Bricks And Bytes

Note : This is a re-release of an episode that was initially released at Groundbreakers."Nobody replied to our cold emails. So we started showing up at construction sites with pizza boxes - that worked."In today's episode, we had Maria Davidson, CEO of Kojo, share how she built a construction tech company now valued at $275M. A former VC with no construction background, Maria's story of building a procurement platform used by 500+ trade contractors offers valuable lessons for anyone trying to break into a traditional industry.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why being an industry outsider became her strength✅ How delivering pizzas led to their first customers✅ The metrics VCs actually care about at each funding stage✅ Managing hypergrowth from 0 to 125 employeesWant to learn how Maria turned rejection into a $275M company? Listen to the full episode

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.

 "The secret to raising $4.5M for a construction tech startup? 149 'nos' and 1 'yes' from YC." In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Anna Berger, founder of Trayd - a construction payroll and compliance platform built specifically for specialty contractors. From failing at video dating apps to revolutionizing construction back offices, Anna's journey is a masterclass in persistence and problem-solving. Tune in to learn about:  ✅ How working in her dad's construction office led to discovering a massive market opportunity  ✅ Why Trayd focuses on specialty contractors instead of general contractors  ✅ The power of Trayd shows in B2B sales (and why cold calling doesn't work)  ✅ Building an effective founding team: why having a technical co-founder matters ---- Chapters 03:43 Introduction and Background 06:34 The Journey of Curtin: A Video Dating App 09:41 Transition to Construction: Insights from Family Business 12:48 Building Trade: The All-in-One Solution for Construction 15:43 Understanding Payroll Complexity in Construction 18:43 The Importance of Scheduling and Labor Tracking 21:49 Customer Focus: Targeting Specialty Contractors 24:44 Product Discovery: Listening to Customer Needs 27:42 Market Landscape and Competition 30:49 Fundraising Journey and Challenges 33:45 Lessons Learned and Future Outlook 37:17 The Evolution of Trade's Focus 38:59 Experiences with Y Combinator 39:51 The Importance of Strategic Investors 43:31 Navigating the Construction Industry's Challenges 44:52 Hiring for a Growing Team 46:04 The Value of In-Person Collaboration 47:14 Product Development Insights 48:53 Effective Customer Engagement Strategies 51:45 Building Emotional Connections in Sales 53:07 Understanding the Buyer Persona 53:59 Evaluating Cost Savings for CFOs 56:00 Exploring Growth Tactics Beyond Trade Shows 57:38 The Role of Content in Marketing 58:02 Addressing Skepticism in Sales 01:00:17 The Importance of User Experience 01:03:20 The Value of Community Among Founders

Did you know that building materials account for 11% of all greenhouse gas emissions globally? It's a huge number, and that's why Tangible exists! Recently, we were invited to the BOOST cohort from Suffolk Technologies where we had a chance to interview Anneli, co-founder and CEO of Tangible, and we got to learn about how they're helping real estate developers measure and reduce embodied carbon, and much more! Tune in to find out about: How Tangible measures embodied carbon using BIM files, making it easy for developers to see their impact. Why legislation, corporate demand, and investor pressure are driving the need for carbon transparency. How Tangible is helping to reduce the impact of concrete, a major source of emissions. How data is used to drive better decisions in material selection and building design.

"Project write-offs, financial losses" - that's the problem that Novl is tackling head on for architecture and engineering firms! Recently we were invited to the BOOST cohort from Suffolk Technologies where we had a chance to interview Shawn and Hassan, co-founders of Novl, and we got to learn about how they are helping companies to improve their margins and attract better talent. Tune in to find out about: How Novl is helping companies use data to see where they’ve made and lost money. Why predictive analytics is key for matching the right people to the right projects. How Novl aims to be an operating system for AE firms, saving them from hiring large in-house tech teams. How they are using a "baseball card on steroids" for resource management.

"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