Semble AI

What do they actually do

Semble AI builds software to automate parts of fire alarm, sprinkler, and life‑safety system design. It generates permit‑ready layouts, bills of materials, and cost estimates, and helps teams respond to authority‑having‑jurisdiction (AHJ) comments Semble AI, Y Combinator.

The goal is to reduce manual drafting, code lookups, and rework by fitting into existing CAD/BIM workflows and producing exportable submittals and quotes. Early materials emphasize faster design turnaround and fewer AHJ redlines Semble AI.

Who are their target customer(s)

• Fire‑life‑safety system integrators: Design workflows are slow and manual—teams spend hundreds of hours on drafting, code lookups, and AHJ redlines, causing project delays and lost bids Semble AI YC.
• General contractors and project managers on commercial builds: They wait on permit‑ready layouts and accurate cost estimates; schedule changes and late design revisions lead to construction delays and budget overruns Semble AI YC.
• Fire protection / MEP engineering teams inside larger firms: Keeping designs compliant across varying local codes and responding to AHJ comments forces senior engineers into repetitive checks and rework instead of higher‑value engineering Semble AI YC.
• Building owners and facility managers (hospitals, campuses, large landlords): Retrofits and tenant‑fit projects are disruptive and unpredictable because long lead times for final designs, parts lists, and pricing make budgeting and downtime planning difficult Semble AI YC.
• Estimators / procurement teams at installation shops: Producing accurate bills of materials and quotes is manual and error‑prone, causing stock mistakes, margin leakage, and slow bid turnaround on tight timelines Semble AI YC.

How would they acquire their first 10, 50, and 100 customers

• First 10: Run paid, time‑boxed pilots with known system integrators (warm intros from founder’s network, e.g., Convergint) and deliver permit‑ready layouts, BOMs, estimates, and direct AHJ support to prove time savings and fewer redlines YC Semble AI.
• First 50: Convert pilot wins into short case studies and ROI one‑pagers; execute targeted LinkedIn/email outreach to regional integrators, MEP teams, and GC estimating groups; add talks/booths at two relevant trade events and limited‑time discounted onboarding, with proof points (faster design, AHJ pass rate, BOM/quote exports) driving closes Semble AI ECMag industry pains.
• First 100: Build integrations and co‑marketing with CAD/estimating vendors and manufacturer libraries, launch a reseller/training program for national integrators/GCs, and open a self‑serve trial with templates and exportable permit packages to reduce onboarding cost and leverage partner distribution Semble AI Estimating/CAD ecosystem.

What is the rough total addressable market

Top-down context:

The U.S. fire‑protection systems market is about $25.9B in 2024, with global estimates around $68.9B; this includes equipment, installation, maintenance, and services Grand View Research via Yahoo Fortune Business Insights.

Bottom-up calculation:

Assuming design/engineering is ~10%–15% of spend, the U.S. serviceable market for Semble is roughly $2.6B–$3.9B annually; applying the same share globally implies ~$6.9B–$10.3B for design/engineering Grand View Research Fortune Business Insights.

Assumptions:

• Design/engineering represents 10%–15% of total fire‑protection system spend (conservative range).
• U.S. market size is ~$25.9B in 2024 per Grand View Research.
• Buyer landscape is fragmented (≈19,845 U.S. installer/contractor businesses), aiding broad software adoption IBISWorld.

Who are some of their notable competitors

• FireCAD: AutoCAD/Revit add‑in for fire alarm design that automates device placement, circuiting, risers, and reports—overlaps on faster AHJ‑ready alarm layouts and submittals.
• HydraCAD (Hydratec): Established sprinkler design suite on AutoCAD/Revit with hydraulic calculations, parts lists, and BIM exports—competes on automated sprinkler layout and BOMs.
• AutoSPRINK: Sprinkler system design software with 3D modeling, hydraulic calculations, and quoting—overlaps on speeding sprinkler design and producing fabrication/parts lists.
• SprinkCAD (Johnson Controls): Revit/3D sprinkler design suite for calculations and fabrication‑ready outputs—targets end‑to‑end sprinkler design integrated with BIM workflows.
• Hypar: General building‑systems automation platform that runs rule‑based design across MEP; a broader automation rival when firms want life‑safety within a larger BIM toolchain ENR profile.