Forerunner

Forerunner (legal name Forerunner Industries, Inc.) sells an AI-powered geospatial software platform positioned as an "intelligence layer" that sits on top of the systems public agencies and regulated operators already run. The platform unifies geospatial data, field operations and automated workflows: a map-first foundation holding assets, permit parcels, violations and environmental layers alongside satellite imagery and custom overlays; configurable, offline-capable mobile tools for inspections, permits, violations and grant tracking, with AI that populates records automatically; resident- and applicant-facing community portals; and automated reporting and workflow triggers that convert inspection findings into corrective actions, route grant milestones and generate regulatory reports from live data.

The company began with floodplain management tooling for local government and has broadened into adjacent public-sector functions including infrastructure management, code enforcement, stormwater, permitting, emergency management, hazard mitigation and grants management, as well as commercial segments it identifies as construction, ports and terminals, and energy and infrastructure. Forerunner also exposes a public API for programmatic management of floodplain data, files (Elevation Certificates, permits and other documents), Substantial Damage/Substantial Improvement records, public-assistance interaction logs, property and parcel queries, record listings and file-processing webhooks, with separate production and staging environments.

Forerunner states its mission as giving teams responsible for the built environment the intelligence to act faster and decide better, citing floodplain managers tracking NFIP compliance, construction firms coordinating permit reviews and infrastructure operators managing regional assets as representative users.

Business model

Business-to-government and business-to-business software platform, sold to agencies and operators and deployed as a layer integrated with customers' existing systems rather than as a replacement; the company markets through demo requests and reports consolidating multiple tools into a single system to reduce technology costs.

Traction

Reported use by more than 180 agencies (one account cites over 190) across 26 U.S. states as of February 2026, with named users including Puerto Rico's Planning Board, the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the California Department of Water Resources, the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Harris County, Jefferson Parish, Miami, Tampa, Norfolk, Hoboken and dozens of other municipalities and counties.

Latest developments

In February 2026 Forerunner announced $39 million in total funding, comprising a newly closed $26.3 million Series B led by Wellington Management (with SE Ventures and Citi Impact Fund joining) and a previously unannounced $12.7 million Series A led by Union Square Ventures (with Gutter Capital and Bright Ventures), and said proceeds would expand platform capabilities, grow the team and deepen government partnerships. Product updates published in July 2026 introduced an Automations Builder for creating tasks, routing work and sending notifications, and Related Records for linking connected tasks, inspections and work orders.