This week we chat with Giulia D’Aleo  and Marcello Domenis, two of the co-founders behind Clev, a new BIM assistant that's shaking up how architects and engineers interact with complex models. Built with the speed of a startup and the vision of an open future, Clev bridges AI, Revit, and IFC to rethink what's possible.

🔍 Why BIM? Why now?

Giulia: While working in an architecture firm, I saw how much time and team effort was lost between AutoCAD and BIM. Once I met Marcello and Diletta, we started exploring how it could be better. We talked to BIM managers daily and realized the tools just weren’t meeting real user needs.

Marcello: Coming from AI and robotics, I was shocked by the slow feedback loop in architecture. In software, iteration is fast. In BIM? Weeks. Clev is our way to bring tighter loops and smarter support — just like modern software.

📊 How did you go from idea to product?

Giulia: We iterated a lot. We threw out 11 prototypes before launching the version of Clev you see now. Each step was tested with users: starting with Figma, then refining through A/B tests, only building features with clear positive feedback.

📚 Why start with an IFC viewer?

Giulia: We believe BIM should be open. IFC gave us a way to reach a wide audience, including non-designers in construction and public sectors. But then we got closer to the needs of BIM managers and realized a Revit plugin was essential too. Now the two tools are fully integrated.

Marcello: Our aim is full openness. No lock-in. The best product should win because it works, not because it traps users.

🤖 How does AI fit in?

Marcello: General AI like ChatGPT doesn’t understand IFC. So we built our own layer — refining how AI reads models, compares documents, and guides users. The "Coach Mode" is for beginners, helping them model smarter with explainable guidance. We’re not just adding AI — we’re rebuilding it for AEC.

🥵 What surprised you about working in this space?

Giulia: We thought it would be mostly for designers. But BIM managers became our main users. They have clear needs, deep expertise, and are hungry for automation.

Marcello: The community response blew us away. This industry is ready for change. People are tired of legacy software and manual work. They want modern tools.

🚀 Advice for innovators in AEC?

Giulia: Follow new tools and teams. Talk to founders. Stay curious. Cross-pollination between builders and users is where the best innovation happens.

Marcello: Jump into AI workflows now. They’re more dynamic and fun — and they’re the future. The sooner you adapt, the faster you grow.

📅 Try Clev

Clev is live with a free tier. Follow their journey on LinkedIn.

Redesigning BIM for the Future: A Conversation with the Founders of Clev

“Our mission is simple: make BIM tools as seamless and smart as modern software.”

Today, we chat with Giulia D’Aleo and Marcello Domenis, two of the co-founders behind Clev, a new BIM assistant that's shaking up how architects and engineers interact with complex models. Built with the speed of a startup and the vision of an open future, Clev bridges AI, Revit, and IFC to rethink what's possible.

🔍 Why BIM? Why now?

Giulia: While working in an architecture firm, I saw how much time and team effort was lost between AutoCAD and BIM. Once I met Marcello and Diletta, we started exploring how it could be better. We talked to BIM managers daily and realized the tools just weren’t meeting real user needs.

Marcello: Coming from AI and robotics, I was shocked by the slow feedback loop in architecture. In software, iteration is fast. In BIM? Weeks. Clev is our way to bring tighter loops and smarter support — just like modern software.

📊 How did you go from idea to product?

Giulia: We iterated a lot. We threw out 11 prototypes before launching the version of Clev you see now. Each step was tested with users: starting with Figma, then refining through A/B tests, only building features with clear positive feedback.

📚 Why start with an IFC viewer?

Giulia: We believe BIM should be open. IFC gave us a way to reach a wide audience, including non-designers in construction and public sectors. But then we got closer to the needs of BIM managers and realized a Revit plugin was essential too. Now the two tools are fully integrated.

Marcello: Our aim is full openness. No lock-in. The best product should win because it works, not because it traps users.

🤖 How does AI fit in?

Marcello: General AI like ChatGPT doesn’t understand IFC. So we built our own layer — refining how AI reads models, compares documents, and guides users. The "Coach Mode" is for beginners, helping them model smarter with explainable guidance. We’re not just adding AI — we’re rebuilding it for AEC.

🥵 What surprised you about working in this space?

Giulia: We thought it would be mostly for designers. But BIM managers became our main users. They have clear needs, deep expertise, and are hungry for automation.

Marcello: The community response blew us away. This industry is ready for change. People are tired of legacy software and manual work. They want modern tools.

🚀 Advice for innovators in AEC?

Giulia: Follow new tools and teams. Talk to founders. Stay curious. Cross-pollination between builders and users is where the best innovation happens.

Marcello: Jump into AI workflows now. They’re more dynamic and fun — and they’re the future. The sooner you adapt, the faster you grow.

📅 Try Clev

Clev is live with a free tier. Follow their journey on LinkedIn