ITpipes is a company that enables clients to effectively collect, analyze, and manage their water pipeline inspections. Pulse 2.0 interviewed ITpipes CEO Ned Bebawy to learn more about the company.
Ned Bebawy’s Background
What is Ned Bebawy’s background? Bebawy said:
“I co-founded AutoLeap, a software company focused on helping automotive repair shops reach new heights — a sector, similar to the skilled trade, industrial market served by ITpipes, that has been slower to fully embrace digital transformation. I also have a background in infrastructure consulting, particularly in tunneling operations, at Bain & Company, which gave me unique experience in industries with complex logistical challenges and long-term project cycles. I’ve always had a passion for bridging the gap between technology and traditionally offline markets.”
Formation Of ITpipes
How did the idea for the company come together? Bebawy shared:
“ITpipes was a unique opportunity to lead a business with an exceptional reputation and tremendous growth potential. I saw the chance to build upon a solid foundation of existing relationships and customer trust, positioning ITpipes for a new era of expansion and innovation in a traditionally underserved market. As for my role, I oversee all sales and product management, driving both the strategy and execution needed to align our products with customer needs and market demands. I aim to expand the company’s development efforts, including driving innovative technologies to deliver effective solutions for our customers while expanding our reach.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Bebawy reflected:
“One of my proudest achievements has been witnessing our team’s growth—we’ve tripled our headcount since I took ownership of the company in May 2023. It’s been incredibly rewarding to add new talent with fresh ideas and perspectives to a group of solid experts to meet the rising demand for cutting-edge solutions in this rapidly evolving market. We were also able to marry the old with the new by bringing top-notch software to an industry without access to such tools. It’s exciting to see the impact of innovation in a field that’s been underserved by technology.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Bebawy explained:
“ITpipes is a water pipe management software that streamlines the inspection process by creating a simple, smooth workflow to collect pipeline inspection data, analyze it through our AI-based technology and then aggregate it in a way that enables both cities and contractors to make informed decisions. We are at every step of the process – in the trucks where the data is collected, in the offices where that data is analyzed and even in the cloud where all relevant information is hosted.”
“Our users love our integrations with Esri’s GIS software and top asset management platforms, which allow cities to create work orders seamlessly from our system. ITpipes is also a hardware-agnostic solution, so our clients can freely decide what trucks and cameras to use our software with. Ultimately, we enable municipalities to allocate their budget more efficiently and prevent environmental damages in a critical context where we know that funding and resources are limited.”
Industry Challenges
Have there been any industry challenges in your line of work recently? Bebawy acknowledged:
“The industry is experiencing a surge in demand as more municipalities and organizations recognize the critical need to invest in infrastructure maintenance and modernization. Our challenge has been to meet this rapidly growing demand while maintaining our high standards for service and support. We’ve tackled this by expanding our team and scaling our technology infrastructure to ensure we can support a larger customer base without compromising on quality. Our commitment to innovation and customer success has allowed us to stay ahead of the curve and respond effectively to these challenges.”
Evolution Of ITpipes’ Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Bebawy noted:
“Our technology has advanced significantly, especially with the launch of Assisted Inspection Coding (AIC) in April 2024. AIC combines AI precision with human expertise, achieving a 97% accuracy rate and setting a new industry standard for pipeline inspection. Seamlessly integrated with our existing platforms, AIC eliminates the need for third-party software, streamlining the entire inspection process from data collection to analysis. This innovation underscores our commitment to quality, transparency and leadership in AI-driven water pipeline inspection.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Bebawy cited:
“Our most significant successes revolve around our tangible impact on the communities we serve. Helping cities and municipalities maximize their budgets enables them to rehabilitate and maintain their water infrastructure rather than allowing it to deteriorate. This directly improves public health and safety, supports environmental sustainability, and enhances the quality of life for residents, which is ultimately our greatest achievement and core to our company’s mission.”
Customer Success Stories
After asking Bebawy about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“Arlington, Virginia, a leader in the Smart Growth movement, is a great example of success. With 465 miles of sanitary sewer pipes and a goal to reline 14 to 17 miles annually, Arlington faces the challenge of maintaining its aging infrastructure while minimizing disruptions to traffic, protecting historic sites and maintaining walkability. Arlington relies on a combination of Esri, Cartegraph and ITpipes software to achieve these goals. Our solution has streamlined their workflow, reduced duplicate inspections and ensured all collected data is instantly available to relevant staff. Jeremy Hassan, P.E., Chief Operating Engineer of Sewers and Streets, explains, “Our previous system collected data that went nowhere. Now, with ITpipes, issues are hard to ignore — we’ve moved from being reactive to predictive.” By integrating ITpipes, Arlington has optimized its pipe maintenance program to enhance efficiency and sustainability while achieving its Smart Growth goals.”
Funding
When asking Bebawy about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“We recently announced $20 million in funding in August 2024, supporting our continued growth and product development.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Bebawy assessed:
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that $630 billion will be required over the next 20 years to maintain existing infrastructure — a 73% increase from its 2012 survey. Given the nation’s aging infrastructure, this market is predicted to continue to grow, and it is a critical time for solutions like ITpipes, which help agencies create cost-effective asset management plans to protect their communities.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Bebawy affirmed:
“ITpipes stands out due to our unique combination of deep industry expertise, established credibility and a laser focus on software excellence. While many competitors offer generic solutions, our experience in the field allows us to deliver products specifically designed to meet the complex needs of our customers, such as integrating with the rest of their tech stack in a way that makes their lives easier. We combine this with cutting-edge, best-in-class software and people, enabling us to provide a more comprehensive, flexible and user-friendly solution. Our track record of success, strong relationships and commitment to innovation ensures that we continue to lead in this space.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? Bebawy concluded:
“Looking ahead, we’re focused on innovating and expanding our product offerings to better support communities. We’ve recently introduced a cutting-edge AI tool that will allow for more precise data analysis and predictive maintenance, and we have plans for additional product enhancements to further improve operational efficiency and customer experience. Our goal is to enable customers to save time, reduce costs and achieve greater results while ensuring that their feedback and needs drive our product development.”
