Lauren Lake is a dynamic entrepreneur and the co-founder of Bridgit Solutions, a cutting-edge company that is transforming the construction industry with innovative project management software. Through Bridgit, Lauren has addressed one of the most significant pain points in the construction sector—communication and collaboration. As the construction industry has traditionally been slow to adopt technology, Lauren’s efforts with Bridgit Solutions are making waves in how construction teams work together, streamline operations, and improve overall efficiency.
In this blog, we’ll take an in-depth look at Lauren Lake’s entrepreneurial journey, her educational background, business experiences, struggles, successes, and how Bridgit Solutions is reshaping the future of construction project management.
Early Life and Educational Background
Lauren Lake’s path to entrepreneurship was shaped by her educational journey and early career experiences. Growing up, Lauren developed a keen interest in business and technology. This interest led her to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree at the University of Toronto, one of Canada’s top institutions for business education. Through her studies, Lauren gained critical knowledge of business strategy, operations, marketing, and technology management—skills that would prove essential when launching her own tech company.
Lauren’s academic journey gave her a strong foundation in business operations and problem-solving, equipping her with the tools to identify inefficiencies in the industries she would later serve. However, it was her subsequent professional experience, particularly within the construction and technology sectors, that truly shaped her entrepreneurial aspirations. She realized that construction, a traditionally conservative industry, was facing many challenges related to project management and internal communication, and she knew that technology could offer solutions.
The Birth of Bridgit Solutions
In 2012, Lauren Lake co-founded Bridgit Solutions alongside Mallorie Brodie, driven by their shared desire to improve construction project management. The company’s focus was to develop cloud-based software that addressed common pain points in construction—specifically the lack of effective communication and project tracking tools.
The company’s flagship product, Bridgit Field, was designed to streamline the way construction teams tracked punch lists, tasks, and project progress in real-time. Construction projects often involve complex teams spread across different locations, and many of them still relied on paper, spreadsheets, and outdated software for project management. The lack of transparency and communication led to inefficiencies, delays, and costly mistakes.
Bridgit Field transformed this process by providing a simple, cloud-based platform that construction managers and field teams could use to stay on top of tasks, issues, and updates in real-time. The product allowed teams to track issues, assign responsibilities, and ensure accountability while minimizing the need for paper-based processes or back-and-forth emails.
Lauren’s role at Bridgit Solutions has been pivotal. As the Chief Operating Officer (COO), she has been responsible for overseeing daily operations, driving business growth, managing customer relationships, and helping scale the company to meet the demands of an expanding market. Her experience in business strategy and operations has allowed her to effectively steer the company through various growth stages.
Struggles and Challenges in Building Bridgit Solutions
As with any entrepreneurial journey, Lauren Lake and Bridgit Solutions faced several challenges along the way. The construction tech sector is notorious for being resistant to change, especially when it comes to adopting new software. Here are some of the hurdles Lauren and her team encountered:
- Introducing Technology to a Traditional Industry: One of the primary challenges Bridgit faced in the early stages was overcoming the inherent resistance to change in the construction industry. Construction projects have historically been managed using legacy systems, such as paper forms and manual tracking. Convincing construction companies to adopt a new digital solution was difficult because of the industry’s tendency to rely on traditional methods. Lauren and her team had to work hard to demonstrate the value of Bridgit Field in terms of improving efficiency, reducing errors, and saving time.
- Product Development: Bridgit Solutions had to create a product that would meet the diverse needs of the construction industry. This meant developing software that could be used by project managers, field workers, and contractors—each of whom had different requirements for how they tracked and managed projects. Lauren and the team needed to ensure that the platform was intuitive, easy to use, and flexible enough to adapt to a wide range of project sizes and complexities. The software had to solve real pain points in the field while being accessible and practical for people who might not be tech-savvy.
- Funding and Scaling the Business: Securing funding for a startup in the tech space is always a challenge, especially when the product targets a niche industry. Lauren and Mallorie had to navigate the complex world of venture capital, and convince investors of the potential of Bridgit Solutions. Getting investors to recognize the construction sector’s growing need for digital transformation was no easy task. Scaling the business to serve a wider audience required continuous innovation, the ability to handle larger volumes of users, and a strong sales and marketing strategy to expand Bridgit’s reach.
- Customer Acquisition: Initially, Bridgit was a new and relatively unknown brand, which meant Lauren and her team had to invest considerable time and effort into customer acquisition. Construction firms are often hesitant to adopt new technology, especially if they’ve been using legacy systems for years. Bridgit had to establish trust with its customers and prove its value in terms of both ROI and usability. Building a loyal customer base involved overcoming skepticism and ensuring that the software delivered on its promises.
- Competition: As the construction technology sector has become more crowded, Bridgit Solutions faced increasing competition from other software companies offering project management solutions. Lauren and her team had to continuously innovate, stay ahead of industry trends, and differentiate Bridgit’s offerings from those of competitors.
Successes and Achievements of Bridgit Solutions
Despite these early challenges, Bridgit Solutions has become a recognized leader in the construction tech space. Below are some of the major successes and milestones the company has achieved under Lauren Lake’s leadership:
- Expanding Customer Base: Bridgit Solutions has grown significantly since its founding. Today, Bridgit serves a wide range of clients across the construction industry, including well-known general contractors, subcontractors, and developers. Major companies such as EllisDon, Bauer Construction, and Bristol Group use Bridgit Field to streamline their project management processes. Bridgit’s user base continues to grow as more construction companies adopt digital tools for project management.
- Raising Investment: Bridgit Solutions raised a successful $12 million Series A funding round in 2020, which has been instrumental in supporting its growth. This round of investment helped scale the platform’s capabilities, expand the customer base, and fuel further product development. The funding also allowed the company to expand its team and improve its marketing efforts to reach new customers.
- Industry Recognition: Bridgit Solutions has received significant recognition within the tech and construction industries for its innovative approach. The company has been featured in numerous industry publications and recognized for its role in transforming the construction industry with tech-based solutions. Lauren has also been recognized for her entrepreneurial leadership, earning spots on several prestigious lists for women entrepreneurs and innovators.
- Expanding Product Offerings: Over time, Bridgit Solutions has expanded its product lineup to better serve the needs of construction professionals. In addition to Bridgit Field, the company developed Bridgit Bench, a workforce management tool that helps construction managers plan and track labor resources. The expansion of product offerings shows Bridgit’s commitment to providing end-to-end solutions for the construction industry.
- Building Strong Partnerships: Bridgit has partnered with industry leaders in the construction and tech sectors, further solidifying its position in the market. One of the notable partnerships is with Procore Technologies, a leading project management platform for construction. By integrating Bridgit’s solutions with Procore’s software, the company can offer even more robust tools to construction teams.
Looking Forward: The Future of Bridgit Solutions
As Bridgit Solutions continues to grow, Lauren Lake is focused on expanding the company’s reach and impact. The construction industry is in the midst of a digital transformation, and Bridgit is poised to play a significant role in that evolution. Moving forward, Lauren’s vision for the company includes:
Global Expansion: Bridgit Solutions aims to expand internationally, reaching construction companies around the world. With the global construction market increasingly embracing technology, there is a growing opportunity to expand Bridgit’s footprint beyond North America.
Continued Innovation: As technology continues to evolve, Lauren and her team are committed to staying ahead of the curve by developing new features and tools that address the changing needs of the construction industry. Future innovations may include artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and enhanced data analytics to further improve decision-making on construction projects.
Fostering Sustainability: The construction industry is under increasing pressure to embrace sustainable practices. Lauren sees Bridgit’s platform as an opportunity to help construction companies reduce waste, improve resource management, and increase sustainability through digital solutions.
Conclusion
Lauren Lake’s journey as an entrepreneur and co-founder of Bridgit Solutions is a remarkable success story of innovation, persistence, and leadership. By creating a platform that empowers construction teams to collaborate more effectively, Lauren and her team have addressed a critical need in the construction industry. Through her leadership, Bridgit has grown from a startup to a leading player in construction technology, helping companies streamline their operations, reduce inefficiencies, and improve project outcomes.
As the construction industry continues to evolve, Lauren’s vision for Bridgit Solutions remains steadfast: to drive greater efficiency, collaboration, and sustainability through the power of technology. With her leadership and the team’s ongoing commitment to innovation, Bridgit Solutions is well-positioned to continue its growth and play a pivotal role in the digital transformation of the construction industry .
