When wildfires swept through California earlier this year, destroying more than 15,000 homes, the recovery task looked overwhelming. Entire communities were flattened across the Palisades, Eaton, Malibu and Altadena regions. For thousands of families, the question was not just when they could rebuild, but how to start.
Now, thanks to Australian innovation, that process is becoming faster, smarter and more transparent. Sydney-founded construction technology company Canibuild has partnered with the California Builders Alliance to give residents affected by the fires a new way forward.
Using Canibuild’s digital platform, homeowners can log in, enter their address, and instantly see which home designs suit their block of land, along with accurate compliance and cost data. The technology, developed by an Australian team led by CEO and founder Tim Cocaro, brings together mapping, planning and design tools into a single digital space that allows builders and clients to make decisions in minutes rather than weeks.
“It is a massive rebuild effort,” Cocaro told The Good Builder. “If you see the aerial imagery, it genuinely looks like a war zone. What excites us is that this is not just technology for technology’s sake. It is giving people genuine options after losing everything. They can see real designs, real costs, and start rebuilding with confidence.”
The Moment That Started It All
Cocaro’s journey to this point started far from the Californian hills. A computer scientist from Western Sydney who once worked at PwC and IBM, he eventually moved into residential development and construction. It was during those years on the ground that he identified a major problem most builders face.
“The biggest challenge wasn’t defects or weather,” he said. “It was the friction at the start. Builders were constantly being asked, ‘Can I build this house on this block of land?’ but it would take architects, surveyors and engineers to find the answer. That process cost time and money. I wanted to make it instant.”
The result was Canibuild, a platform that answers that core question directly: Can I build this home here?
By combining local planning rules, topographical data and 3D visualisation, the system allows users to type in an address, drag and drop a design, and immediately see if it fits. What once took weeks can now happen in under a minute.
From Sydney Start-up to Global Partner
Since its launch, Canibuild has grown from a local start-up to an international construction technology provider, with more than 8,000 users across Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. The company has become a trusted digital partner for many of Australia’s top 100 builders.
When the wildfires struck California, the Builders Alliance approached Cocaro’s team to explore how the platform could support a coordinated rebuild. Within months, the technology had been adapted for the U.S. market, allowing residents to browse compliant designs from major builders such as Richmond America, Brookfield Properties and ARCA.
Image courtesy of abc7usa
“In Los Angeles County, the goal is to get people back in homes faster,” Cocaro said. “These are families who have lost everything. Using our system, they can see what is possible for their site without needing to wait for surveys or estimates. That transparency removes anxiety and builds trust.”
Exporting Australian Ingenuity
For Cocaro, the project also represents something deeper — proof that Australian-built technology can stand shoulder to shoulder with global leaders.
“The fact that an Australian company is helping in Los Angeles says a lot about how advanced our construction tech sector has become,” he said. “We understand building, we understand regulation, and we have developed tools that are practical. We are not guessing at what builders need — we live it.”
The initiative has also drawn praise from local governments. The New South Wales Government recently supported Canibuild through an export program designed to help technology companies enter international markets. Cocaro says the program helped open key connections and reinforced how important construction innovation is to both state and national economies.
“I was really surprised by how well run it was,” he said. “They introduced us to potential investors, U.S. agencies, and other partners who could accelerate our growth. It is the kind of support that can take Australian innovation to the world.”
Building Trust Through Technology
The partnership in California is more than a commercial success story. It demonstrates how transparency and technology can help rebuild trust in construction — a theme that runs through everything Cocaro does.
“Construction doesn’t always have the best reputation,” he said. “Clients just want someone they can trust. When a builder uses Canibuild to show why a design fits or why a cost changes, the client sees that honesty. It shifts the conversation from doubt to confidence.”
The same principle applies to the rebuild effort in California. By giving residents the tools to see what is possible on their site, Canibuild is helping them make informed decisions and move forward faster.
A Shared Mission
For The Good Builder, this story is a powerful reminder that Australia’s building community continues to innovate, lead and give back. Cocaro and his team have turned a simple question, Can I build this?, into a global tool for rebuilding lives.
“It is about helping people,” he said. “If our technology can get families into homes quicker, that is something worth talking about.”
Find Out More
To learn more about canibuild and how they can help your business. Head to: https://canibuild.com/en-au/
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