If you’re developing a building in a major city, understanding the zoning laws is a crucial but often byzantine process. You must work through thousands of pages of documents to learn your options on ceiling heights, plumbing systems, occupancy limits, and the list goes on. And changing one factor could affect another.   

Cindy McLaughlin, the CEO of Envelope, is trying to help developers navigate this complicated process using software that analyzes plans, locations, and laws to deliver data in an easy-to-understand format. But unlike many other technology startups, Envelope’s offering includes human input—as well as a business partnership. In this episode of UpTech Report, Cindy tells us about the origins of their startup and their unique business model.