Truss, Y Combinator S21
samt.io/Case studies/Fintech for constructionRole
Context
Truss launched in 2023 as a financial technology platform built specifically for the construction industry.
After our previous Canadian B2B payments product was acquired, our team joined Y Combinator and started Truss to reimagine banking for construction in the US. As the founding product designer, I led design from concept to production and also built the UI as a frontend engineer.
Problem
Cash flow is a constant challenge in construction. Contractors often wait days or weeks for payments to settle, yet still need to pay employees and vendors, creating ongoing financial pressure. At the same time, payments are rarely simple. Invoices are frequently split, paid in stages, and spread across multiple recipients, all while staying in sync with accounting systems.
The underlying infrastructure adds further friction. Many transactions still rely on ACH transfers or physical checks, making it difficult to know when funds will arrive or become available. This lack of visibility forces contractors to constantly track payments and follow up with vendors.
On top of these challenges, Truss operates within a highly regulated financial environment. Businesses must complete KYB verification, identity checks, and fraud monitoring before they can move money.
Approach
The goal was to create a banking experience that could handle financial and regulatory complexity while remaining simple, transparent, and trustworthy, especially for contractors who are often late tech adopters.
I researched payment platforms broadly and interviewed construction business owners to understand how they manage finances and where they struggle. Those insights informed three core design principles: reduce cognitive load, make every step predictable, and keep users oriented throughout the transaction lifecycle.
I then translated these principles into wireframes and interactive prototypes, presenting to the team and iterating rapidly. Regulatory and compliance constraints were considered from the start, not as limitations but as guardrails that guided clearer, more trustworthy solutions.
Solution
I led the design of the Truss platform, from core workflows to detailed interface elements. Below are a few key examples that showcase my approach.
Contractors need a clear picture of what funds are available versus pending. I designed an account dashboard with a balance bar that separates the two, giving users immediate clarity and confidence about how they can use their money.
Cash Account | Simplifying account visibility
Payments in construction are rarely a single transaction. Bills are often split or paid using multiple methods. I designed a flexible bill management dashboard that simplifies payments and automatically reconciles them with accounting integrations, reducing errors and saving contractors time.
Bills | A comprehensive system for managing and paying bills
Truss users needed a fast and secure way to pay subcontractors. I designed a simple three-step payment checkout with multiple acceptance methods, including the option to receive funds instantly if signed up for Truss. This turns payments into a natural user acquisition channel, strengthening network effects.
Payment Checkout | Where vendors and contractors get paid
Onboarding often causes users to stall or abandon due to extensive data collection. I designed Truss's onboarding as a predictive, step-by-step flow that infers inputs from earlier steps. This reduced friction and cut completion time to around five minutes, compared to hours or days.
Frictionless Onboarding | Simplifying KYB collection and identity verification
Impact
Since launch, Truss has processed hundreds of millions of dollars, helping contractors move money faster and more reliably. The payment network our team built created a natural flywheel. As contractors pay subcontractors, recipients join to access funds instantly, compounding the platform’s value with every transaction.
Today, Truss is scaling nationally, modernizing banking for construction, and becoming the go-to financial platform for the industry. Customers report faster payments, intuitive workflows, and increased confidence in managing their finances.
“I’ve experienced the Truss magic. I can invoice a client and pay our subs within minutes, it’s amazing.”
Owner of Aarow Building
“Truss eliminates the need to waste my time picking up and depositing checks.”
Richard Miller Custom Homes