joins board of directors

Four highly respected construction industry professionals join advisory board

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Soil Connect, an innovative digital marketplace connecting those who have soil, aggregates and other building materials with those who need it, today announced that it has raised additional strategic funding led by Heartland Ventures. The round also included participation from existing investors, CEMEX Ventures, TIA Ventures and AB Investment Group, as well as new investors Romulus Capital/EquipmentShare and ARKA Ventures. Soil Connect will use the funds to continue to build out its technology, product infrastructure and team to advance its mission to be a one-stop shop for all things dirt-related.

“We have created and are scaling a digital marketplace that is entirely unique and meets a clear need for the construction industry,” said Cliff Fetner, Founder and CEO of Soil Connect. “Our ability to drive critical efficiencies that save time and money has led to rapid adoption and enabled Soil Connect to serve as an essential jobsite tool for our users. This proof of concept is reflected in the fact that Heartland, CEMEX and TIA have all increased their stakes alongside new investments from Romulus Capital/EquipmentShare and AKRA Ventures. These investors recognize the significant value we bring to the table, as well as the tremendous market opportunity that exists for us to continue introducing products that provide innovative solutions to an antiquated industry.”

Since announcing its seed round, Soil Connect has continued to make progress expanding its offering with the introduction of its patent-pending eRegulatorySM module, which eliminates paper tickets and automatically captures and saves essential truck, load and route data, allowing users to easily share with regulatory bodies and other stakeholders. Furthermore, Soil Connect’s eTickets product continues to prove highly beneficial by digitizing contractors’ entire administrative workflow. The company’s ability to continue to innovate has further enhanced its value proposition and fueled the expansion of its user base.

Mark Accomando, Partner at Heartland, who was named to Soil Connect’s board of directors in conjunction with the funding, added, “Our decision to increase the fund's investment in Soil Connect was largely based on feedback from those who play in the dirt – many of whom are our LPs, comprising large general contractors, earthworks contractors and firms focused on aggregate and asphalt production, transit and sales. The Soil Connect marketplace resonated with all of them, up and down the value chain. It's become clear that Soil Connect's in-the-dirt experience allows them to build trust with folks working with their hands. Cliff and his team are not Silicon Valley programmers – they're construction leaders that know the customer. This is a huge advantage in an industry often wary of technology.”

In addition to appointing Accomando to its board of directors, Soil Connect named four highly respected construction professionals to its advisory board, including:

  • William Sandbrook: Former Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of U.S. Concrete. In total, Sandbrook spent 29 years in the heavy construction materials industry, and currently serves on the board of directors of Comfort Systems USA (NYSE: FIX) and NITROcrete.
  • Steve Dell’Orto: Former SVP of Clark Construction, where he spent 26 years, and Founder and CEO of ConCntric, a construction-tech predictive analytics platform.
  • Aaron Toppston: Managing Director of Infrastructure Investments & Strategic Planning at Walsh Investment Group.
  • Zach Scheel: Co-Founder and CEO of construction management software startup Rhumbix.

Soil Connect has also made significant progress building out its team, bringing on eight new hires over the last six months. These professionals have diverse and complementary skillsets that are key to advancing Soil Connect’s strategic priorities.

Gonzalo Galindo, Head of CEMEX Ventures, commented, “After piloting Soil Connect in Florida, we continue to see great value in the solutions Cliff and his team are bringing to the table. At its core, the Soil Connect team is made up of people who deeply understand the critical pain points we face in the industry, and they are coming to market with solutions that allow us to more efficiently and cost effectively manage materials. Furthermore, by continuing to invest in Soil Connect, we are advancing CEMEX’s Climate Action Strategy by propelling the adoption of tools that give new life to materials that would have otherwise been discarded.”

Willy Schlacks, Co-Founder and CEO of EquipmentShare, stated, “We are excited for the future of construction as a result of transformative marketplaces like Soil Connect. Soil Connect is modernizing the way soil, aggregates and other materials are transported, tracked and monitored. Having the opportunity to invest in such an innovative company alongside some of the most respected names in the industry was something we could not pass up, especially given the significant overlap in our user bases and our shared desire to provide construction professionals with solutions to their biggest obstacles. We look forward to what’s ahead for Soil Connect and working closely with Cliff and the rest of its team.”

For more information on the Soil Connect digital marketplace, eTickets, eRegulatory and its expanding suite of services, visit www.soilconnect.com.

About Soil Connect

Soil Connect is the first and only institutionally backed digital marketplace focused on the multi-billion-dollar soil and aggregates industry. The platform was created to solve the high costs and inefficiencies associated with the transport and management of soil, aggregates and other materials. Founded by third-generation builder and developer Cliff Fetner, the app connects those who have soil and aggregates with those who need it. The marketplace offers a seamless and streamlined solution for excavators, contractors, developers, landscapers and other building professionals to network and transact with one another while saving time and money and positively impacting the environment. For more information, please visit www.soilconnect.com.

ICR for Soil Connect

soilconnect@icrinc.com

646-677-1836

Source: Soil Connect

FAQ

What recent funding did Soil Connect secure?

Soil Connect raised additional funding led by Heartland Ventures, with participation from CEMEX Ventures, TIA Ventures, and new investors like Romulus Capital and ARKA Ventures.

Who joined the board of directors at Soil Connect?

Mark Accomando from Heartland Ventures was appointed to Soil Connect’s board of directors.

What innovations is Soil Connect introducing?

Soil Connect is introducing the eRegulatory module and eTickets, aimed at improving operational efficiency in the construction industry.

What significant partnerships did Soil Connect form?

Soil Connect expanded its investor base to include Romulus Capital and ARKA Ventures, alongside existing investors.

How is Soil Connect impacting the construction industry?

Soil Connect aims to streamline the management of soil and aggregates, providing essential tools for construction professionals.

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