Strategic timing is essential in the infrastructure sector, where the planning of data centers and energy plants has been stalled by manual processes for decades. Talha Faiz, a mechanical engineer turned software innovator, is redefining this industry standard. As the co-founder of Candid Intelligence, he is leading a technological shift that compresses months of pre-construction work into mere hours of computation.
A Hard Pivot from Infrastructure to AI
Talha’s journey is a testament to the power of a “hard pivot”. He began his career as a mechanical engineer working on some of Asia’s largest energy projects. However, his fascination with technical efficiency led him to Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), where he specialized in Machine Learning and Computer Vision.
This unique blend of expertise in energy infrastructure and AI architecture provided him with a clear vantage point. He recognized that while construction technology was evolving, the pre-construction phase remained a massive bottleneck, often taking two years of bidding and procurement before a single shovel hit the ground.
Mastering the Intelligence of Spatial Computing
Before founding Candid, Talha refined his skills at some of the world’s most influential tech giants. At Meta, he served as a Computer Vision Engineer, writing algorithms used by over six million people daily and improving GPS capabilities on edge devices. His work in spatial computing helped push the boundaries of how machines perceive and interact with the physical world.
His experience at Samsung Research America and his time building autonomous systems for the U.S. Army further solidified his technical prowess. By fusing vision, lidar, and telemetry into live operational models, he proved that complex algorithms could solve real-world physical challenges at scale.
Compressing Time with Candid Intelligence
In late 2025, Talha co-founded Candid Intelligence to address the industrial construction bottleneck directly. The startup recently raised $6.5 million in Seed funding from heavyweights like Quiet Capital, MIT’s E14 Fund, and AI pioneer Yann LeCun. Candid’s platform is designed to automate design reviews, cost estimates, and risk assessments, fitting seamlessly into real engineering workflows.
The impact of this technology is staggering. By removing a year from the pre-construction phase, projects can generate over $100 million in additional revenue and adopt cleaner technologies faster. Recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, Talha is no longer just building software; he is reimagining how the physical world is constructed.
Bridging the Speed of Thought and Steel
Talha Faiz remains committed to the principle of “action over fear,” a philosophy inspired by his mentors and colleagues. He has transitioned from a record-breaking student and researcher at CMU to a venture-backed founder in the San Francisco Bay Area. By bridging the gap between deep learning and heavy industry, Talha is ensuring that the future of construction moves at the speed of thought.
