Is 3D printing concrete homes worth the $450M investment? In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn that despite being a $2B company, ICON's 3D printed homes only show a tiny 0.5% carbon advantage over regular timber construction. We also explored why Q4 2024 was special for construction tech - it grabbed nearly 1% of all VC funding, the second-highest share ever. Even more impressive given that 2024 saw the lowest overall VC funding since 2014. The most striking insight came from questioning the basics - why use concrete, a material best for large-scale projects, to print single-family homes? Tune in to find out about: ✅ What's driving Asia-Pacific's growing lead in construction tech funding ✅ Why 3D printed concrete homes struggle in wet climates ✅ Which parts of construction tech are actually getting funded ✅ How early-stage funding stayed strong while growth rounds dropped ----- Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Technical Glitches 01:03 Recent News: ICON's Layoffs and Valuation 02:49 Exploring 3D Concrete Printing Technology 05:49 Sustainability Concerns in Concrete Printing 08:59 Comparative Analysis: Concrete vs. Timber Homes 12:04 Challenges in 3D Concrete Printing 14:56 Automation and Efficiency in Home Construction 18:09 Future of 3D Concrete Printing Technology 21:54 Challenges in 3D Concrete Printing 22:56 Market Fit for 3D Concrete Homes 24:04 Impact of Staff Reductions on Valuation 25:47 Understanding Company Valuations and Experiments 27:07 Applications of 3D Printing in Housing 29:02 First Principles of Cost in Construction 30:58 Trends in AEC Tech Funding 39:10 Market Dynamics and Future Predictions