Sitemark

The problem

Bridges, tunnels, rail lines and power networks need constant monitoring, yet most inspections still depend on crews working at height with handheld tools and paper checklists. Inspections are expensive, infrequent and subjective, which means small cracks and corrosion can go unnoticed until they become serious problems. Infrastructure operators know they need better data, but collecting it safely and consistently has always been difficult.

Why now

Much of the world’s infrastructure was built decades ago and is now ageing, while budgets for maintenance remain tight. Governments are investing heavily in renewal programs, but they need better data to prioritise spending. Mobile scanning technology has become far more accurate and affordable, and cloud computing makes it practical to process massive three-dimensional datasets. Regulators also increasingly expect evidence-based maintenance plans. Sitemark arrived when the need for better infrastructure data had never been greater and the tools to capture it had finally matured.

The founders

Tom Becker spent years as a structural inspector for a European rail operator, often working at night on bridges and tunnels while traffic was paused. Isabel Ruiz built robotic mapping systems at a research institute, combining lidar, cameras and precise positioning to capture environments in three dimensions. They met on a joint research project and saw an opportunity to turn Isabel’s technology into a practical tool for inspectors like Tom.

Why we invested

Elias backed Sitemark after seeing its models catch a crack that a manual inspection had missed only weeks earlier. The system captured infrastructure in millimetre detail and compared each new scan with previous ones, highlighting changes automatically. That ability to track deterioration over time was what made the product transformative. Elias also valued that the founders had built relationships with infrastructure operators before raising capital, which gave them a clear path to revenue.

How we helped

After investing, we helped Sitemark expand from rail into energy and road infrastructure through introductions to operators across Europe. Elias worked with the founders on a subscription model that bundles scanning, analysis and reporting, making budgets predictable for public agencies. Our platform team supported them through public procurement processes, which are notoriously slow but very durable once won.

Where they are now

Sitemark now supports infrastructure operators across Europe, building digital twins that make maintenance predictive instead of reactive. Customers report fewer emergency repairs, safer inspection crews and better evidence for funding decisions. The company recently began piloting its platform in North America with a regional transit agency. Tom still joins difficult inspections in person, because he believes the best product ideas come from the field.