The construction industry offers an expansive opportunity for technological disruption, as it continues to tackle the challenges of rising construction materials costs, a skilled-labor shortage and overall lack of productivity improvements. According to the newly released JLL research report, The State of Construction Technology, Silicon Valley investors are stepping in to seize that opportunity. Venture capital funds are funneling unprecedented levels of cash into construction technology startups’ pockets.

In first half 2018, venture capital firms invested $1.05 billion in global construction tech startups, setting a record high, according to JLL. First half 2018 investment volume is nearly 30 percent higher than 2017’s full-year total.

“The construction sector is on the verge of major disruption, as tech startups tackle head-on the industry’s biggest pressure points,” said Todd Burns, president, project and development services, at JLL, in a statem