90% of Construction Firms Have ZERO Employees - The Reality of Residential Construction in America
Bricks And Bytes
Intro
Episode opening, sponsor mentions, and host introduction to Dimitry Alexin from Handoff.
How do you run a $2 trillion segment of the economy with just a book?
In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Dmitry Alexin from Handoff and we got to learn about how AI is transforming residential construction, why 90% of US construction firms are one-person operations struggling with back-office work, and how a former IMF economist ended up building technology that delivers cost estimates in 30 seconds... and many more!
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why traditional construction cost data is stuck in the physical book era and how real-time APIs are changing the game
✅ How contractors can now delegate entire workflows to an AI agent through simple voice commands while driving between jobs
✅ Why selling to residential contractors requires throwing out the enterprise playbook and leading with instant product value
✅ The surprising shift of professionals from marketing and accounting backgrounds entering residential construction with a software-first mindset
Watch now to hear Dmitry's journey from GDP forecasting during the Ebola pandemic to revolutionizing how residential contractors run their businesses.
Our Sponsor:
Archdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com
BuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.io
Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.co
Chapters
00:00 Intro
03:40 Introduction to Handoff and Its Purpose
06:41 Dmitry's Background and Transition to Construction
09:30 The Data Challenge in Construction
12:49 Building the First Real-Time API for Construction Prices
15:35 The Evolution of Handoff and Its Features
18:37 The Importance of Accurate Estimating
21:37 The Role of AI in Construction Estimating
24:40 Understanding Labor and Material Costs
27:32 Streamlining Procurement Processes
30:36 Product-Led Growth Strategy
33:35 Overcoming Skepticism in the Industry
37:55 Leading with Value: Product-Led Growth
38:42 Go-To-Market Strategies: Finding Your Audience
43:24 Targeting Residential Contractors: A Strategic Choice
46:54 The Role of AI Agents in Construction Tech
49:25 Learning from Failures: Experimentation in Startups
55:35 Future of Construction: Robotics and Material Science
58:60 Funding Insights: Building a Diverse Investor Base
01:05:05 Advice for Technical Founders: Embracing Humility
01:07:15 Join the Team: Opportunities at Handoff
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