Ever feel like architects are stuck using old-school tools for modern projects? That’s exactly what former Autodesk co-CEO Amar Hanspal noticed. After spending decades in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) tech space, Hanspal and his team are launching Motif, a startup set to shake things up with a next-gen design platform for buildings. And they’ve just snagged a whopping $46 million to make it happen.

Hanspal isn’t new to the game. With 20 years at Autodesk under his belt and a stint co-founding automation company Bright Machines, he knows the industry inside out. But he believes it’s time for a change. Current tools, which aren’t cloud-based, can take nearly an hour just to process simple edits. Frustrating, right? That’s where Motif steps in.

Teaming up with Brian Matthews, former product CTO at Autodesk, Hanspal is building a cloud-native 3D design platform. Think modern, fast, and packed with AI and machine learning—basically, the future of architectural software. While the first product won’t roll out until mid-2024, the vision is clear: to bring the AEC industry into the 21st century.

The funding, a mix of seed and Series A rounds, was led by Alphabet’s growth fund, Capital G, and Redpoint Ventures. Investors are betting big on Hanspal and Matthews’ combined 40 years of experience to tackle the industry’s challenges. As Capital G partner Jill Chase put it, the market is ripe for disruption—and Motif has the team to do it.

Sure, Motif isn’t the only startup aiming to modernize AEC software. Competitors like Snaptrude and Arcol are in the mix, but Hanspal is confident Motif has the edge. “It’s a big, ambitious venture,” he admits, comparing the effort to Figma’s stealthy three-year build. But with the right team and vision, he’s ready to take on the incumbents.

So, architects, get ready. The future of design is coming—and it’s about to get a whole lot smarter.