Bricks And Bytes

Jenny Song is a Principal at Navitas Capital, a firm specializing in investments in the built environment. She shares insights on how AI is revolutionizing construction technology. The discussion highlights the importance of talent and distribution strategies for startups. Jenny emphasizes the need for a deep understanding of the fragmented construction market, the role of defensibility in AI solutions, and the significance of value-add investments and long-term relationships between investors and portfolio companies.

David Rockhill, a partner at McKinsey, dives into the challenges and transformations facing the construction industry. He discusses the updated McKinsey productivity curve and how AR and VR are revolutionizing worker training. David highlights the struggle with 'pilot purgatory' that stalls tech adoption. He also introduces McKinsey's AI tool, 'Lily,' and shares insights on how digital twins and automation are reshaping productivity and efficiency in construction. Get ready for an eye-opening look at the future of building.

What if AI could transform construction design? A guest from Joyst shares innovative approaches to using AI in project proposals. The podcast also delves into Latam's unique construction tech landscape and the challenges faced by startups in navigating market strategies. From the intricacies of project tensions to the need for unified software solutions, discussions highlight how technology can enhance communication and efficiency on job sites. Plus, hear insights on innovative pricing models reshaping the industry.

"AI will transform AEC so much, we won't have the same industry in 5-10 years." In this episode, we had Britton Langdon (SnapTrude) and Clifton Harness (TestFit) share their views on construction tech's future. We explored AI's impact, robotics in construction, and new ways to assess land deals. Britton, with his background in founding and selling M Suite, shared insights on AI's practical applications in construction. Meanwhile, Clifton, driven by his developer father's challenges, explained how TestFit is revolutionizing land deal assessments. Tune in to find out about: ✅ How AI might lead to more small architecture firms, not fewer ✅ Why some think robotics, not AI, will solve construction's biggest problems ✅ A unique take on why 3D printing might be better suited for the moon ✅ How new software is changing the way developers choose building sites -------------------------------- Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe -------------------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ -----------------------------: 00:00 - Intro 01:17 - Discussion on Automated Progress Tracking & Integration and Collaboration With Britton 11:42 - Discussion On Generative Design & Robotics and AI with Clifton

In this episode, Amir Berman of Builddots challenges the status quo in construction technology. We explore how AI and data are silently revolutionizing the industry, despite widespread skepticism. Berman shares lessons from his failed startup, proposing controversial new models for ROI and product management in construction tech. We delve into the clash between digital solutions and physical realities, and uncover strategies to bridge this divide. Berman's insights on Performance Driven Construction Management hint at a future where data, not intuition, drives decisions. As AI begins to automate traditionally human-centric processes, we confront the implications for the workforce and the industry's future. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why old ways of tracking progress might be costing you money ✅ The hard truth about getting value from construction tech ✅ How AI spots delays before humans can ✅ Why your project data might be useless without the right tools --------------------------------- Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ --------------------------------- 00:00 - Intro 02:12 - Lessons From Starting & Failing A Startup 08:15 - Innovation Happening In London In Construction 10:42 - Measuring ROI in Construction 12:45 - Product Management in Construction vs Other Industries 15:31 - BuildDots: Progress Tracking and Data Modeling for Construction 36:30 - Capturing and Utilizing Performance Data 38:08 - Creating Data Standards for 4D 38:37 - The Power of Productivity Data 41:42 - Innovation and Continuous Improvement 48:35 - Showcasing Value through Case Studies 51:51 - Go-to-Market Strategies in Construction Tech 56:15 - The Challenge of Creating a Clear ROI Formula 59:33 - The New Layer Strategy: Performance-Driven Construction Management 01:06:42 - Charging Based on Construction Volume

Is Latin America the next frontier for construction tech? In this episode, we had Bernardo Gamboa, Partner at Global Projects Strategy, who shared fascinating insights into the construction tech landscape in Latin America. Tune in to find out about: ✅ The unique challenges and opportunities in the Latin American construction market ✅ How financial solutions are driving tech adoption in the region ✅ Why US companies struggle to expand into Latin America ✅ The exciting potential for AI and data-driven solutions in construction ------------------------ Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ 00:00 - Intro 00:41 - Background of Bernardo 3:45 - About BuildTech 06:47 - First Mover Advanatages That Bernardo Had In Latin America 11:30 - Examples Of Big Companies In Latin Amrerica 14:04 - Construction Tech Scenarios In Latin America 15:40 - Labor Shortage In Latin America 22:37 - Key Areas Of Investments For Bernardo 30:26 - Understanding Construction In Latin America 35:00 - Challenges In Integrating New Technologies In Construction In Latin America 39:00 - Things That Bernardo Looks Before Investing  48:50 - Future Of VC Culture In Latin America 59:20 - What Excites Bernardo About The Future Of Construction In Latin America 01:04:18 - Outro

In this month's Bricks & Bytes roundup, We discuss the latest trends and insights from the episodes we released in June. We discussed how Altaf's persistence led SnapTrude to success after 8 rejections and why Shubhankar sees huge potential in India's efficient startups and much more! We also shared about the future plans we have with Bricks and Bytes! Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why robotics and design tech are the hottest topics in construction right now ✅ How we are expanding into a podcast network with specialized shows ✅ The surprising lessons from a modular construction startup's $10 million failure ✅ Why "outcome as a service" could be the next big thing in construction robotics ------------------------------- 04:00 - What Happenned In Bricks & Bytes This Month 05:40 - Discussing Modulous Breakdown 11:30 - Future Vision and Plans of Bricks and Bytes 20:00 - Views On Accelerators & Incubators 27:10 - 1st Episode Of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes 30:43 - Plans For Next Month

Are SaaS pricing models doomed in construction tech? Mike Powers thinks so. In this episode, we had Mike Powers, founder of BuildVision, and we got to learn about his contrarian take on SaaS pricing in construction, the challenges of selling to the industry, and his vision for revolutionizing procurement in mechanical and electrical equipment... and many more! Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why BuildVision avoids traditional SaaS pricing ✅ The importance of providing tangible value to construction clients ✅ Strategies for penetrating large organizations as a startup ✅ Mike's views on AI's impact on construction in the next 5-10 years ---------------------- Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ ----------------------------- Timestamps: (00:00 - 07:04) - Intro (04:34 - 07:04) - What helped Mike Build BuildVision (07:04 - 11:34) - Understanding Vision of BuildVision (11:34 - 18:28) - Pricing Structure That Successful Startups Follow In Construction (18:28 - 25:10) - Mike’s Take On The Use Of AI In Construction (25:10 - 31:26) - How BuildVision Differentiates From Its Competitors (31:26 - 38:57) - Struggles While Managing To FundRaise For BuildVision (38:57 - 44:27) - How VCs Work With Team (44:27 - 52:54) - Mike’s Advice For People Who Want To Master Sales (52:54 - 01:05:12) - How Mike Made Transition From Sales To A Founder (01:05:12 - 01:05:52) - Outro

What could go so wrong that a £10M modular construction startup collapsed in just 15 months? In this episode, we had Chris Spiceley and we got to learn about his experience working at Modulous, a modular construction startup that went from raising £10M to liquidation in just 15 months.  Chris shares valuable insights on what went wrong, lessons learned, and advice for anyone building a construction tech startup. Tune in to find out about: ✅ The challenges of delivering modular projects in the UK ✅ Key factors that contributed to Modulus' downfall ✅ The personal impact on employees when a startup fails ✅ Chris' thoughts on the future of industrialized construction ---------------------- Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ ----------------------- This episode is brought to you by Shft—helping contractors like you leverage BIM to secure a leading position in the race towards construction’s digital future. Visit: https://maketheshft.digital ----------------------- BuildVision is a procurement network for the $5T commercial construction market. We are transforming the commercial construction supply chain by bringing contractors, manufacturers, and project stakeholders onto a single software platform—revolutionizing how every component is sourced, purchased, and financed. ----------------------- Timestamps: (00:00 - 02:50) - Intro To Our Sponsors & Guest (02:50 - 07:59) - How Chris Made A Transition Into Tech (07:59 - 21:54) - About Industrialized Construction and MMCs In UK (21:54 - 28:41) - Chris's experience working at Modulous (28:41 - 31:54) - Premature Decision Made By Modulous To Expand In US (31:54 - 43:00) - Challenges That Comes With Pilot Projects (43:00 - 58:21) - Economics Of The Idea That Modulous Had (58:21 - 01:07:00) - Key Lessons Learnt By Chris (01:07:00 - 01:16:09) - Understanding Chris's Perspective On Offsite Manufacturing (01:16:09 - 01:16:50) - Outro

"Construction tech funding went from less than 30 million in 2012 to around 7 billion in 2022, a more than 60x increase in just 10 years." ***Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. SIGN UP HERE*** In this episode, we had Vivin Hegde, Director at Zacua Ventures, and we got to learn about his personal journey from an engineer in India to a VC in the US, Zacua's unique investment thesis, and how becoming a parent has changed his perspective on work and life. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why Vivin believes construction tech is ripe for disruption ✅ How Zacua's close relationship with LPs gives them an edge in investing ✅ The 3 key things Zacua looks for in early-stage startups ✅ Vivin's advice for founders on what to avoid when scaling --------------------------------------------- Stay ahead. Get all the news and insider exclusives delivered straight to your inbox.  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ —--------------------------- This episode is brought to you by Shft—helping contractors like you leverage BIM to secure a leading position in the race towards construction’s digital future. Visit: https://maketheshft.digital —---------------------------------- BuildVision is a procurement network for the $5T commercial construction market. We are transforming the commercial construction supply chain by bringing contractors, manufacturers, and project stakeholders onto a single software platform—revolutionizing how every component is sourced, purchased, and financed. ----------------------------------- Timestamps: (00:00 - 02:52) - Intro To Our Sponsors & Guest (02:52 - 14:05) - How Vivin Got Into Venture Capitals (14:05 - 17:40) - How To Figure Out A Good Partner In Business (17:40 - 27:00) - About Zacua Ventures (27:00 - 29:27) - How Zacua Ventures Operates As A Team From Different Parts Of The World (29:27 - 42:30) - Investment Thesis Of Zacua Ventures (42:30 - 55:55) - Vivin's Perspective On Robotics In Construction (55:55 - 01:04:00) - Relationship Between Ventures Firm And Limited Partner (01:04:00 - 01:07:00) - How To Identify Real Problems Before Investing (01:07:00 - 01:13:45) - Where Startups Go Wrong In Construction Tech (01:13:45 - 01:21:17) - How Becoming A Parent Has Impacted Vivin's Life (01:06:21 - 01:21:17) - Problems of Construction Tech Across Different Geographies (01:21:17 - 01:22:18) - Outro ------------------------- #podcast #construction #constructionindustry #bricksandbytes #startups #architecture #design #civilengineering #engineering #constructiontechnology #engineer #architect #civilengineer #concrete #podcaster #podcasting #entrepreneur #podcasts #podcastlife #startups #entrepreneurship