Data isn’t optional for modern business; it’s mission-critical. Yet across industries, businesses still drown in fragmented spreadsheets, siloed documents, and unstructured visuals — struggling to extract actionable insights and deliver timely decisions.
However, companies regularly struggle with low digitalization of that data, leading to poor productivity. For example, construction managers still record data via handwritten notes, scattered spreadsheets, and untagged photos, overlooking key details and the nuance of what’s actually happening on the ground. The result? Inconsistent data, unreliable reporting, and delayed responses to critical issues have led to billions of dollars in annual losses.
It’s a problem that entrepreneur Egor Folley identified as part of his research into AI adoption across underserved industries. This led to the formation of Modalina AI, a no-code agentic platform that helps businesses implement AI tools in their daily workflows. Agents are capable of functions like turning unstructured data (site photos, video footage, etc.) into accurate, actionable insights, giving project managers a more comprehensive view of site conditions and helping them make faster and more informed decisions.
Identifying Data Gaps Across Multiple Industries
Egor’s first entrepreneurial venture was ARTIAL, a startup that aimed to empower drone navigation via strictly visual input — no GPS or remote control required. However, the concept faced resistance from European companies that were slow to adopt AI tools and reluctant to integrate relatively unproven tech, so despite strong technical execution and $220,000 in early-stage funding, ARTIAL struggled to go beyond pilot projects.
Rather than treat the experience as a failure, Egor saw it as a learning opportunity. In 2024, he relocated to the U.S. and joined Global Detroit, a nonprofit dedicated to helping immigrant founders launch startups and create jobs across Southeast Michigan. There, he was accepted into the Global Entrepreneur-in-Residence (GEIR) program and began exploring how AI can shape the productivity of workforce.
One sector that stood out most to Egor was construction. From discussions with his network, he found that roughly 90% of the industry’s visual data goes unused. It’s fragmented and inconsistent due to disjointed workflows, and even when data-rich live footage is captured, processing it still relies heavily on manual labor.
Without a clear, up-to-date view of site conditions, project managers struggle to coordinate field crews and office teams, detect early signs of trouble, or act quickly when problems emerge. According to industry research, poor data quality costs the global construction sector over $1.84 trillion annually.
Modalina AI: Converting Raw Data Into Actionable Insights with AI Agents
Modalina AI reflects Egor’s broader vision for an accessible platform that empowers non-technical business leaders to deploy AI tools and regain a clear line of sight over daily operations.
These agents are capable of analyzing unstructured visual data (such as photos, drone footage, or CCTV video) and converting them into intuitive, actionable insights that cover areas like safety hazards and OSHA violations. They rely on a combination of visual language models (VLM) and CLIP models to accurately interpret complex visual inputs, then leverage LLM technology to generate structured, readable reports.
All project managers have to do is upload visual data and receive clear updates on what’s happening on site — making the tool accessible for even those with little technical background.
Adopting AI
Realizing that many companies are still cautious about adopting AI, Egor’s perspective helped shape early discussions around Modalina AI with usability and accessibility at its core. And while the demo version works as a standalone tool, the company’s long-term vision is to integrate with industry-standard platforms like Procore and Autodesk Construction Cloud, allowing teams to adopt it without overhauling their operations.
“The original goal is not to build yet another tool,” Egor explains, “but rather to enhance the usage of current field tools with accessible AI so that site superintendents and project managers don’t suffer from the overwhelming complexity of existing software.” The goal for the platform is to make AI solutions easily deployable for the engineering industry — bringing speed, safety, and data-driven decision-making to one of the United States’s most essential sectors.”
Though the product is still in its early stages, Modalina AI has already gained momentum. Within two months of launch, the company secured three initial paying customers, received five letters of intent, and was invited to present at the 2025 BuiltWorlds AI/ML Conference — an event featuring advanced applications of AI in the construction industry.
Egor’s Broader Vision for Transformative AI
Egor sees Modalina AI as a key part of an industry-wide movement to create AI tools that seamlessly integrate with existing workflows, especially for industries typically overlooked by the tech industry. While construction is the platform’s initial use case, its underlying technology is built to serve other critical sectors like infrastructure, energy, and logistics — industries where visibility and access to high-quality data remain limited.
His long-term goal is to build a globally impactful technology company that applies AI tools to deliver immediate, practical value to industries that rely on fast, informed decision-making. And with the construction sector now beginning to embrace this shift, that vision is starting to take shape.
To follow Egor Folley’s journey, connect with him on LinkedIn. To learn more about the technology behind Modalina AI, check out its website.
Photo by Igor Omilaev; Unsplash
Rashan is a seasoned technology journalist and visionary leader serving as the Editor-in-Chief of DevX.com, a leading online publication focused on software development, programming languages, and emerging technologies. With his deep expertise in the tech industry and her passion for empowering developers, Rashan has transformed DevX.com into a vibrant hub of knowledge and innovation. Reach out to Rashan at [email protected]
