University of Oxford spin-out NavLive raises £4m

He says the haul includes a £3.3m seed round led by OSE, with participation from SOSV, Oxford Capital Partners, Clearance Venture Partners, AE Works, Britbots, and Oxford Innovation Finance, alongside a £700,000 grant awarded by Innovate UK last year.

The NavLive team – built out of DeepTech research in robotics and AI at the University of Oxford – has developed a handheld scanning tool that enables architects, engineers and construction professionals to instantly generate high-precision site scans.

Using edge AI and LiDAR, the device supports real-time capture of both 2D and 3D building data with integration into BIM workflows.

Davison says that by helping teams create accurate site drawings and models directly in the field, the company aims to reduce friction in the design and construction process.

This includes generating 1:100 RICS-grade surveys and supporting direct Scan-to-BIM output, reducing the need for third-party surveys, simplifying workflow and making site data easier to manage and actionable in real-time, Davison says.

The NavLive team of 15 operates from offices in London and Oxford with manufacturing in Oxford. It has already worked closely with several notable firms across the AEC sector, including Jacobs, AtkinsRealis and Mace.

NavLive has also been deployed for both nuclear and defence applications, including with the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Davison reveals.

He says: “Our vision is to make built environment 3D data more immediate and accessible to those who need it – throughout the life cycle of a building. We improve profit margins for our users and make buildings more environmentally sustainable. While we’re still at the beginning of this journey, this milestone puts us in a strong position. We’re just getting started.”