Building permits often involve lengthy applications that create unpredictable timelines for developers and companies. There are tens of thousands of jurisdictions, each with different building permit forms and application procedures.
Ben Allen knows a thing or two about permits: While heading up expansion and strategy at GoPuff, Allen was tasked with launching GoPuff's ghost kitchen endeavor, GoPuff Kitchens, in hundreds of locations across the U.S.
Allen said the biggest obstacle his team faced was obtaining the necessary building permits.
“Permitting processes for developers, builders and government agencies are largely outdated and manual,” he told TechCrunch. “For example, some agencies only accept or review permit plans on certain days of the week at certain times. Without adopting solutions to streamline this process, many cities will remain stuck in the lengthy and costly cycle of their current permitting processes.”
After leaving GoPuff, Mr. Allen decided to tackle that conundrum with former GoPuff colleague James Gallagher. Two years ago, the two launched Greenlight, a platform that standardizes the permitting process for clients across multiple jurisdictions.
The platform allows Greenlight's clients, which currently range from retailers and quick-service restaurants to developers and homebuilders, to run construction plan reviews almost entirely in software. Rivals including PermitFlow, Accela and Tyler Technologies also offer this capability, but Gallagher argues they're more “filing-oriented” and too simplistic.
Greenlite customer dashboard. Image courtesy of Greenlite
“Greenlight offers a digital plan review solution that actually issues permits faster and more transparently,” Greenlight CEO Gallagher asserted, adding that Greenlight is also authorized to review construction plans and conduct building inspections in around 2,000 jurisdictions.
Some local governments, like Miami, allow contractors to hire their own private providers (e.g., Greenlight) in lieu of jurisdictional plan review and inspection. “Greenlight’s platform is unique in that it integrates construction drawings, zoning and use data, local building codes, and expert compliance markups all in one database,” Gallagher adds.
Gallagher declined to disclose revenue figures but claimed Greenlight has “dozens” of clients and is “well positioned to continue growing.”
“Our clients will always need building permits, and Greenlight is positioned to continue serving them even as they adjust their priorities due to potential headwinds,” Gallagher said. “Specifically, our clients need building permits to support new unit expansions, and they also need building permits to renovate, remodel and update their existing assets.”
It's also helping that VCs are injecting fresh capital into the business.
Greenlite closed a $28.5 million Series A round this week, led by Craft Ventures, with participation from 53 Stations, Trust Ventures and LiveOak Ventures. The company's total funding now stands at $36.5 million, and Gallagher said the new funding will help Greenlite expand its market and attract customers in sectors like lodging, industrial and green infrastructure.
New York-based Greenlight has 30 employees, and Gallagher plans to hire 10 more by the end of the year.