Bricks And Bytes

"We acquired a robotics company that nobody knows about and robot costs just crashed from $100,000 to $15,000."In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Matt Daly, CMO of DroneDeploy, and we got to learn about the hidden robotics revolution happening in construction, why most startups are choosing the wrong funding path, and how AI agents with "a million eyeballs" are about to transform job sites... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ How ground robots went from $100K to $15K and why this changes everything ✅ Why 60% of DroneDeploy's new customers come from word of mouth ✅ The biggest mistake early-stage construction tech founders make with funding ✅ How multimodal AI models are replacing human-powered data analysisListen now on Spotify to discover why Matt believes "this is such a phenomenal time to be building products in reality capture" and what's coming this fall that will deliver answers, not just mountains of photos.Chapters00:00 Intro03:24 Introduction and Overview of DroneDeploy06:20 The Role of Robotics and AI in Construction09:17 Merging for Market Consolidation12:07 The Future of Reality Capture Solutions15:19 Vision for Automated Data Capture18:18 Challenges in Robotics and Automation21:02 Cost Dynamics in Ground Robotics24:10 The Impact of Major Tech Companies27:02 Understanding Customer Personas30:00 Visibility and Data Sharing Among Stakeholders33:07 Customization of Solutions for Different Trades35:56 Lessons Learned in Business Growth40:01 Mastering Talent Acquisition47:07 Navigating Capital Acquisition53:59 Effective Resource Allocation01:00:18 Marketing Strategies and Customer Acquisition01:03:26 The Evolution of Reality Capture with AI01:06:17 Pricing Models in Construction Software

"Hardware is hard" is the biggest lie in tech.Yet VCs keep repeating it while holding their iPhones - literally a piece of hardware that made Apple one of the world's biggest companies.In today's episode of Bricks & bytes, we had Nathan Kirchner and we got to learn about why the "hardware is hard" myth is killing innovation in construction, how to break through corporate inertia, and the real barriers startups face when selling to billion-dollar companies... and many more!Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why 7 out of 10 biggest companies are actually hardware-dependent ✅ How to escape "pilot purgatory" and get real corporate deals ✅ The psychology behind why big companies resist innovation ✅ Why bringing domain experts into your team beats perfect tech every timeListen now on Spotify and discover how construction startups can actually win against corporate giants.-----------🎧 Listen to the Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0xSpdQpmgf0xJvAsGAQRX5?si=QgmckXGVRnO46vOZKa0I1Q📩 Subscribe to the Bricks & Bytes Newsletter: https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/🌐 Visit our website: http://bricks-bytes.com/📲 Follow us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/ Twitter: https://x.com/bricksbytespod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/Enjoying the insights? Hit that Follow button to stay ahead in construction tech, AI, and the future of how we build.-----------Chapters00:00 Intro02:30 Introduction to Hardware Startups05:30 Challenges in Building Hardware Startups08:20 The Role of Hardware in Major Companies11:19 Nathan's Journey into Hardware and Robotics14:12 Innovations in Construction and Robotics17:03 Engaging with Large Corporations20:15 The Consultant vs. Innovator Mindset23:07 Incremental Innovation vs. Grand Solutions26:00 Cultural Differences Between Startups and Corporates28:54 Bridging the Gap Between Startups and Corporates36:56 Breaking Barriers in Compliance41:40 Navigating Commercialization in Robotics49:15 The Pilot Process: A Necessary Evil?57:44 The Future of Robotics: Visible vs. Invisible62:15 Insights from the Venture Capital Perspective

"AI can create decent poetry way before it can deal with engineering work."This blew my mind during our conversation with Francesco Iorio, CEO of Augmenta.The construction industry is facing a massive problem. The gap between what technology can do and how we actually build is bigger than almost any other field.Francesco shared how his team is tackling electrical design automation - one of the most complex problems in construction. They're not just speeding up workflows. They're completely rethinking how buildings get designed.In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Francesco and we got to learn about why electrical design is so complicated, how AI misconceptions are holding back the industry, and why automation is the only path to sustainable building design... and many more!Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why recreating software like Revit costs over 500 million dollars ✅ How labor shortage is driving construction tech innovation ✅ Why error-free design is still years away but getting closer ✅ How automation will change construction contracts and insuranceListen now on Spotify and join the conversation about the future of construction technology.------------Chapters00:00 Intro02:45 Introduction to Generative Design in AEC07:51 Francesco Iorio's Background and Journey12:33 Identifying the Need for Augmentor17:31 The Evolution of Augmentor's Focus22:41 Challenges in Electrical Design27:39 Augmentor's Current Capabilities and Future Goals33:02 Addressing Labor Shortages in Electrical Design35:23 Funding Journey and Investor Conviction39:05 Sustainability and Automation in Design41:49 Integration Challenges in AEC Solutions45:18 The Quest for Error-Free Design50:33 AI's Role in Generative Design54:46 Customer Engagement and Sales Strategies59:13 Demographics of Early Adopters01:02:49 Future Expansion Beyond Electrical Design

"We can do a few thousand iterations a millisecond. That gives people, you know, no loading screens, right? I want to generate and then edit, right?"That's how Jack from TestFit described their AI-powered generative design that's completely changing how buildings get planned.In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Laura Paciano and Jack from TestFit and we got to learn about how they're collapsing two months of pursuit costs into a single day, why big tech giants keep failing in construction, and how one customer won $750,000 more business in their first year... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ Why innovation is never asked for and how to educate markets on solutions they don't know they need✅ How TestFit collapses the traditional 2-month feasibility process into one day with live collaboration✅ Why architects are the hardest to convince but quickest to adopt new technology once they decide✅ The biggest myth about selling tech to the construction industry and why domain expertise beats big tech moneyWatch now on Youtube and discover how TestFit is changing the game for developers, architects, and GCs across the construction industry.Chapters00:00 Intro02:00 Introduction and Backgrounds05:05 Understanding TestFit's Current Operations08:06 Product Typologies and Market Focus10:48 Category Creation and Market Education14:00 Overcoming Resistance to Change15:58 Real Estate Execution Plan Explained18:47 Pricing Models and Value Proposition21:58 Feasibility Studies and Zoning Considerations25:51 Evaluating New Markets for Expansion27:58 Go-to-Market Strategies and Pods31:56 Key Performance Indicators for Pods34:51 Navigating KPIs and Roadmaps37:41 The Role of AI in TestFit40:57 Building with Empathy: The Builder Mentality41:32 Understanding Go-to-Market Strategies44:42 Engaging with Municipalities and Permitting Challenges50:46 Innovating the Real Estate Workflow58:41 Debating BIM and the Future of Construction Tech01:02:38 Myths in Selling and Building Tech for AEC

Every construction startup gets acquired for less than $100 million.That's what Yves Frinault was told when he pitched Fieldwire back in 2013. They called it the "$100 million curse" that killed every construction tech company.But Yves had a different plan.In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Yves Frinault and we got to learn about how military training shaped his leadership style, why gaming experience was crucial for building construction software, and the near-death moment that almost killed Fieldwire... and many more!Tune in to find out about: ✅ How paratrooper training taught him fairness in leadership ✅ Why he went from half salary to a successful Series A in months ✅ The product lessons he learned from video game design ✅ How Fieldwire broke the $100M curse with their Hilti acquisitionListen now on Spotify and discover how one founder changed construction tech forever.-------------Chapters00:00 Intro01:30 From Military to Tech: A Unique Journey04:23 Lessons from Gaming: Insights for Construction Tech07:24 The Birth of FieldWire: Inspiration and Initial Steps13:24 Navigating Growth: Key Milestones and Customer Insights19:04 Marketing Strategies: The Power of Ads and Product-Led Growth25:13 Scaling Up: Targeting Different Customer Segments30:56 Enterprise vs. SMB: Understanding Market Dynamics40:35 Balancing Customization and Scalability41:59 Testing Frameworks and Product Development46:35 The Hilti Acquisition Journey51:55 Cultural Integration Post-Acquisition57:10 Negotiating Acquisition Deals01:01:33 Pricing Strategies in Construction Tech01:04:20 Go-to-Market Strategies in Construction Tech01:07:20 The State of Exits in Construction Tech01:10:19 Key Decisions that Shape Success01:13:15 Future Aspirations and New Ventures

"We're building about 30 times more square footage this year than we did last year."That's what Vikas Enti told me. And he's not talking about some massive construction company.He's talking about a startup that's completely reimagining how homes get built.In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Vikas Enti, CEO of Reframe Systems and former Amazon Robotics VP, and we got to learn about how he's applying mass customization principles from e-commerce to solve the housing crisis, why every home built today is essentially a prototype, and how his team can fix construction mistakes in 9 minutes while the industry takes weeks... and many more!Vikas spent 11 years at Amazon Robotics deploying over half a million robots. Now he's using that same software-defined manufacturing approach to build climate-resilient homes faster and cheaper than traditional construction.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why the assembly line approach is killing modular construction ✅ How they're solving the skilled trades shortage with iPad instructions ✅ The real reason construction costs $350-450 per square foot in infill markets ✅ Why 40% of plumbers and electricians will retire in the next 10 yearsListen now on Spotify and discover how one team is turning construction into a software problem.Chapters03:00 Introduction and Recent Developments06:03 Expansion into California and Fire Resilience08:45 Vikas Enti's Background and Transition to Construction12:11 The Need for Mass Customization in Construction15:01 Software-Defined Manufacturing and Automation17:55 Design Automation and User Interaction20:55 Challenges in Hardware and Automation24:08 The Future of Construction and Change Management35:41 Navigating Change Management in Construction37:30 The Shift to Developer-Centric Models39:11 Embracing a Beginner's Mindset for Innovation41:50 Scaling Microfactories and Business Models44:48 Delivering Turnkey Solutions: The Role of Microfactories48:31 Unit Economics and Competitive Positioning52:24 Balancing Profitability and Affordability54:29 Understanding Competition in the Construction Industry59:32 The Information Problem in Construction

From clearing landmines to building the "Google Maps of what's beneath the ground" - sometimes the most unexpected backgrounds create the biggest breakthroughs.Most people can't imagine that we don't actually know where underground utilities are buried. Yet there are 169,000 construction projects happening every single day in the US that need this critical information.In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Itzik from 4M Analytics and we got to learn about turning military explosive detection expertise into construction tech, the tragic consequences when underground mapping fails, and how AI is revolutionizing subsurface data... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ How military landmine detection skills translate to finding buried utilities ✅ Why 8% of every construction budget goes to unknown underground risks✅ The business model that maps once but sells the same data forever ✅ From 104 employees to mapping 22 US states in one yearReady to discover how one founder is preventing construction disasters while building a unicorn? Listen now on Spotify.------------Chapters00:00 Intro02:00 From Military to Mapping: The Journey Begins04:56 Building the Google Maps of the Subsurface08:07 Navigating the Challenges of Investment10:49 Understanding the Utility Coordination Landscape13:57 The Pain Points in Construction and Excavation17:01 The Value Proposition of 4M Analytics19:56 The Role of Technology in Mapping Subsurface Utilities23:13 AI and Its Impact on Data Accuracy25:48 The Importance of Timing in Tech Solutions28:56 Innovations in Data Collection and AI Integration41:01 The Future of Construction and AI42:17 Expansion and Focus on the US Market45:36 Navigating Challenges and Learning from Mistakes51:41 Adapting Go-to-Market Strategies57:01 Achieving Product-Market Fit01:02:21 The Role of a CEO in a Growing Company01:10:14 Closing Thoughts and Future Initiatives

"Hiring young, cheap marketers is actually more expensive than hiring experienced ones."That's just one of the eye-opening insights from Phil Carpenter, a fractional CMO who specializes in AEC tech startups.In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, we had Phil Carpenter and we got to learn about why most AEC startups fail at marketing, the hidden costs of inexperienced hires, and how to actually reach construction professionals... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ Why AEC customers are more skeptical than other industries and what they really want to see✅ The "crossing the chasm" strategy that determines startup success or failure✅ Why LinkedIn marketing doesn't work for most construction professionals✅ How to build a cost-effective marketing team without breaking the bankPhil's 30 years of experience in tech marketing reveals some uncomfortable truths about how startups waste money on the wrong strategies.Ready to learn from his wins and failures? Listen to the full episode on Spotify now.--------------Chapters00:00 Intro02:00 Introduction to Phil Carpenter03:59 The AEC Industry and Marketing Needs06:01 Crossing the Chasm in Technology Marketing08:01 Identifying Target Segments10:53 Customer Research and Validation13:05 Content Marketing Strategies15:10 The Role of Content Creators in Marketing16:56 SEO and AI in Marketing18:56 Testing Marketing Channels21:52 Public Relations in AEC Marketing24:58 Budgeting for Startups36:13 Measuring Marketing Performance39:59 Finding the Right Marketing Strategy41:53 The Experimenter's Mindset in Marketing42:56 Creative Marketing Stunts44:14 The Importance of Customer Case Studies47:08 Building the Right Marketing Tech Stack49:59 Scaling Marketing Strategies as Startups Grow53:18 Aligning Marketing and Sales for Success55:24 Consultative Approach to Startup Marketing59:58 Learning from Marketing Campaigns01:03:13 The Fast Follower Strategy01:05:07 Emerging Trends in AEC Technology Marketing

"Bringing in a CRO too early is the death of any business. It's like bringing in Lewis Hamilton and saying drive my Fiat in a school zone."In today's episode of the Bricks & Bytes, we had Ricky from Deep Space and we got to learn about why most founders hire the wrong sales leadership at the wrong time, how to scale from zero to unicorn status, and the brutal reality of go-to-market in construction tech... and many more!Ricky took simPro from $10M to over $1B valuation as their first CRO. Now he's doing it again with Deep Space while running his own venture fund.Tune in to find out about:✅ The exact revenue stage when you should hire a CRO (hint: it's not when you think)✅ Why construction sales still requires picking up the phone in 2025✅ How to build repeatable sales processes that actually work in AEC✅ The real difference between good and bad revenue leadersListen now on Spotify and learn from someone who's actually built the playbook.Chapters00:00 Intro01:50 Introduction and Guest Background05:48 Ricky's Journey in Tech and Venture Capital09:56 The Role of a Chief Revenue Officer (CRO)13:56 Sales Strategies and Market Adaptation17:51 Building Trust and Value in Sales21:46 Hiring Sales Reps and Team Dynamics25:38 Identifying the Right CRO for Your Business29:49 Metrics for Evaluating a CRO33:55 Advice for Early-Stage Founders36:01 Marketing and Content Strategy in AEC Tech37:54 Navigating Domain Expertise in Marketing41:15 Understanding the Sales Cycle Touchpoints43:49 Essential Tools for Early-Stage Businesses45:51 Deep Space: The Future of Construction Management Software52:52 Transparent Pricing in Software Solutions53:46 The Evolution of Product Management55:50 Balancing AI Adoption with Business Strategy57:52 Analyzing Ricky's LinkedIn Insights

David Horesh, a construction marketing consultant with seven years of experience, shares insights on effective marketing strategies for construction tech startups. He highlights the industry's skepticism towards ROI calculators and explores how understanding construction jargon is crucial for success. David discusses the leaky bucket problem affecting sales funnels and suggests that memes can engage professionals better than traditional content. He emphasizes leveraging digital platforms and AI tools to streamline marketing efforts and enhance buyer engagement.