Building AI for Construction: Hashim’s Journey with Zaper Inc.

Hashim Basheer, founder of Zaper Inc., shares his journey from software design to creating AI solutions for the construction industry. He talks about building products that integrate seamlessly with on-site operations and transforming construction efficiency with technology.

Can you share a brief note about yourself?

I’m Hashim, founder of Zaper Inc., a deep vertical AI startup building Digital AI Managers to improve efficiency for construction companies, starting with the GCC region.

By training and instinct, I’m a designer — someone who values empathy, systems thinking, and real-world problem solving. I built up my career through Verizon US and Cisco, designing applications for early-generation mobile screens, even before iOS and Android app stores became mainstream.

Later, in the Middle East, I led digital transformations for sectors like aviation and retail — including airline operations, airport systems, and Carrefour’s quick commerce rollout during the early pandemic days.

A turning point for me was running my family’s construction services business in Oman. That’s where I saw firsthand the huge tech gap for frontline workers — the ones who actually build and deliver projects. The industry won’t scale top-down alone; it needs bottom-up intelligence and coordination.

At Zaper, we make technology not a hurdle to learn, but something natural and invisible. Workers interact with our AI Managers using simple voice messages and photos, either via WhatsApp or directly from our app. Our AI Managers speak the language of site workers — literally. Voice in Urdu, Pashto, Bangla, Malayalam, Arabic, Polish… even just clicking a photo of what’s happening.

For example, attendance is marked by taking a selfie — our AI knows your face, your location, and the date and time. It's all natural, seamless, and built around the way workers already operate.

That’s how we enable bottom-up adoption, build trust on-site, and unlock efficiency at the scale companies need to save millions annually.

Why did you choose to start a business?

Because I believe the AI wave is going to change everything — and I didn’t want to watch it from the sidelines.

Technology is becoming more invisible, more embedded. And the opportunity is no longer just in apps for office workers. The real scale will come when AI supports everyone — especially those who’ve been left out of the digital world until now.

We understand tech. We understand the pain points of construction. And we know how to build meaningful products. So I felt this was the right place, time, and team to act — and build something that matters.

How did you start your business?

We started small but very intentionally. The first step was getting the right founding team — complementary in strengths, but fully aligned in mindset.

Sajith, who leads our AI agent design, has over a decade of deep AI and orchestration experience. Sudheesh, our CTO, has built knowledge models for 20+ years. And Pratheep, my co-founder, brings hands-on business and growth experience. Together, we’re anchored by experience in tech, operations, and construction.

We stayed in stealth for a year, refining, experimenting, listening. We built with our early pilot partners — not just building features, but solving real problems on the ground. Earlier this year, we came out publicly and recently signed our first enterprise customer — marking one of the first true AI transformation stories in the construction sector in this region.

What do you wish you’d known before you started your business?

That some things are just not in your control — and that’s okay. You can only steer what’s in front of you. I wish I had stressed less about everything early on and focused more on consistent action.

Did you have any support in your journey?

Yes — and I value it deeply. We’ve been fortunate to bring on strong advisors across AI, product, GTM, and the construction space. I also actively reach out to founders and leaders who’ve scaled before us — from 0 to 1, 1 to 10, and 10 to 1000.

There’s a lot I don’t know, and I have huge respect for anyone who has built something from scratch and scaled it in a sustainable way. I spend time every week learning from those people.

What is your greatest challenge as a business owner?

The biggest challenges are always around Team, Trust, Technology, and Capital.

Building a forward-thinking, resilient team.

Earning trust — from customers, partners, and even within the ecosystem.

Staying on the edge of tech while being practical.

And of course, ensuring access to the right kind of capital at the right time.

What advice would you give your past self before starting?

Act first, refine after.

Don’t wait for perfect conditions or a perfect product to start. The goal isn’t to get everything right on the first go — it’s to learn what can be improved. Every action reveals more than a plan ever will.

I’d tell myself to stop overthinking, stop polishing too long — and just do. Even if it's a mistake, that’s how we grow.

What advice would you offer to aspiring founders?

Only build something you care deeply about. Passion is the only thing that keeps you going when things get hard — and they will.

I also believe in skin in the game — if you’re not all-in, it won’t work. Founders who’ve risked something personal to build are the ones I take seriously. So go all in — but do it on something you understand, and something you can’t ignore.