ConduitPath Pro
Executive Summary
Vision Statement
Empower electrical professionals to plan, visualize, and execute efficient, code-compliant wiring installations—reducing waste, saving time, and elevating the standards of construction projects.
Problem Summary
Electricians frequently encounter major challenges when planning conduit and wiring runs in buildings with unconventional layouts, such as those with loading docks set at slab heights. The Reddit post and its highly engaged comments highlight a common frustration: inefficient, cluttered, and costly installations resulting from limited routing options, lack of planning tools, and poor visualization of feeder/circuit pathways in complex structures.
Current workflows often result in excessive use of materials (e.g., millions of small conduits, numerous LBs), suboptimal aesthetics, and expensive change orders. Electricians are forced to improvise, leading to installations that are less maintainable and more expensive.
Proposed Solution
A cloud-based SaaS and mobile app that allows electricians to upload building schematics, model 3D conduit and wiring runs, and receive AI-powered suggestions for optimal routing. The tool would factor in building features (e.g., loading docks, slab heights), NEC code compliance, material costs, and accessibility. It would provide visualizations, cost estimates, and alternative solutions (e.g., using troughs, gutters, or alternate panel placements), helping teams make informed decisions before installation.
Market Analysis
Target Audience
The ideal user is a licensed electrician, electrical contractor, or project manager working on medium to large commercial or industrial construction projects. They routinely face complex routing scenarios, value efficiency and code compliance, and are responsible for cost control and installation quality. Secondary users include electrical engineers and building designers seeking to collaborate on pre-construction planning.
Niche Validation
The Reddit post received extremely high engagement (565 upvotes, 184 comments, and a 0.99 upvote ratio), with top comments proposing alternate solutions and lamenting the inefficiency of current practices. This signals a strong, validated pain point among professionals. Multiple commenters suggest alternative methods (troughs, gutters, panel relocation), but lack consensus or tools to model these options. The thread demonstrates real frustration and demand for a better planning workflow.
Web research confirms that loading dock and slab height considerations are common, and electrical routing in these environments is technically challenging[1][2].
Google Trends Keywords
Market Size Estimation
The SAM focuses on medium-to-large contractors handling projects with complex layouts, estimated at ~15,000 firms in North America, plus engineering teams at major construction companies.
The SOM for a SaaS MVP is realistically 1–3% of the SAM within the first 2 years, targeting ~150–450 companies willing to trial or subscribe early.
The TAM includes all commercial and industrial electrical contractors in North America (~70,000 firms), plus engineering and design consultancies. The broader market encompasses global construction professionals facing similar routing challenges.
Competitive Landscape
Current competitors include generic CAD tools (e.g., AutoCAD, Revit), which require advanced skills and do not provide electrical-specific routing optimization. Some specialized solutions exist, such as Trimble SysQue (for Revit MEP)[https://mep.trimble.com/products/sysque/], but these are expensive, not focused on field workflows, and lack mobile accessibility. No mainstream product directly addresses real-time, code-aware 3D planning for electricians on-site.
Product Requirements
User Stories
As an electrician, I want to upload building schematics so I can plan wiring runs efficiently.
As a contractor, I want to visualize conduit paths in 3D to spot potential conflicts before installation.
As a project manager, I want to compare cost estimates for different routing options.
As a field tech, I want mobile access to plans and suggestions on-site.
As a designer, I want to ensure all proposed runs comply with NEC and local codes.
MVP Feature Set
Upload and parse building schematics (PDF/DWG)
3D modeling and visualization of conduit/circuit runs
AI-powered routing suggestions with code compliance checks
Material and cost estimation
Exportable plans and reports
Mobile app access for field use
Non-Functional Requirements
Secure user authentication and data storage
Responsive performance for large models
High availability (99.9% uptime SLA)
Role-based access control
Scalable cloud infrastructure
Key Performance Indicators
Number of active projects created per month
Average time saved per project (vs. manual planning)
User retention rate (monthly/quarterly)
Customer satisfaction (NPS)
Reduction in material waste/change orders reported by users
Data Visualizations
Visual Analysis Summary
The most upvoted comment solutions in the Reddit thread illustrate strong demand for alternative planning methods and highlight the lack of consensus among electricians. Visualizing the frequency of solution suggestions (e.g., troughs, panel relocation, large conduit) demonstrates the diversity and fragmentation in current practice, underscoring the need for a unified planning tool.
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Go-to-Market Strategy
Core Marketing Message
Stop wasting time and money on inefficient conduit runs—plan smarter, visualize in 3D, and ensure code compliance before you build.
Initial Launch Channels
- Targeted posts and demos in r/electricians, r/Construction, and industry LinkedIn groups
- Launch on Product Hunt and electrical trade forums
- Outreach to electrical contractor associations and local union chapters
Strategic Metrics
Problem Urgency
High
Solution Complexity
Medium
Defensibility Moat
Defensibility comes from proprietary 3D routing algorithms, code compliance logic, and integration with building schematics. Network effects may emerge via collaborative features, while high switching costs and workflow embedding further strengthen the moat.
Source Post Metrics
Business Strategy
Monetization Strategy
Subscription-based pricing: monthly per-user seat ($49–$99), with tiered plans for small teams and enterprise. Optional pay-per-project for one-off jobs. Free trial and discounted pilot programs for early adopters.
Financial Projections
Assuming 200 early adopter companies (avg. 3 seats each) at $69/month, initial MRR could reach $41,400. With moderate growth and upsell to enterprise, annual recurring revenue could exceed $600K by year 2.
Tech Stack
Node.js with Express for scalable API development; Python with FastAPI for AI-powered routing and compliance logic.
PostgreSQL for relational project data; MongoDB for flexible storage of schematics and model snapshots.
Next.js for rapid development, SEO, and robust visualization capabilities using React Three Fiber for 3D modeling.
Stripe for payments, AWS S3 for file storage, OpenAI API for natural language processing (e.g., interpreting schematics), Autodesk Forge API for CAD integration.
Risk Assessment
Identified Risks
- Resistance to adopting new planning workflows among traditional electricians
- Difficulty integrating with diverse schematic formats and legacy systems
Mitigation Strategy
- Provide extensive onboarding, tutorials, and field support
- Prioritize compatibility with popular schematic formats and offer manual override options