The Venture Atlanta 2024 pitch competition was our most competitive yet! Out of an incredible 630 applications, just 86 companies were selected to present their vision on a major stage in front of investors, firms, and potential hires.
Among them, only 18 growth-stage startups had the opportunity to take the stage, making the competition for top honors incredibly competitive.
One company stood out above the rest: Document Crunch, a game-changing platform transforming how the construction industry navigates complex contracts and construction document compliance.
In this blog, we’re shining a spotlight on Document Crunch, the winner of the Growth-Stage Pitch Competition at Venture Atlanta 2024. If you’re thinking of pitching at Venture Atlanta, continue reading to see how Document Crunch’s passion for problem-solving made them a growth-stage winner.
What Is Document Crunch?
Document Crunch is a construction document compliance platform purpose-built for the construction industry—a sector where risk is high, contracts are complex, and external circumstances constantly impact timelines and costs.
How Does Document Crunch Help the Construction Industry?
At its core, Document Crunch helps construction companies quickly understand and de-risk their documents, ensuring they enter contracts with clarity and confidence. But the company’s impact doesn’t stop there.
“Even if you set up those documents well and negotiate fair contracts, construction is an industry where external circumstances happen every day,” Josh Levy, co-founder and CEO of Document Crunch explains. “The administration of those contracts and documents becomes critically important for the people wearing hard hats on-site.”
That’s where Document Crunch provides real-time decision support. The platform doesn’t just simplify contract review before a project begins—it also helps teams maintain construction document compliance with contracts and other essential documents throughout the entire project lifecycle.
By making complex obligations easy to understand and administer, Document Crunch empowers construction professionals—from the back office to field teams—to mitigate risk, stay on track, and make informed decisions in real-time.
From bidding and contract negotiation to day-to-day project execution, Document Crunch ensures that construction companies don’t just sign better contracts—they manage them more effectively, reducing risk every step of the way.
What Was the Moment That Sparked the Idea for Document Crunch?
For Levy, the inspiration for Document Crunch was something he lived every day as a construction attorney.
“I was very familiar with the sophistication, cost, and time associated with reviewing these documents,” Levy recalls. “But the reality is, the vast majority of this massive $14 trillion global industry didn’t have resources like me embedded in their organizations.”
Legal tech was gaining traction across industries, but there was nothing purpose-built for construction document compliance—a sector that, despite its scale, had little investment in internal legal resources. This gap was Levy’s first “aha” moment. There was a massive problem to solve, and no one had tackled it head-on.
But the bigger revelation came from his day-to-day experiences. While Levy was deep in contract reviews, he constantly had people at his door—hard hat in one hand, a piece of paper in the other—needing immediate guidance on pressing job site issues. For every issue brought to his attention, there were dozens more happening on-site that he never saw.
“A superintendent might need to know what rebar was specified before concrete gets poured all over it,” Levy explains. “Historically, they haven’t had the ability to quickly get that answer. That can lead to big mistakes—or even worse, failure to administer construction contract management correctly, which is the number one cause of litigation in our industry.”
His realization? The problem wasn’t just about making contract review easier—it was about empowering construction professionals with the information they needed in real-time to prevent costly mistakes and instill best practices before it spiraled into litigation.
Even at firms with well-funded construction risk management teams, there were still gaps. “I simply couldn’t be everywhere, in every job trailer, making sure the right thing was happening,” Levy says. “And no one in the back office had any oversight into that accrued risk.” And when something did happen? It could mean ripping out rebar from a finished concrete structure. Or worse, a building failing due to a preventable mistake.
That’s when Levy knew: The industry didn’t just need better construction document compliance. It needed an intelligent, accessible solution that put critical legal insights directly into the hands of the people making decisions in the field.
And that’s where Document Crunch was born.
What Have You Learned on Your Entrepreneurial Journey?
The entrepreneurial journey has been more than just building a construction document compliance solution—it’s been about building an environment where people thrive.
“What I’ve really learned is how important authenticity is. As a first-time founder who doesn’t have a software background and has never run a SaaS business before, I’ve had to be open to learning. And that openness has helped me attract the best possible talent.”
Levy believes that strong vision matters, but so does listening. His willingness to acknowledge what he doesn’t know—and to bring in experts who do—has created a culture where top talent naturally gravitates toward Document Crunch. And as that talent joins, they bring in even more exceptional people, creating a flywheel effect that fuels the company’s growth.
But perhaps the biggest realization has been the profound impact this journey has had on the people within the company. “I always knew it would take a great team, but what I didn’t realize is how much this journey would mean to them,” Levy reflects.
Now, with close to 100 employees and growing, he sees firsthand how Document Crunch has become a career-defining experience for so many. And for each person, that definition is different—some are making more money than ever before, some are finding their voice, and others are part of something truly innovative for the first time.
“What I do have control over is creating an environment where people can look back and say, ‘That was a good time in my life,’” Levy says. “We’ve all had those moments in our careers, and I want Document Crunch to be synonymous with that.”
At the heart of it all, his biggest learning has been this: A company isn’t just about the product it builds—it’s about the people who build it. And for Levy, making sure the “Crunchers” have a meaningful, fulfilling experience is just as important as the company’s success itself.
How Did You Prepare for Your Pitch at Venture Atlanta?
“I never prepared for that pitch,” Levy admits. “Because I’ve been preparing for this my entire life.”
Levy’s journey in construction document compliance began nearly 25 years ago as a freshman majoring in construction management at the University of Florida. Since then, every day of his career has been dedicated to understanding, navigating, and improving the industry. That lifelong connection to the problem Document Crunch solves is something that simply can’t be faked.
“The connection I have to this problem is 20-plus years in the making,” Levy says. “It’s my life’s work.”
For him, the pitch was never about crafting the perfect presentation—it was about channeling that deep, unwavering passion for the construction industry. And that’s his biggest advice for other entrepreneurs: Find the problem you are most passionate about solving.
“Founder-market fit is a superpower,” Levy emphasizes. “Of course, there’s product-market fit and good businesses that you can build as a serial entrepreneur. But when you have founder-market fit—when you deeply understand and care about the problem—that’s when magic happens.”
That authenticity and relentless dedication have fueled Document Crunch’s success. Just recently, the construction document compliance solution was named one of Engineering News-Record’s Top 25 Newsmakers for 2024, an honor recognizing the most influential figures shaping the construction industry—not just in tech, but across the entire sector.
And while Levy’s vision laid the foundation, he knows the company’s evolution is now in the hands of a talented team and its customers.
“We’re as far down the path of my original vision as we could be,” Levy reflects. “Now, it’s about listening—to our customers, to our people. If you do that, great things happen.”
At the end of the day, Document Crunch’s success isn’t about one pitch or one moment—it’s the result of a million steps over 25 years. And with the right problem, the right team, and the right mindset, that momentum only compounds.
How Has Venture Atlanta Helped Document Crunch?
The impact of the Southeast’s startup ecosystem—particularly in Atlanta—has been profound for Document Crunch. Winning the Venture Atlanta Growth-Stage Pitch Competition was just one milestone in a pivotal week for the company, which also saw the announcement of its Series B funding the very next day.
“The Series B was already in the works before the competition, so it’s hard to decouple the two,” Levy explains. “But that week—securing the funding, winning the competition—was a major catalyst. We’ve about doubled revenue since then.”
The capital infusion has allowed Document Crunch to scale rapidly, but Venture Atlanta’s impact extends far beyond funding. The event amplified brand awareness, helping to establish the company as a top-tier player not just in construction document compliance, but in the broader business landscape.
“Brand awareness has gone through the roof,” Levy says. “And now, we’re seeing this in effect we’re becoming an employer of choice.”
That momentum is tangible. Document Crunch was recently named one of the top three startups to work for in Atlanta, a recognition that underscores its growing influence in the region. And Levy is fully committed to building something extraordinary.
“We were a remote-first company for a while,” he says. “But last year, we established offices in Atlanta and Austin, which we now consider our primary locations. We’re concentrating hiring efforts here, and we’ve grown to about 30 employees in Atlanta.”
The city’s business-friendly environment and strong talent pool have made it an ideal base for scaling the company.
“I love living here. I think it’s a great business community, and that local recognition has been a huge recruiting tool.”
Levy’s connection to the Southeast’s entrepreneurial ecosystem goes beyond just his own company’s success. He’s passionate about Atlanta’s growing presence in the innovation economy and wants to play a long-term role in shaping its future.
“Venture Atlanta was an incredible experience, not just for the pitch competition, but for the ecosystem as a whole,” he says. “I want to stay involved and engaged with the event because I believe in this community. Atlanta is a major hub for innovation, and I see Document Crunch being a foundational part of that story.”
What Advice Do You Have for Startups Pitching at Venture Atlanta?
Levy’s final words of advice? Focus on the problem.
“It’s very easy to get sucked into features-based marketing or to just talk about the business,” Levy says. “I don’t think that resonates. What resonates is focusing on the problem and being passionate about solving it. Everything else falls into place.”
That problem-first mindset has been a guiding principle for Document Crunch, not just at Venture Atlanta but in every competition they’ve won. The company previously won the gold medal at the Cemex Ventures 2021 Construction Startup Competition, a testament to the power of keeping the focus on why the company exists.
“We’re not an AI company,” Levy clarifies. “We’re a company that improves construction risk management—with AI as part of our solution. That’s the ‘how’ we do it, but the ‘who’ we are is problem-focused.”
And that’s his ultimate advice for founders stepping onto the Venture Atlanta stage: Lead with the problem. Address it authentically. Let the passion for your solution shine through.
Because when a founder is deeply connected to the problem they’re solving, it’s not just a pitch—it’s a story that resonates.
Be the Next Venture Atlanta Success Story
Document Crunch’s success at Venture Atlanta 2024 is a testament to the power of problem-driven innovation and the strength of the Southeast’s startup ecosystem. From winning the Growth-Stage Pitch Competition to doubling revenue and scaling their team in Atlanta, their journey showcases what’s possible when great ideas meet the right opportunities.
Venture Atlanta continues to be a launchpad for high-growth startups, connecting them with investors, resources, and a thriving entrepreneurial community. Whether you're a founder looking to pitch, an investor scouting the next big thing, or an industry leader eager to connect, find your next big opportunity at Venture Atlanta, the largest venture capital conference in the Southeast.
Want to learn more about last year’s Growth-Stage Pitch Competition winner? Check out our piece on The Leading Cyber Range-as-a-Service Platform, Cloud Range. Curious about what makes Atlanta a top destination for entrepreneurs? Read our Atlanta Startup Scene Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Did Document Crunch Win the Venture Atlanta Growth-Stage Pitch Competition?
Document Crunch won the VA 2024 Growth-Stage Pitch Competition by applying alongside 630 startups and was selected as one of 18 growth-stage participants. On the first day of Venture Atlanta, Josh Levy delivered a compelling pitch, capturing the attention of the audience, who voted Document Crunch into the next round. The final stage required another pitch—this time in front of a panel of top investor judges, where Levy’s deep connection to the problem, authenticity, and passion for the construction industry set him apart, leading to the judges awarding Document Crunch the top growth-stage startup at Venture Atlanta.
