#49 - Karly Heffernan, Co-Founder at Hardline
Slice of Construction Team
11/19/2025
Guest
Episode details
Join us in this exciting episode of the Slice of Construction podcast, hosted by Jared S. Taylor! Our Guest: Karly Heffernan, Co-Founder at Hardline.
What you’ll get out of this episode:
- From Team Canada to Tech Founder: Karly Heffernan's journey spans elite hockey, Harvard, and launching a construction tech startup.
- Hardline's Mission: A voice-powered assistant app designed to document jobsite decisions without recording calls.
- Designed for Superintendents: Hardline aims to protect and empower site leads by reducing tedious admin work and preventing costly rework.
- Strategic Partnerships & Growth: Integrated with Procore, Autodesk, and soon Fieldwire; part of Suffolk Technologies' Boost accelerator.
- Voice as the Future of Workflows: Hardline is betting on voice AI to replace keyboards and streamline site communication.
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The Road from Rink to Construction Tech
Karly Heffernan, once a professional hockey player and Team Canada alum, has channeled her competitive drive and teamwork ethic into tech entrepreneurship. Following a career-ending injury, she transitioned from the ice to the tech world, ultimately founding Hardline after realizing the pain points of managing construction projects firsthand.
Hardline: Documenting Decisions with Ease
Hardline was born out of necessity. As Heffernan juggled up to 100 calls a day on job sites, she noticed a gap: no efficient way to track critical project decisions. Hardline doesn't record calls—instead, it captures key information through an app, functioning like a note-taking assistant that documents relevant project data in real-time. “It’s like an old lady sitting beside you, taking notes all day,” Karly joked.
Protecting Superintendents with Purpose-Built Tech
Hardline's core mission is to empower superintendents and ensure they’re not left holding the bag for six-figure mistakes. Designed specifically with field teams in mind, the platform streamlines workflows and saves time. The company makes roadmap decisions based on field feedback, prioritizing intuitive solutions that meet users where they are.
Accelerating with Suffolk Technologies
After launching in March, Hardline was accepted into the Suffolk Technologies Boost accelerator just five months later. The experience has been pivotal, helping shape their roadmap and connect them with major construction players. Heffernan credits Suffolk's supportive, people-first approach as a key factor in Hardline’s early momentum.
Voice AI: Construction's Future Interface
Heffernan believes voice is the next frontier in construction interfaces. The company is committed to replacing keyboards on job sites by enabling voice-powered documentation. “We accidentally fell into the voice AI trend,” she noted, “but it just makes sense for how people on-site actually work.”
Lessons from the Ice
Her athlete mindset continues to fuel Hardline. The same passion that drove her Olympic training now energizes her startup journey. “For the first time since hockey, I wake up excited every day,” she said, emphasizing the importance of grit, a strong team, and loving what you do.
