# Bolster **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/bolster **Vertical:** Construction Tech **Subcategory:** General **Tier:** Emerging **Website:** bolsterbuilt.com **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary Calgary residential contractor platform from estimating to payment; $8.58M YC-backed growing from $250K to $20.9M revenue with 120 employees competing with BuilderTrend for Canadian renovation contractor market. ## Company Overview Bolster is a Calgary, Alberta-based construction technology company providing an end-to-end platform for residential contractors — covering estimating, project management, subcontractor coordination, client communication, invoicing, and payment collection in a single workflow system designed specifically for Canadian home renovation and construction contractors. Founded in 2015 and backed with $8.58 million raised including Alberta's highest seed round in 2021 led by Y Combinator, Bolster grew from $250,000 in revenue in 2021 to $20.9 million in 2025 with 120 employees and was recognized on Forbes' inaugural Canada's Best Startup Employers 2024 list. Bolster's platform addresses the operational chaos of residential contracting: most home renovation contractors manage projects through disconnected tools — estimating in Excel, project notes in text threads, invoicing in QuickBooks, and client communication through personal email — creating information silos that cause missed follow-ups, change order disputes, and cash flow management failures. Bolster's workflow unifies the full project cycle: the estimating tool generates detailed material and labor takeoffs that convert directly to client proposals; project management tracks schedule milestones and material procurement; the client portal provides homeowners transparent project visibility; and integrated payment processing enables draw-schedule collections as milestones are reached and verified. In 2025, Bolster competes in the residential construction management software market with BuilderTrend (residential construction management, $100M+ raised), CoConstruct (Vela Systems-acquired, custom home building), and Jobber (home service businesses) for residential contractor platform adoption. The Canadian residential renovation market is $80+ billion annually, with government renovation tax credits (Canada Greener Homes Grant, provincial programs) driving home improvement investment. Y Combinator's backing and the Forbes employer recognition reflect a product-market-fit and culture story that distinguishes Bolster in a market where contractor software satisfaction has historically been low. The 2025 strategy focuses on commercial expansion into British Columbia and Ontario (the largest Canadian renovation markets), building licensed trade contractor workflow modules for electricians and plumbers, and growing the homeowner marketplace that connects homeowners with Bolster-managed contractors. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is Bolster? Bolster is a Calgary-based construction technology company founded in 2015 that provides an end-to-end platform for buying, selling, and managing residential construction. The platform enables contractors to save time, win more jobs, enhance project oversight, and elevate the homeowner experience through digital solutions. ### What products and services does Bolster offer? Bolster offers a construction management platform, contractor platform, digital estimation tools, project oversight software, and homeowner experience technology. These solutions provide job bidding systems, time-saving automation, and end-to-end construction workflow management. ### Who is Bolster designed for? Bolster serves contractors, homebuilders, and residential construction companies across Canada. The platform is designed to help these professionals manage projects, win more jobs, and improve the homeowner experience. ### When was Bolster founded and by whom? Bolster was founded in 2015 by Mike Bignold, originally under the name CostCertified. The company participated in Y Combinator's Summer 2021 batch (S21). ### Where is Bolster located? Bolster is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. ### How much funding has Bolster raised? Bolster has raised $8.58M in total funding, including an $8.45M seed round in October 2021 led by Y Combinator. This seed round broke Alberta records for the highest seed round fundraising in 2021. ### What are Bolster's key achievements and metrics? Bolster achieved $20.9M in revenue in 2025, up from $18M in June 2024 and $250K in 2021. The company employs 120 people and was recognized on Forbes' inaugural Canada's Best Startup Employers 2024 list. ### What is Bolster's approach to construction technology? Bolster provides an end-to-end digital platform that automates and streamlines the entire residential construction workflow. The technology focuses on time-saving automation, digital estimation, project oversight, and enhancing communication between contractors and homeowners. ### How can I get started with Bolster? Based on the provided information, specific contact or onboarding details are not available. Bolster serves contractors, homebuilders, and residential construction companies across Canada. ### What recent developments has Bolster announced? Recent developments include achieving $20.9M in revenue in 2025 (up from $18M in June 2024), growing to 120 employees, and being named to Forbes' Canada's Best Startup Employers 2024 list. The company has shown significant growth from $250K in revenue in 2021 to over $20M in 2025. ## Tags b2b, manufacturing, north-america, platform, proptech, saas, startup --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*