From Vision to Reality: The Journey of Building WorkGuardAi

"Every obstacle is an opportunity."

This is the mindset that has driven me through one of the most fulfilling journeys of my life—building WorkGuardAi.

WorkGuardAi is an AI driven solution that helps businesses in the infrastructure industry tackle efficiency challenges by providing a way to real time monitoring of the construction project and instant updates on its progress.

What started as an idea has grown into a tangible, impactful project in the construction industry. Let me take you through the exhilarating ride that started from last year in 2023, a journey filled with challenges, learnings, and remarkable milestones.

How It All Began

It was in September 2023 when I took the first step toward this dream. I had always been fascinated by the potential of technology, particularly AI, and how it could solve real-world problems. But I wanted to do more than just imagine the future or just speak about it—I wanted to build it. So, I applied for the Compass – Deep Tech & AI pre-incubator program, organized by Helsinki Incubators. Compass is a Kumpula-based early-stage program for passionate thinkers and aspiring entrepreneurs, and I knew it was the perfect platform to launch my idea.

In my video application, I explained why I was the right fit for the program and why the construction industry needed technological intervention. My background in IoT and networking in the construction sector had revealed a major gap—the construction industry is under-digitalized. With insights from peers and regular conversations with my father, an expert with 40+ years in infrastructure, I realized there was an enormous opportunity to boost efficiency and safety in this sector using AI.

Stepping Into the Incubator

By early October, the gears started turning. On October 4th, I had an interview with Maila-Kaarina Rantanen, the program manager at the time. The call was nerve-wracking but rewarding, as I got to elaborate on the potential impact of my idea. The very next day, on October 5th, I received the news I had been hoping for—I was accepted into the Compass pre-incubator!

What followed were two intense, fulfilling months of workshops, peer feedback, and mentoring. Each session fine-tuned my vision, and each pitch session sharpened my communication. I wasn’t just learning; I was transforming my idea into something tangible, something powerful. And I wasn’t alone in this journey—I had incredible peers alongside me who were part of the program.

A Leap Toward Something Bigger

After successfully completing the Compass program, I decided to accelerate further with the idea as the journey wasn’t over yet. In fact, it was just beginning. With the momentum gained, I applied for the NEXUS program and during the process I formed a team with my friend Omar Musse whom I applied with at NEXUS and who also joined me in the program as the co-founder under the program and we would then further explore our collaboration opportunities as the program developed. The program has been a much more comprehensive incubator designed for startups ready to take their ideas to the next level. With the same persistence and hunger, WorkGuardAi as a team was admitted.

NEXUS has been an even more intense ride, pushing me and my team to our limits—and beyond. More business pitches, more connections with potential partners, more fine-tuning of our concept. Through countless research interviews, site visits, and presentations, we have not only refined the WorkGuardAi concept but are now working on our MVP (Minimum Viable Product) designed around actual use cases in construction.

A Growing Vision

As WorkGuardAi grew, so did our team and network of supporters. We received invaluable mentorship thanks to the great work of Andres Archila who is NEXUS incubator project manager, mentorship from our assigned excellent mentors Oriol Moya-Angeler and Samuli Salmela, investor interest, and feedback from industry experts. A huge thanks to all of them for their incredible support and guidance. Our solution has become more concrete, addressing critical challenges in the infrastructure sector. We have attended fairs, spoken at events, and garnered real-world feedback that has shaped our product for the better.

Our team has also expanded with some fantastic recent additions. Larissa de Lara Chaves, from Brazil, has joined as the head of our engineering team, bringing her passion and expertise to guide our technological development. Additionally, Pratham Srivastava, from India, will serve as the engineer behind our technology, playing a vital role in bringing our vision to life. Their diverse backgrounds and talents are already proving invaluable as we continue refining and building WorkGuardAi.

We have even had to adapt our identity, moving from WorkPulseAi to WorkGuardAi, due to trademark regulations. But every challenge along the way has been an opportunity to grow and refine our purpose.

Looking Ahead: Demo Day and Beyond

Now, as we approach the NEXUS Demo Day on November 6th at Miltton House, excitement is building. We have been preparing to showcase WorkGuardAi as a solution that could redefine safety and efficiency in the construction industry. It’s a chance to share our journey, our growth, and our vision with potential customers and investors. Who knows what doors may open?

While we hope for potential partnerships and investment, the most important takeaway for us is that this journey isn’t over—it’s evolving. Every step brings us closer to our vision, and we are endlessly grateful for the support we have received from Helsinki Incubators, our mentors, close friends, network, businesses and my fantastic team.

The Dream Continues

Building WorkGuardAi has been a challenge, but it has also been the most rewarding experience of my career. We have combined deep tech, sustainability, and innovation to help an industry that truly needs it and which still has not embraced ideas like ours, and I couldn’t be more proud of how far we have come in our attempt to help businesses see limitless benefits in their own daily business.

And as we approach Demo Day, I know one thing for sure: the dream continues. WorkGuardAi is not just a startup—it’s the beginning of something far bigger. We are here to surprise the world, and I can't wait to see where this journey takes us next.