Build-A-Way is tackling paperwork for contractors with the tap of a microphone

Friends since high school, the New Orleans cofounders of a voice-to-text invoice startup began their path to becoming business partners while hanging out after a Saints game.

While people were drinking in postgame revelry, Josh Bartholomew, eventual cofounder of Build-A-Way, saw his future business partner, Ashton Hilliard, with a prospective startup slideshow in his hands.

Bartholomew “saw the vision,” he said — specifically, that Hilliard had serious ambitions to become a business owner.

While they knew they wanted to work together, it took time to land on the right idea. 

They pivoted from their original tech into building an app that takes all pertinent spending information from a speaker and puts it into an invoice template with the tap of a microphone icon.

“It removes typing from invoicing,” Bartholomew said.

Through their partnership, Hilliard and Bartholomew have landed on a business idea that was featured in New Orleans-based startup accelerator Idea Village’s Big Ideas Showcase last month.

Longtime friends make a business pivot

Bartholomew and Hilliard attended St. Augustine High School.

Afterwards, Hilliard studied business and management at Southern University at New Orleans. Bartholomew received a marketing degree from Saint Leo University in Tampa. Both went on to work in different parts of the automotive industry as consultants for brands like Toyota and Nissan.

When Bartholomew returned to New Orleans, he and Hilliard started hanging out again, which is when Bartholomew learned of Hilliard’s goals to no longer be an employee.

“I wanted to find a way to work for myself,” Hilliard said.

While working for an automotive group and speaking with contractors, Hilliard learned how successful ones end up losing out on work because they are too busy to field calls. 

So Hilliard created an AI marketplace, “sort of like Angie’s List,” he said, to connect contractors with customers.

Hilliard incorporated the company in 2024. He participated in the startup accelerator IDEAinstitute, a program from Idea Village, and the Founder Institute.

Driven by curiosity and observations of contractor behavior, Hilliard pivoted away from his AI-powered client-matching idea — which was quickly becoming flooded with competition — and turned toward something new.

Hilliard’s dad was a musician, which also inspired the work. 

“I wanted to create something for blue-collar workers who have invoices stacking up,” Hilliard said. 

Landing on Build-A-Way, the two have hired a couple of engineers and are hustling about Louisiana to spread the word. One method is a series of happy hours. The company is hosting them monthly, starting this summer.

“Come have a drink,” Hilliard said, “and talk to us.”