Executive Summary
Henry Bradlow is the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Adaptive, a fast-growing fintech and construction software company based in New York, United States. He has a strong background in product development, technology leadership, and startup growth, with a career trajectory that spans high-impact roles at leading technology firms and a top-tier educational background. Adaptive, co-founded by Bradlow in 2021, has garnered industry recognition and significant VC funding for its automation and AI-driven solutions. The company is at the forefront of digital transformation for financial operations in construction, and Bradlow is directly influencing both its technical vision and product execution.
Personal & Professional Profile
Current Role
- Title: Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
- Company: [Adaptive](https://www.adaptive.build)
- Location: New York, United States
- LinkedIn: [Henry Bradlow](https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-bradlow-a686052a)
- Tenure: January 2022 – Present
- Team: Leadership role, overseeing a technically focused engineering team, currently in a lean, high-growth environment (1–10 employees).
Previous Experience
- Product Manager, Lime (2018 – 2019)
- Guidance, Navigation & Control Engineer, SpaceX (2017 – 2018)
- CTO & Co-Founder, Lily Robotics, Inc. (2013 – 2017)
- Associate Product Manager Intern, Google (2013)
Education
- MBA, Stanford University (2019 – 2021)
- B.S., Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Berkeley (2010 – 2013)
- High School Diploma, Westview High School (2006 – 2010)
Company Overview: Adaptive
- Founded: 2021 (HQ: New York)
- Industry: Construction, Software, Fintech
- Current Size: 1–10 employees
- Core Product: Automated financial management software tailored for the construction industry, targeting general contractors (GCs) with payment automation, transaction entry, expense tracking, budgeting, and accounts payable workflow tools.
- Founders: Matthew Calvano, Henry Bradlow, Francisco Enriquez
Market Position & Validation
- CB Insights Fintech 100: Listed on the 2024 CB Insights Fintech 100, recognizing Adaptive among the 100 most promising private fintech companies globally (October 2024).
- Venture Funding:
- Seed: $7.25M led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), announced July 2022.
- Series A: $19M closed ahead of Series B, to fuel AI and automation expansion (July 2024).
- Noted Backers: Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) lead investor in early rounds—strong VC endorsement.
- Public and Customer Perception: Adaptive has a strong reputation for flexibility and has received high marks for client satisfaction (e.g., 4.9/5.0 on Clutch, December 2024).
Product & Technology
Bradlow's leadership at Adaptive underscores a drive to modernize and automate back-office finance operations for construction, an underserved and highly manual sector. The platform provides:
- Workflow automation for transaction entry, expense validation, payables, and payment processing.
- Integration of AI and generative automation to reduce friction and streamline complex construction finance tasks.
- User-centric approach to technology deployment, as emphasized by Bradlow in a July 2024 statement:
"We're laser focused on building technology that is intuitive and accessible for users in the construction industry."
These tools are positioned to address pain points such as payment delays, manual data entry, and fragmented project financial tracking prevalent in construction.
Career Highlights & Insights
- Early-Stage Startup Leadership: Bradlow has a depth of experience in co-founding and scaling technology-driven companies (Lily Robotics, Adaptive). His CTO role involves hands-on leadership in engineering, product development, and strategy.
- Product-Market Fit Expertise: Demonstrated capability in identifying and solving industry-specific needs—transitioning from consumer robotics and transportation tech (at Lily Robotics and Lime) to construction fintech.
- Cross-Industry Experience: Exposure to both large-scale innovation environments (Google, SpaceX) and lean startup teams.
- Strong Academic Foundation: Education at top institutions (Stanford—MBA, Berkeley—Engineering/CS) supports both technical and commercial vision.
Professional Network & Influence
- LinkedIn Connections: 500+
- Industry Engagement: Bradlow is active in startup, construction tech, and fintech circles, often involved in product-focused discussions and investment announcements.
- Team Structure: As CTO, he collaborates closely with fellow co-founders and a growing engineering team, which includes specialists in mobile, database, middleware, and AI/automation development.
Notable Achievements
- Adaptive's Recognition:
- Inclusion in CB Insights Fintech 100 (2024)
- Rapid achievement of major venture rounds from leading firms (a16z, Series A of $19M in 2024)
- Company Growth Trajectory:
- Adaptive is in a phase of rapid scaling post-Series A.
- The company’s client solutions have received positive reviews, particularly emphasizing the platform’s flexibility and real-world impact in speeding up construction payments.
- Prior Innovations: Leadership roles in organizations focused on novel robotics (Lily Robotics) and urban mobility (Lime), underline a proven track record in deploying advanced technology at scale.
Actionable Insights
- Bradlow is a key technical and strategic decision-maker at Adaptive, directly influencing technology procurement, partnership, and product integration strategies.
- Adaptive is investing heavily in AI and automation for construction finance, presenting opportunities for collaboration with fintech, automation, and SaaS vendors that align with their end-to-end digital workflow vision.
- As CTO of a high-growth, VC-backed startup recognized as an industry innovator, Bradlow is likely actively evaluating technologies and partnerships to accelerate product development and market reach.
Key Contact:
Henry Bradlow, Co-Founder & CTO, Adaptive
[LinkedIn Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-bradlow-a686052a)
Location: New York, United States
Company Focus: Cutting-edge automation for construction finance; rapid growth and strong venture backing; leadership committed to open, user-oriented innovation.
