Building Smarter Infrastructure with Tech

Katie Siegel, co-founder of Flipturn, joins Pulley to discuss how technology is transforming infrastructure development, from EV charging deployment to smarter permitting workflows.

[descript:Rq9ZTQayRSl]

Infrastructure is undergoing a massive transformation. From EV charging networks to renewable energy installations, the physical systems that power modern life are being rebuilt—and the permitting process is a critical bottleneck in that transformation.

In this episode of Permission to Build, Katie Siegel, co-founder of Flipturn, sits down with Pulley to discuss how technology is reshaping infrastructure development. Flipturn is on a mission to make EV charging more reliable and efficient, and the company faces many of the same permitting challenges that Pulley’s customers encounter in retail, hospitality, and commercial construction.

The conversation explores the unique complexities of permitting EV charging infrastructure. Unlike a retail store or restaurant, EV chargers often require electrical permits, utility interconnection agreements, and sometimes environmental reviews—all in addition to standard building permits. Each jurisdiction handles these differently, creating a patchwork of requirements that can slow deployment significantly.

Katie discusses how Flipturn approaches fleet EV charging uptime—ensuring that once chargers are permitted and installed, they actually work reliably. The parallels between Flipturn’s mission and Pulley’s are striking: both companies believe that technology can bring transparency, speed, and predictability to processes that have historically been opaque and slow.

The episode also touches on broader themes about how America’s infrastructure needs are evolving. As the country invests in electrification, broadband, and renewable energy, the permitting systems designed for a different era are being strained. The question isn’t whether we need to modernize these systems—it’s how fast we can do it.

For anyone working in infrastructure, energy, or construction technology, this conversation offers a compelling vision of what’s possible when we apply modern tools to legacy processes.