This week with Bastien Dolla (Rayon):
How Rayon changes the space-design game for millions of designers, architects, office managers, facility managers, event planners, contractors and many others
In what ways multiplayer, concurrency and github-like solutions are becoming the default in the future 2D/3D design stack
Why incumbent tools are having a tough time to switch their legacy stack over to a multiplayer solution with object-level versioning
What in Rayon's founders' backgrounds led them to create Rayon
How "right-fidelity" is key to crack the millions of design professionals that are under-served by incumbent tools
Why BIM-lite / CAD-lite is the next big thing
Modernizing AEC Design Collaboration
Rayon is building a new cloud-based, multiplayer design tool specifically for the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Dubbed "the Figma for architecture", Rayon aims to modernize how architects, engineers and construction professionals collaborate and share design files. The software allows users to concurrently edit 2D drawings and floorplans in real-time like Google Docs. Rayon runs natively in web browsers for easy sharing and accessibility. Rayon co-founder Bastien Dolla says, "It's trying to build the modern version of tools that people can use to design the built environment." Dolla explains that Rayon is "less powerful than Revit, but actually usable enough that people will use it and will update it."
Centralizing Design Data in Construction
There is a major opportunity to improve how design data and files are shared and updated during construction projects. Today, firms still rely on inefficient formats like PDFs, PowerPoint and AutoCAD files. This creates bottlenecks where designers must be continually tapped to make updates. Rayon aims to centralize design data and allow non-designers to make edits themselves. This has potential to greatly reduce time wasted converting files and requesting design changes. Foundamental GP Patric Hellermann says, "Whatever AI will generate, both in a 2D and a 3D context, for the design of the real world is going to have to be manipulated with concurrent editing software."
Validating Rayon's Vision
Rayon has gained the backing of renowned British architect Lord Norman Foster. Foster, known for famous buildings like London's "Gherkin" tower, invested in Rayon as an angel. This demonstrates strong validation of Rayon's vision from one of the world's leading architectural figures. Foster had not previously invested in startups before backing Rayon. Co-founder Bastien Dolla says, "He had never done angel investing before. It was the first time." Dolla adds that having Foster's support is "so amazing" and "super inspiring."
Eliminating Friction in Collaboration
The construction industry still heavily relies on inadequate design tools like PDFs, PowerPoint and CAD programs. These formats create friction during collaboration and file sharing. However, Rayon believes professionals prefer the simplicity of 2D drawings over complex 3D models. Their tool enables real-time co-editing of 2D drawings to avoid version control issues with PDFs. Co-founder Bastien Dolla says, "It was absurd. And this is happening every day in the industry." Dolla shares an anecdote about witnessing a broker spend 30 minutes trying to open an AutoCAD file.
Creating a Single Source of Truth
A core goal of Rayon is to streamline construction design workflows. The platform aims to centralize design files and enable real-time collaboration in the browser. This has potential to eliminate productivity drag from emailing static PDFs back and forth. Rayon wants to create a "single source of truth" for design data that can integrate with other construction tech systems. Foundamental GP Shubhankar Bhattacharya says, "I think I must have spent 50% of my time looking at them. That was part of my job."
Removing Friction in File Access
Professionals across the construction industry spend considerable amounts of time just converting file formats like AutoCAD and opening different versions of designs. Rayon co-founder Bastien Dolla says he has seen companies waste 30-60 minutes simply trying to open a file. Their platform removes this friction so users can quickly access and edit the latest versions of design files. Dolla provides an example of a company needing to create a ticket just to move a chair 10 centimeters in a design.
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Keywords: construction tech, aec, architecture, engineering, collaboration, rayon, figma, revit, autocad, design, real estate, workflow, efficiency, version control, norman foster