Roofer.com uses AI and drone technology to scan roofs for damage, then replaces the roof itself. [Image: Roofer.com]
When a hailstorm pockmarks roofs across a region, the next thing you often see is roofers climbing ladders to perform an often perilous rooftop inspection. That pitched, slick stroll may become a thing of the past as companies like Roofer.com pioneer a new way to do the job.
Founded in 2020, Roofer.com relocated its HQ from San Francisco to Arlington after acquiring Arlington-based Bearded Brothers Roofing & Restoration in 2022. The startup uses “advanced AI algorithms and drone technology” to conduct roof scans. Its drones capture high-resolution photographs, which are then analyzed using computer vision. The result: Insights into areas of damage, the remaining life of the roof, and whether a repair or complete re-roofing job is needed.
Seed round led by Mucker Capital, with Dallas angel investor support
Nathan Mathews
That innovative approach just helped Roofer.com raise a $7.5 million seed round. Announced Tuesday, the round was led by Mucker Capital with participation from Soma Capital, HF0, Asymmetric Capital Partners, Alumni Ventures, HustleFund, The Council, GoAhead Ventures, Mirada Capital, and several prominent angels including the founder and CEO of Mercury and the founder and CEO of Dallas-based ParkHub.
Prior to closing the seed round, Roofer.com took part in an exclusive accelerator program at Hacker Fellowship Zero, also known as HF0. The startup accelerator operates out of what’s been called San Francisco’s “most competitive hacker house,” offering 12-week residencies for entrepreneurs from 10 different start-ups at a time.
Founder and CEO Nathan Mathews, who started up Roofer.com in 2020, told Dallas Innovates he chose to relocate his company from San Francisco because “the DFW region is a very competitive roofing market.”
A Roofer.com team with one of the startup’s DJI inspection drones. [Photo: Roofer.com]
“There’s ample opportunity here and we were able to capitalize on the traction from acquiring a roofing company,” Mathews said. “Our second market, Austin, has similar characteristics as DFW in terms of opportunity and competitiveness.”
Currently, Mathews has one foot in North Texas and the other back in the city by the bay.
“I split my time between Dallas with the team and in San Francisco working with our investors,” the founder said.
Offering the tech—and doing the roofing, too
Roofer.com team doing a total roof replacement in Dallas [Photo: Roofer.com]
One other thing that differentiates Roofer.com from other roofing tech companies? It’s vertically integrated and actually does the roofing work itself after its drone-based inspections are completed.
The company is leveraging its acquisition of Bearded Brothers Roofing & Restoration, which it describe as “one of the largest roofing companies in Texas,” noted for projects including the San Antonio Marriott Riverwalk and work for “thousands” of North Texas homeowners.
The startup now focuses on re-roofing residential homes for consumers, along with a “rapidly growing enterprise segment” that services multi-family apartments and commercial buildings.
Drone scans are ‘much faster’ and more ‘exhaustive’—and safer, too
Drone view of a Roofer.com team member, with landing pad surrounded by orange cones. [Photo: Roofer.com]
Mathews says his drone-based roofing scans aren’t just safer—they have several other advantages compared to inspectors tiptoeing around rooftops.
“Because we’re able to conduct roof scans using drones, this minimizes risk to injury and accidental damage,” he said. “Anytime you’re getting up on a roof, there’s a risk to someone falling—but especially if the roof has been compromised. Furthermore, roof scans via drones are much faster and predictable in capturing documentation. We’ve developed our own methods of mapping flight patterns to ensure the most exhaustive roof scans are performed every time.”
Aiming to build ‘the next Arbnb’—of roofing
A Roofer.com drone sees a lot of rooftops out there. [Photo: Roofer.com]
“Multiple seasoned executives from the proptech industry” have joined Roofer.com in pursuit of building “the next Airbnb,” the startup says.
“The team you build is the company you build, and we’ve built an incredible team,” Mathews said in a statement. “Our leadership has extensive experience in early to later-stage startups, as well as helping those startups exit successfully for nine figures. With the combination of our team, technology, and streamlined processes, I believe Roofer.com is uniquely positioned to deliver the premiere roofing experience everyone will love.”
By leveraging its cutting-edge tech, Roofer.com says it “drives down the costs of roof repair and replacement, enhances the property owner experience, and provides a national roofing platform for marketplace participants.”
The startup says it’s planning aggressive growth by streamlining systems, hiring on to its core team, and entering new markets later this year.
[Photo: Roofer.com]
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https://dallasinnovates.com/north-texas-based-roofer-com-raises-7-5m-for-its-drones-ai-based-modernized-roofing/
