Bricks And Bytes

"We all have a plan until we get punched in the face" - A mindset that helped transform a 25-year-old directory business into a tech-enabled marketplace. In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we sat down with Jambu, CEO of Checkatrade, who shared how he's leading the UK's largest trade platform through its next evolution. From his early days at Uber to now running a company with 500+ employees, Jambu opened up about the realities of leadership and transformation. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why Checkatrade is moving from an advertising model to a full-service marketplace ✅ How a tornado in West Sussex sparked the creation of a company that now serves millions ✅ Why the next wave of generational growth in trades is coming (and what's driving it) ✅ The truth about being a CEO - from 4:30 AM starts to the constant challenge of sustainable leadership Catch the full episode to hear Jambu's insights on the future of home improvement, dealing with competition, and why he believes trades will be one of the most lucrative careers in the coming years. ---- Chapters 00:00 Intro 05:10 Introduction to Checker Trade and Jambu's Role 10:09 Jambu's Journey to CEO 15:07 The Incumbent vs. Startup Mindset 20:04 The Future of Checker Trade and Technology Integration 25:07 Market Dynamics and Competition 30:06 Customer Experience and Go-To-Market Strategy 34:55 The Future of Trades and Opportunities 40:06 Advice for Tradespeople 48:11 The Multifaceted Role of a CEO 58:53 The Challenges and Responsibilities of Leadership

"Data silos are real, right?" That's how our conversation started with Kroo, and it perfectly captures the challenge they're tackling in construction. Recently we were invited to the BOOST cohort from Suffolk Technologies, where we had a chance to interview Barry and Jonathan, Kroo's co-founders, and we learned about their modern data management approach and how it can help construction companies. Tune in to find out about: How Kroo is unifying data from different platforms like project management, ERP, and scheduling software. Why 80-90% of the industry is still struggling with basic data management. How Kroo is helping companies forecast cash flow and manage project costs. Why a data-driven approach is essential for efficiency and growth in the construction sector.

Ever wondered how offsite manufacturing is changing the construction game? Recently, we were invited to the BOOST cohort from Suffolk Technologies where we had a chance to interview Tom and Ross, co-founders of Artic, and we gained insights into their innovative factory-to-site logistics approach and how they are addressing the challenges of modular construction. Tune in to find out about: How Artic is bridging the gap between manufacturing and construction, creating more efficient workflows. Why predictability and control are crucial when more construction happens offsite. How they're addressing quality control all the way from the factory to the final installation on site. How they're shifting company culture by making costs visible.

"We invested in companies doing direct factory procurement in India, access control for equipment theft prevention, and project management tools for emerging markets - and that's just from our latest cohort." In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Alice from Brick & Mortar Ventures share fascinating insights about construction tech investing, global expansion, and what's happening in different markets. Tune in to find out about:  ✅ Why construction tech startups are increasingly launching outside Silicon Valley, especially in Europe and India  ✅ How construction tech in India feels like the US market did 6 years ago - and why that's exciting  ✅ The shift in founder profiles: from industry veterans to repeat entrepreneurs and deep tech experts  ✅ Why mega-funds might not be the best thing for construction tech right now

"Pre-construction is actually just free construction because it's a lot of work up front that you don't often get paid for." - Chloe Smith, CEO of Mercator In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we sat down with Chloe Smith, who shared her journey of building Mercator, a construction tech startup that's changing how contractors find early-stage project opportunities. Tune in to discover: ✅ Why Mercator focuses only on Texas (for now) and how they plan to expand ✅ The power of hiring for talent over skill in a fast-growing startup ✅ How they built their own "accelerator" by carefully selecting operator-investors ✅ Their unique approach to product development through an intensive beta program with general contractors Listen to the full episode on Spotify to learn how Mercator is helping contractors get involved in projects before the bidding phase even begins - as Chloe puts it, "It's almost like using a marriage registry as a dating app." ------ 00:00 Intro 02:43 Introduction to Chloe Smith and Mercator 05:45 The Journey into Construction and Data Strategy 08:40 Understanding Mercator's Functionality 11:46 Data Sources and Technology Behind Mercator 14:50 The Role of Large Language Models 17:34 Target Customers and Market Focus 20:41 Project Detail Pages and User Experience 23:45 Data Visibility and Insights 26:29 Utilizing Construction Data for Industry Reports 29:50 Expansion from Canada to the US 32:48 Revenue Model and Future Growth 36:46 Understanding Product-Market Fit 38:57 The Fundraising Journey 45:07 Building a Strong Investor Network 51:44 Evolving Go-To-Market Strategies 1:02:43 Hiring for Talent vs. Skill 1:04:43 Defensibility in the Age of AI 1:05:20 Choosing the Right Mentors

Note: This episode is a Re-Release from Corporate Innovations. Big tech investments without testing? At DPR Construction, that's a hard NO. Even with a $90M annual tech budget, they won't invest until they've tested solutions on actual projects. In today's episode of Corporate Innovations from Bricks & Bytes, we had Atul Khanzode, CTO of DPR Construction, sharing invaluable insights from his 27+ years of experience in construction technology and innovation. Tune in to learn about: ✅ Why DPR requires testing every solution before investing, after losing $500K on an untested startup ✅ Their unique "discipline innovation approach" focusing on 5 key areas: safety, quality, sustainability, supply chain, and productivity ✅ How they manage a $2-3M annual innovation budget separate from their main tech spending ✅ Why they partner with OpenAI, Microsoft, and Autodesk instead of building everything in-house Listen now on Spotify to hear Atul's practical advice for construction tech startups and learn how one of America's largest general contractors approaches innovation ------ Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:40 The Evolution of Technology in Construction 05:41 Defining the Role of a CTO in Construction 08:36 Measuring Success in Construction Technology 11:29 Challenges of Innovation in the Construction Industry 14:45 DPR's Innovation Strategy 17:34 Navigating the Technology Adoption Process 20:46 Learning from Technology Pilots 23:41 Addressing Industry Pain Points with Technology 26:35 Investing in AI and Future Technologies 30:51 Strategic Partnerships in AI Development 32:19 Budgeting for Technology Investments 33:01 Identifying Key Stakeholders for Technology Solutions 34:20 Evaluating Technology Costs and ROI 36:02 Lessons from Failed Technology Implementations 38:05 Investing in Construction Technology 40:49 Strategic Investments and Core Business Alignment 43:03 Operational Tools for Investment Management 45:26 Emerging Trends in Construction Technology 46:55 Advice for Startups Pitching Technology Solutions 49:00 Integrating Technology, Process, and Organization

"A £650,000 micro-factory can build 100 homes per year, while a traditional modular factory costing £100M+ struggles to deliver 200 homes annually. The math speaks for itself." In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Bruce and Oliver from Facit Homes and Facit Technologies sharing their journey of revolutionizing home construction through digital fabrication and micro-factories. Their approach challenges traditional modular construction, showing how bringing manufacturing to the site can be more efficient and cost-effective. Tune in to learn about:  ✅ Why micro-factories are winning over traditional modular factories  ✅ How Facit grew without external investment for 15+ years  ✅ The real cost comparison: £2,400 vs £120,000 per house in factory overhead  ✅ Why software alone can't solve construction's biggest challenges Listen to the full episode to understand why the future of construction might be closer to the building site than you think.  ----- Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:50 Introduction to Facet Homes 06:39 Innovative Manufacturing in Home Construction 09:51 The Microfactory Approach 12:45 Design Philosophy and Flexibility 15:39 Scalability and Customization of Homes 18:52 Target Customers and Engagement Process 21:46 B2B and B2C Dynamics 24:40 Cost Efficiency and Time Savings 27:50 Building Trust in a Skeptical Industry 30:46 Labor and Automation in Construction 33:42 Cultural Changes in Construction 36:40 Future Vision for Facet Homes 44:24 Building the Future: Microfactories and Scalability 47:57 Challenges in Construction: Building a Company 53:51 Investor Perspectives: Overcoming Prejudice in Construction 58:13 Expanding Horizons: Going Beyond the UK 1:06:45 The Evolution of Construction: Modern Methods and Digital Fabrication 1:08:21 Improving Processes: The Future of Construction Technology

Imagine generating structural engineering drawings 10 times faster. That's what Genia is doing, and it's changing the game for structural engineers. Recently we were invited to the BOOST cohort from Suffolk Technologies where we had a chance to interview Zhihao, co-founder and CEO of Genia, and we got to learn about how their generative design co-pilot is transforming the industry. Tune in to find out about: How Genia uses AI to generate structural drawings while ensuring accuracy and code compliance. Why Genia is reducing human errors and material use by 5-20% in designs. How they are building trust with engineers through transparent calculations and detailed analysis reports. How their technology is automating end-to-end processes that were once manual and time-consuming.

"I can't make that journey all the way to that facility and write up for you in a Notion board what it's like. You have to go to a construction site to really understand how busy people are." In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Emidio Piermarini, and we got to learn about the challenges of product management in construction tech, the importance of physical solutions for physical problems, and the value of embracing negative feedback... and many more! Tune in to find out about: ✅ The journey from structural engineering to product management ✅ How Converge is revolutionizing precast concrete tracking ✅ The limitations of software-only solutions in construction ✅ The potential for performance-based contracts in construction tech Listen to the full episode on Spotify to gain insights into the future of construction technology and the importance of bridging the gap between digital solutions and physical realities. ----- 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 ---- 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. 

Is the future of architectural design in the cloud? 🤔 In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, Stan from Rayon talks about revolutionizing 2D drafting for architects and interior designers. He shares how cloud-based software is changing the game, making design tools more accessible and collaborative. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why 90% of buildings are still designed in 2D ✅ How cloud-based tools are disrupting traditional CAD software ✅ The power of product-led growth in design tech ✅ Why focusing on "fresh starters" is key to adoption Listen to the full episode on Spotify to learn how Rayon is shaping the future of architectural design software. ----- 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.  ----- Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:08 Stan's Journey from Architecture to Tech 13:28 Introducing Rayon: A New Tool for Architects 24:41 Targeting the Interior Design Market 30:53 Go-to-Market Strategy and Community Engagement 51:19 Fundraising Journey and VC Partnerships 01:00:58 The Future of Design and Technology