Construction platform SymTerra raises £1.1m from Fabienne Viala
This article covers a funding round on 14 October 2025 for SymTerra, a London-based construction communication platform founded by Sarah Crawley and John Ryan. The company raised £1.1m in a round led by Fabienne Viala, with other industry backers also participating.
What does SymTerra do?
SymTerra is a mobile-first communication platform for construction that captures photos, videos and structured site updates. It connects field teams to office staff in real time and makes data searchable for decision-making and asset management.
Why is SymTerra useful?
Problem
Construction teams face poor communication and outdated site data, leading to costly rework, delays, and wasted time.
Solution
SymTerra explains that it replaces scattered tools and paper forms with a mobile-first platform capturing real-time photos and updates. This information flows to office teams in a structured, searchable way and integrates with existing systems.
How much did SymTerra raise?
SymTerra raised £1.1m from a group of industry leaders, including Fabienne Viala (former Chair and CEO of Bouygues UK), alongside existing backers. This makes it the 31st largest funding round in October 2025 (35 recorded). It ranks 408th of the year (507 recorded) in the Startupmag database, as of 14 October 2025.
For details on how Startupmag compiles its rankings, view our Methodology.
Who invested in SymTerra?
Key investors in the round include the following.
- Fabienne Viala: An angel investor with a background as Chair and CEO of Bouygues UK, experienced in construction and large‑scale infrastructure projects.
If you're researching potential backers in this space:
- Explore our list of construction venture capital firms in the UK
- Browse our directory of construction angel investors in the UK
Who founded SymTerra?
The founders of SymTerra are Sarah Crawley and John Ryan.
In the funding announcement, Sarah Crawley, founder of SymTerra explained:
Unlike most existing tools that focus on form-filling or compliance reporting, SymTerra is designed around communication, not administration. The platform captures what’s happening on site as it happens, enabling photos, videos, updates, and records to flow in real-time from the people doing the work to those making decisions.
Where is SymTerra based?
SymTerra is based in London, UK.
What sector is SymTerra in?
SymTerra operates in the Construction sector. The sector builds and maintains buildings, roads and infrastructure. It covers the teams that design, build and repair physical assets.
Key trends and challenges in Construction:
Poor communication and outdated site data
Poor communication causes costly rework and delays, costing the industry about $280 billion globally.
Digital fragmentation and interoperability
Multiple systems create data silos, complicating workflows with BIM, ERP and common data environments.
Adoption and usability on site
Many tools are hard to use for site teams, so paper forms and apps remain common in practice.
For a deeper look at innovation in this space, see the construction startups in the UK.
Click here for a full list of 7,233+ startup investors in the UK