How Acelab is Leading Digital Transformation for Building Product Manufacturers

Construction is often stuck in old, inefficient ways. Acelab is shaking things up. It’s making it easier for building product manufacturers to connect with architects, contractors, and developers. At the heart of this change is Vardhan Mehta, Acelab’s Co-Founder and CEO. His journey—from walking construction sites in Indore, India, to creating a tech platform—shows his passion for improving the way construction works.

From Childhood Inspiration to Industry Change

Vardhan grew up around architecture. His father was an architect, and that sparked his interest early on. He went on to study architecture in New York, winning big awards like the Presidential Merit Scholarship. While working on projects for MIT, Yale, and U.S. embassies, he saw a huge problem: construction procurement was outdated and slow.

He realized architects spend too much time on clunky, manual processes to specify building products—a market worth over $100 billion in the U.S. Seeing a better way, he started Acelab while studying at Harvard.

Smarter Decisions with AI-Powered Tools

Acelab is a platform that uses AI to make life easier for people in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. It helps architects discover products, collaborate with manufacturers, and make smarter choices about cost, sustainability, and performance. In just 18 months, it’s attracted over 13,000 architecture firms and top North American manufacturers.

Acelab’s All-in-One Platform

The platform has a database of more than 100,000 products, from windows to roofing. Architects can:

• Search for specific features like sustainability ratings or certifications.

• Get real-time product info without jumping between websites.

• Work with teams through shared workspaces and messaging tools.

By replacing paper spec sheets and messy workflows, Acelab helps architects make faster, better decisions.

Helping Manufacturers Connect

For manufacturers, Acelab isn’t just another marketplace. It’s a tool to grow their business. It gives them:

• Direct access to thousands of architecture firms.

• Ways to promote products through webinars and blogs.

• Data insights on what architects are specifying, so they can improve their offerings.

This digital-first approach cuts out the high costs of traditional ads and trade shows, giving manufacturers a smarter way to reach their audience.

Powered by AI

Acelab uses AI and machine learning to:

• Recommend products based on project needs.

• Automatically create spec sheets, saving time.

• Spot industry trends and help users make informed decisions.

These tools let architects and manufacturers work together in real time, so projects run smoother.

Building a Better Future

Acelab focuses on the early design stages, where most product decisions happen. It ensures architects prioritize quality and performance, not just price. Soon, Acelab will launch a feature called Firm Library, which will let architecture firms manage material specs in one place and collaborate with outside teams.

By 2025, Acelab plans to expand to Europe and Asia, aiming to become the go-to platform for the global construction industry.

Vardhan’s Vision

For Vardhan, Acelab is the result of a lifelong passion—from playing with building blocks as a kid to creating technology that changes how we build. He believes architecture has the power to transform lives, and Acelab is helping shape that transformation.

Acelab isn’t just fixing a broken process; it’s creating a more efficient, sustainable, and innovative future for construction. By blending industry knowledge with cutting-edge tech, it’s making the way we build smarter and better—one project at a time.

Vardhan Mehta originally appeared on the Slice of Real Estate podcast.