Plan intelligence for MEP bids

Estym8 turns plan sets into bid-ready MEP takeoffs in minutes instead of days—and flags conflicts, code issues, and missing clarity with draft RFIs and optimization recommendations—so you bid smarter, save money, and win more.

Manual MEP takeoffs often take days or weeks, depending on plan set size and how your team works. Estym8 runs the full pipeline in about 15–45 minutes for a typical plan set (depending on size)—then you review, edit, and defend the numbers. One saved estimator day typically pays for a month of access.

Estym8 is in testing—we're onboarding estimators in small batches so support stays sharp. Request access to get in the next round; after approval you'll verify, get plan access, and run takeoffs like production users.

Bid calendars don't pause for anyone. The firms that wire plan intelligence in now are the ones walking into hard bids with RFIs drafted and counts already defended—not still stuck in manual symbol passes.

Bid-ready counts by discipline (Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing)
AI plan intelligence—conflicts, code checks & draft RFIs; we tell you when to file an RFI and write the draft
AI optimization recommendations—save money, charge appropriately, reduce risk
Editable counts with totals updating automatically
AI assistant (Estee)—ask "Should I file an RFI?" in plain English; our AI answers from your actual plans
Bid pacing helpers—estimate-ready email with a short plan-review recap (concerns & draft RFIs); save a bid deadline and download an Add to calendar (.ics) file
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We'll email you a link to get started once you're approved. Spots in each batch are limited—if you're on the fence, it costs nothing to hold your place.

Inside the app

Command center with takeoff trends, project context, a populated bid-ready estimate detail view, and Estee—in-app on every screen.

Estym8 dashboard with metrics, device counts by discipline, and project activity.
Dashboard—completed takeoffs, device totals by trade, and bid-ready status at a glance.
Estym8 project page with map, weather, jurisdiction, and demographic context.
Project workspace—OpenStreetMap location, weather, code context, and Census-style market data from each plan run.
Estym8 estimate detail with bid summary, discipline breakdown, and plan intelligence cards.
Estimate detail—bid summary, symbol and device counts by trade, materials, RFIs, and optimization-style insights from the same run.
Estee AI assistant chat panel in Estym8.
Estee—ask questions about estimates and plans in plain English, right from the project.

What to expect

  • Request access with your email—you'll get a quick confirmation message right away.
  • We'll notify you when you're approved for testing.
  • You'll receive a link to create your account and sign in.
  • Upload a plan set and get AI-native MEP takeoffs in 15–45 minutes.
  • When a run completes, your email includes a quick plan-review summary; in the app you can set a bid deadline and download a calendar (.ics) file.

Why Estym8 Beats the Rest

Most tools keep the old pattern: manual or catalog-driven estimating, with AI speeding one step (counts, drafts, or reviewer QA)—you still stitch tools and handoffs. Estym8 flattens that: one AI-native run from PDF to bid-ready MEP (takeoff, BOM, plan intelligence, Estee)—far fewer moving parts.

CapabilityEstym8Trimble (Accubid / LiveCount)CountfireBeam AIMEPdetectFlash AI (Gordian / RSMeans)
How it fits your processOne run: upload PDFs → single bid-ready package—no “count here, price there, chase reviewers” glue work.Classic MEP estimating stack: assemblies, libraries, takeoffs—AI helps spot symbols; you still build and validate the bid inside the legacy workflow.Automated counts + their QA cadence—you fit outputs into your existing estimate and review habits.You submit plans; automation plus human reviewers hand back packaged output—async service loop, not one in-app pipeline.Detection pass → export—you finish pricing, proposal, and checks in other tools or spreadsheets.Docs + chat for early RSMeans-backed cost estimates—a parallel track to detailed MEP quantity takeoff for bid day.
AI at the coreBuilt AI-native—not a manual workflow with AI patched inTraditional workflow first; AI assists pieces (e.g. takeoff hints)Traditional estimating loop; AI on counting + QAAI automation + offline QA—still a handoff modelAI on detection only; pricing, proposal, and review happen elsewhereAI + chat native to their product—but for cost/RSMeans, not MEP bid takeoff
Symbol & device countsYes—built for MEP accuracyYes (quality varies)Yes (electrical / mechanical)Yes (15+ trades)YesCost line elements from docs—not MEP takeoff-first
Plan intelligenceConflicts, code checks, draft RFIs, optimization notes————Chat-guided scope; traceable RSMeans-backed lines (early-stage focus)
Time to bid-ready15–45 minutesManual / semi-automatedFaster counts; manual review24–72 hours (with QA)Fast raw detection pass (varies by file); not bid-ready—export then finish pricing & proposal elsewhereMinutes for high-level estimates (their positioning)
Chat with your plansEstee: "Should I file an RFI?" from your actual data————Yes—intelligent chat is core to the product
Change orders & GC handoffChange orders, exports, read-only GC link (no login)Enterprise workflowsExportBid-ready outputExport (Excel/CSV/JSON)—

Competitor info from public positioning (2024–2026). Most vendors keep manual/catalog estimating and add AI to a step; Estym8 unifies upload → bid-ready MEP in one pipeline for subs.

What's on the horizon

Today (v1): Each takeoff run processes one plan PDF at a time—you can add many PDFs and runs to a project as work progresses, but each job is a single file per run. You get bid-ready electrical, mechanical, and plumbing takeoffs plus plan intelligence (conflicts, code-aware concerns, draft RFIs) and optimization recommendations. That's the core path for MEP estimators now.

Next: Full-project folder workflow for teams with many sheets: analyze each file, apply local-code context where the plans support it, build a run plan (what to process and how to group), then document it on the project and execute—including multi-file-per-discipline runs when you're ready.

Beyond MEP: Estym8 is MEP-first today; we intend to expand estimating and plan intelligence into additional trades and scopes over time (for example structural and site-heavy work, air balance, and other areas)—phased, with no committed dates on the public site. Detailed roadmap materials are shared with partners and investors, not here.

We're also building Bodi—a project-brain companion for BOD and low-voltage workstreams, designed to pair with Estym8 plan intelligence. (We share more in partner and investor conversations—not full product docs on the public marketing site.)

Ready to try Estym8?

Plan intelligence, bid-ready MEP counts, and draft RFIs in one workflow. Request access—waitlists move when we open a new batch—and review pricing anytime.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Estym8 available to everyone?
During testing, access is by approval. Request access from the site; after approval you can verify and run takeoffs like production users.
What does Estym8 do?
Estym8 turns construction PDF plan sets into bid-ready MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) takeoffs in about 15–45 minutes for a typical set, depending on size. It also surfaces plan conflicts, code-related notes, draft RFIs, and optimization ideas—not just raw counts.
Who is Estym8 for?
MEP estimators, subcontractors, and teams bidding commercial, healthcare, multi-family, and similar projects who need faster, reviewable takeoffs and plan intelligence from the same upload.
How long does a takeoff take?
Processing usually runs in about 15–45 minutes per plan set depending on size. You review, edit overrides, and export when ready.
Does Estym8 replace an estimator?
No. Estym8 accelerates the heavy lifting; the estimator stays in control—reviewing counts, adding contingency, and defending numbers on bid day.
Where can I see pricing?
Use the Pricing page for monthly or annual billing (annual saves about 12% vs a full year at the midpoint of each range).