Executive Summary
Nitin Bhandari is the Co-founder and CEO of Planera, Inc., a construction technology company focused on collaborative, visual project scheduling and planning solutions tailored to the construction industry. Bhandari is based in Pleasanton, California, is an alumnus of Caltech, and maintains an extensive professional network with 500+ LinkedIn connections ([LinkedIn profile](http://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-bhandari)).
Professional Background
Leadership & Entrepreneurial Track Record
Bhandari is a serial entrepreneur with a proven record of building and scaling innovative technology ventures. Prior to Planera, he co-founded and led:
- Skyfire Labs (mobile browser technology; acquired)
- ZenScreen (screen-time management app; acquired by Life360)
His expertise centers on identifying industry pain points, developing creative digital solutions, and bringing new products to market, especially in areas where legacy processes dominate.
Role at Planera, Inc.
- Chief Executive Officer & Co-founder (November 2021 – Present)
- Leads company vision, product strategy, and go-to-market activities
- Directs efforts in innovation to address construction sector scheduling inefficiencies
- Oversees a global, remote-first team of approximately 30 employees (set to expand to 45–50)
Planera, Inc. Overview
Product & Value Proposition
Planera offers a cloud-based construction scheduling platform that blends the power of CPM (Critical Path Method) scheduling with a user-focused, visual, and collaborative interface. The goal is to democratize scheduling, making it:
- Accessible to non-specialists (not just “high priests” of scheduling)
- Highly visual and interactive, akin to a digital whiteboard (“drag and drop,” real-time co-editing)
- Synced with industry software like AutoDesk and Procore
Key features enable contractors to:
- Sketch, analyze, and optimize construction plans
- Maintain schedule compliance with contractual obligations
- Integrate planning and progress tracking with familiar workflows
- Collaborate across organizational boundaries (GCs and subcontractors)
Rationale: Bhandari identified deeply entrenched inefficiencies in construction scheduling through direct input from industry leaders. The existing tools were either complex and exclusive (e.g., Oracle Primavera P6) or too generic for construction needs (e.g., Microsoft Project).
Company Performance & Milestones
- Founded: November 2021
- User Activity: Over 25 million construction schedule days managed on the platform as of 2024
- Client Base: More than two dozen customers across 500+ active projects
- Funding:
- $13.5 million Series A raised in August 2024
- Led by Sierra Ventures, with participation from Sorenson Capital, Brick and Mortar Ventures, Prudence VC, and Firebolt Ventures
- Future investment priorities:
- 60% dedicated to sales & marketing expansion
- 40% to R&D and product development
- Growth: Revenue projected to be 5–8 times higher than previous Q4 (exact figures not disclosed)
- Headcount Growth: Expanding from 30 to 45–50 employees within six months; global presence including teams in Bengaluru, India
Thought Leadership & Industry Perspective
Market Insights and Strategic Vision
Bhandari’s approach is deeply informed by direct collaboration with construction professionals, including his co-founder Saif Lodhi (veteran GC). He targets persistent industry issues:
- Siloed communication and data
- Scheduling opacity and inaccessibility
- Resistance to digital transformation in legacy processes
Notable highlights from interviews and features:
- Visual scheduling offers improved mistake recognition and adaptability; over 60% of a Cal State University East Bay peer-reviewed study’s respondents preferred visual scheduling tools.
- CPM scheduling remains industry standard, but Planera’s interface reduces onboarding friction and expands utility.
- Integration and collaboration: Emphasis on real-time, multi-stakeholder coordination to break down silos and improve outcomes.
Commitment to Customer-Centric Innovation
Bhandari’s philosophy centers on:
- Testing and scaling new tech solutions incrementally, reducing risk for clients
- Driving adoption through usability and clear, demonstrated value
- Expanding Planera’s utility through AI-powered automation and predictive analytics, with “assistant-like” features expected by late 2025
- Continued integration with construction tech ecosystem for seamless workflows
Awards & Recognition
- Best Innovative Entrepreneur – Innovative Technology at the 3rd Annual Golden Entrepreneur Awards, recognizing leadership in construction technology innovation.
Culture & Values
- At Planera, strong emphasis on “Act like an Owner” as part of corporate culture
- Diverse founding team with backgrounds in software tech, construction management, and design
- Backed by prominent institutional investors
Professional Interests & Network
- Advocates for digitization in construction: project management, collaboration, data analytics, QA/QC, supply chain optimization, and sustainability reporting
- Forges connections with thought leaders, VCs, and tech innovators (evidenced by media appearances and network)
- Proponent of sustainable, scalable ways to drive construction industry transformation
Contact and References
- LinkedIn: [Nitin Bhandari](http://www.linkedin.com/in/nitin-bhandari)
- Location: Pleasanton, California
Relevant media features include: TechCrunch, BuiltWorlds, podcasts (The Digital Executive), industry publications, and Planera’s own communication channels.
Key Takeaway:
Nitin Bhandari combines extensive technical and leadership experience with a strategic, customer-focused outlook, positioning Planera at the forefront of democratizing construction planning through innovative, accessible technology.
