CivilGrid raises $26M to map underground utilities and prevent strikes

CivilGrid, founded by ex-PG&E engineer Josh Mackanic, aggregates data on underground assets, property ownership, and environmental regulations. The startup raised a $26 million Series A led by Spark Capital to expand its customer base. A PG&E case study identified $60 million in avoidable paving costs using the platform.

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CivilGrid’s platform consolidates records from utilities, property databases, and environmental rules into a single digital map, aiming to reduce the roughly 200,000 annual utility strikes. The startup’s founder, a former PG&E engineer, experienced a three-day delay and $60,000 cost from an unknown pipe during excavation, motivating his pivot. The Series A, led by Spark Capital, includes backing from Energy Impact Partners, whose utility LP base signals industry trust. A PG&E case study across 1,600 gas projects found $60 million in avoidable paving costs, highlighting the tool’s potential for large-scale infrastructure planning.

The company’s near-term focus is expanding its customer base among governments, engineering firms, and utilities. Mackanic envisions eventually automating permit filing and recommending optimal pipe placement, leveraging the dataset to streamline construction workflows. He argues that solving this problem externally was necessary because utilities operate leanly and resist cost increases. The funding will support scaling these capabilities beyond California, where PG&E remains a key reference customer.