Birdsview Raises $4.2M to Bring Its 'MRI for Concrete' Tech to the World

Jan de Vries · 2026-08-17

Birdsview, a Bergen-based startup that helps preserve aging infrastructure, just closed a funding round of $4.2 million (€3.7 million) to accelerate its commercial, industrial, and international expansion. If you've ever wondered how engineers know when a bridge or building is safe without tearing it apart, this is the company to watch. ### The Funding Round and Backers The round was led by a mix of Nordic investors, including Sarsia, Butterfly Ventures, Proptechfonden, Kiilto Ventures, Nordic Makers, and Momentum. Existing investors like Eviny Ventures, Farvatn Venture, Erik Bakstad (Ardoq), Gunnar Hvammen (serial founder), and Herman Flinder (founder of Norse Partners) also doubled down on their support. > "This funding round is an important milestone for Birdsview," said Olav Skogen, CEO. "With $4.2 million secured, and a Nordic investor consortium that understands both our technology and our market, we now have the resources to scale commercially and industrially across multiple countries." Skogen also noted that customers in eight countries had already chosen Birdsview Concrete just weeks after launch, which he says proves they're solving a real problem for the industry. ### What Birdsview Actually Does Founded in 2017 by Skogen and Simen Husøy in Trondheim, Birdsview offers what it calls "MRI for concrete." The platform lets users see inside concrete structures without breaking them open. It combines sensors with proprietary algorithms that automatically process and analyze data into detailed 3D models of the structure—no drilling, no damage, no guesswork. This approach makes it easier to preserve existing concrete structures with lower risk, reduced costs, higher efficiency, and a much smaller environmental footprint. For a world that's full of aging bridges, tunnels, and buildings, that's a big deal. ### The Tech Behind the Magic Birdsview uses Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) to send radar pulses into objects and image what's beneath the surface. GPR is powerful, but it has traditionally been tricky to use. Interpreting raw GPR data usually requires deep expertise in radar analysis and signal interpretation. Complex data plots had to be decoded manually, which was slow and error-prone. Birdsview solves this by automating data interpretation with its algorithms. Anyone can now create images of the data without needing a PhD in radar science. Once the raw data is processed, the software also classifies materials and assesses the integrity of the object, making the results easy to read and understand. ### Traction and Milestones In 2025, Birdsview launched its first concrete product and built a technology platform powered by Full Waveform Inversion, ready-made sensors, and AI-driven analysis. Since then, more than 100 different concrete structures—from buildings to bridges—have been scanned using this tech. In March 2026, the company started pre-selling the product, letting customers use the technology themselves. Since then, customers in nine countries have bought it. Over the past two years, Birdsview has worked with major names like Vinci, Bouygues Construction, The Trust for Governors Island, EllisDon, Sweco, Asplan Viak, and Rambøll. ### What's Next With offices at Startup Lab in Bergen and Oslo, and a team of 14 people, Birdsview is positioning itself as a key player in infrastructure preservation. The fresh capital will help it scale across multiple countries and push its technology further into the mainstream. For anyone in construction, engineering, or infrastructure management, this is a company worth keeping an eye on. The ability to inspect concrete without destroying it could save millions of dollars and countless hours across the industry.