AI Architecture Startup Illoca Raises $13 Million for Generative Design Engine

Architects have long spent substantial time redrawing existing designs into software-readable formats, leaving less time for creative work. Founded in 2024 and headquartered in San Ramon, California, Illoca was established by co-founders Chin-Yi Cheng, who is of Taiwanese descent, and Chiaowei Yu. The team aims to use generative AI to address the architecture industry’s productivity bottleneck.

Illoca announced a $13 million seed round on May 6, 2026, led by Bessemer Venture Partners with participation from AIX Ventures, Root Ventures and Alt Ventures. Its Illoca Tracing Paper product uses AI agents to interpret sketches, annotations and natural language, rapidly generating editable 2D and 3D models.