"When we launched PlanGrid, it was the only enterprise product on the iPad. Even Facebook refused to make an iPad app because Zuckerberg didn't believe in it."
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, we had Ralph Gootee and we got to learn about how PlanGrid became the first enterprise app on iPad, the brutal year-long acquisition process, and why pricing decisions can make or break your startup... and many more!
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why iPad was crucial to PlanGrid's success when even Facebook refused to build an iPad app
✅ The $17,000 marketing hack that involved giving away free iPads to customers
✅ How having 5 co-founders worked despite conventional wisdom saying otherwise
✅ Why AI augments engineers but won't replace them anytime soon
Listen now on Spotify to hear the full story behind one of construction tech's biggest exits and what Ralph is building next with TigerEye.
# Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:45 The Journey of PlanGrid: From Startup to Acquisition
11:37 Product Development and Market Fit: Lessons Learned
21:44 Navigating the Acquisition Landscape: Strategies and Insights
31:41 The Role of AI in Construction: Opportunities and Challenges
41:49 Building for Success: Founder's Mindset and Company Culture
29:49 From Idea to Prototype: The Birth of a Startup
31:18 Y Combinator: The Turning Point for PlanGrid
33:39 Building a Team: The Importance of Co-Founders
39:45 Solo Founders vs. Co-Founders: A Comparative Insight
42:40 User Acquisition: The Power of Viral Growth in Construction
46:44 Pricing Strategies: Lessons Learned from PlanGrid
53:54 Hiring the Best: Building a Legacy at PlanGrid
54:28 The Legacy of Plangrid and Its Impact on the Industry
54:58 Challenges in Recruiting and Building a Team
56:26 The Importance of Hiring the Right People
58:54 Scaling Challenges and the Need for Fast Decisions
01:02:13 Emerging Companies in Construction Tech
01:03:18 Lessons Learned from Building Plangrid
01:07:12 The Role of AI in Software Development
01:13:08 Introducing TigerEye: A New Venture
01:20:59 Evaluating ROI in Construction Tech
