In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Ryan Hughes, R&D Team Lead and an AI Expert.
Learn about software adoption in construction, challenges implementing software across the AEC industry, knowledge graphs, computational design, and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
Adoption of software in construction
Mistakes that people make when integrating software
Thoughts on Design-as-you-speak software in Construction
Knowledge graphs, computational design, and many more
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Ryan Hughes | R&D Team Lead and AI Expert | ConTech
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Today’s Sponsor: beta – Construction and technology network platform
– connecting the tech industry with traditional construction partners.
Check www.the-beta.com
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Timestamps:
(00:00 - 08:05) - Intro
(08:05 - 12:10) - Software Adoption In Construction
(12:10 - 23:25) - How can someone start with adopting software for their company
(23:25 - 33:10) - Mistakes that people make while integrating software in their company
(33:10 - 41:20) - Thoughts on Design-as-you-speak software in Construction
(41:20 - 43:30) - Construction Scenario in Copenhagen
(43:30 - 44:16) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#025 - Brian Nickel - BIM and manufacturing
On today's show we have Brian Nickel, founder and CEO at Allied BIM.
Brian has vast experience in the design sector as an architect, MEP designer and as Montana State University teacher teaching BIM.
His company Allied BIM enhances MEP, modular, and prefabrication construction firms by connecting design, fabrication, and field teams with easy to use workflow and allows tracking of the overall fabrication process.
In this episode, we talk about:
Building a startup
Design
Building Information Modelling
Future of fabrication
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Brian Nickel - CEO & Founder of Allied BIM
Adjunct Instruction of Montana State University
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Today's Sponsor: Beta Construction and technology network platform - connecting the tech industry with traditional partners.
Check www.the-beta.com
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Timestamps:
00:00:00 --> 00:01:30 - Intro
00:01:30 --> 00:02:13 - BETA sponsor
00:02:13 --> 00:05:01 - Brian’s history
00:05:01 --> 00:08:20 - Beginning of plumbing for the mechanical industry and the birth of Allied BIM
00:08:20 --> 00:10:25 - Introducing Allied BIM
00:10:25 --> 00:12:11 - Allied BIM’s target users
00:12:11 --> 00:14:55 - Brian’s advise for people embarking to the contech world
00:14:55 --> 00:16:33 - Understanding and partnering with competition within the industry
00:16:33 --> 00:18:20 - Brian’s thoughts on future of pre-fabrication in construction
00:18:20 --> 00:20:50 - Explaining LODs in the design process
00:20:50 --> 00:22:43 - Automation in the production process
00:22:43 --> 00:25:33 - Accessibility of the fabrication equipment
00:25:33 --> 00:27:04 - Teaching at Montana State University
00:27:04 --> 00:29:18 - Automation as a key to attract future students of the construction industry
00:29:18 --> 00:33:02 - Progress on digitalisation and automation
00:33:02 --> 00:34:26 - Is Allied BIM suited best for the US market only?
00:34:26 --> 00:37:47 - Brian’s view on how to run a business
00:37:47 --> 00:39:20 - Book recommendation
00:39:20 --> 00:44:49- Driving point in Brian’s start up journey
00:44:49 --> 00:45:32 - More about Brian
00:45:32--> 00:45:48 - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#056 - Kyle Nitchen - The Influential Project Manager - How Construction Project Managers Adopt Technology
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Kyle Nitchen, the Influential Project Manager.
In this episode, we learn about what makes a great project manager and why/how construction project managers like Kyle adopt technology on their sites.
Tune in to find out about:
What make a great project manager
Pain points on site that technology can solve
The importance of soft skills
What makes great leaders
Ways to improve content and writing skills
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Kyle Nitchen | The Influential Project Manager | ConTech
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We are travelling to Chicago to Procore Groundbreak on September 19th and 20th to interview innovators in construction technology - let us know if you are coming!
Check https://www.procore.com/groundbreak
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Today’s Sponsor: beta – Construction and technology network platform
– connecting the tech industry with traditional construction partners.
Check www.the-beta.com
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Timestamps:
(0:00-3:17) - Intro
(3:17-5:03) - Kyle's Exceptional Project Management Process
(5:03-7:00) - Qualities for Becoming an Influential Product Manager like Kyle
(7:00-17:30) - The Vital Role of Soft Skills
(17:30-21:00) - Unaddressed Challenges in the Construction Industry
(21:00-24:30) - Trends Shaping Offsite Construction
(24:30-31:18) - The Shrinking Workforce in Construction
(31:18-34:30) - Leading with Purpose and Vision
(34:30-38:20) - Enhancing Your Writing Abilities
(38:20) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#022 - Will Synnott - Solving one of the key construction tech issues... IMPLEMENTATION!
"Sales is hard, Buying is harder... Implementation is hardest" ... from the great man Will Synnott himself.
Today on Bricks & Bytes, we discuss the implementation of construction technology.
Tune in to learn:
Implementation best techniques
The importance of one's digital persona in today's age
Progress tracking and legal issues using Disperse's software
The importance of being on site and in front of your customers
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Will Synnott
Engineer Turned Construction Technology Consultant 🏗 📊 | Director of Strategic Accounts at Disperse | Chartered Geologist | ConTech
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Today's Sponsor: Beta Construction and technology network platform - connecting the tech industry with traditional partners.
Chek www.the-beta.com
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Timestamps:
(0:00:00-00:02:02) - Intro & sponsor
(00:02:02-00:05:27) - History of Will Synnott
(00:05:27-00:08:44) - Transition into another industry
(00:08:44-00:11:08) - What is the importance of digital identity at this time?
(00:11:08-00:17:25) - The implementation of construction tech on site
(00:17:25-00:21:27) - What is Disperse?
(00:21:27-00:26:04) - Benefits of using Disperse
(00:26:04-00:28:48) - How Disperse data is useful?
(00:28:48-00:30:28) - What type of project Disperse is interested in?
(00:30:28-00:33:50) - Compliance
(00:33:50-00:37:16) - Progress tracking and lawsuits
(00:37:16-00:38:16) - Books
(00:38:16-00:39:57) - Hobbies
(00:39:57-00:40:24) - More about Will
(00:40:24-00:40:41) - Outro
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$32M Series B: How Stratus is Revolutionizing MEP Workflows
"300 billion dollars for AI infrastructure in the next few years - but who will design and build it all?" - A thought-provoking insight from our latest conversation about the massive construction needs for AI's future.
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we learned about Stratus raising $32M Series B to revolutionize MEP contractors' digital workflows.
We explored how tech giants Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are planning to spend $300B on AI infrastructure construction, creating massive opportunities in the data center space.
Through Patric Hellermann's investor lens, we discovered why focusing on core infrastructure and authoring tools might be smarter than chasing AI-first solutions.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ How Stratus is transforming MEP contractor workflows from design to fabrication
✅ The emerging opportunities in data center construction and infrastructure
✅ Why owning authoring tools beats single-point AI features
✅ The strategic advantage of avoiding overcrowded AI-first solutions
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Stratus and AI in Construction
05:44 Understanding Stratus: MEP Workflows and Digital Solutions
11:21 The Role of AI in Design and Construction
17:00 The Future of Engineering: Human Touch vs. AI
24:01 Emerging Companies and Innovations in Construction Tech
24:35 Automation in Engineering Workflows
25:50 Massive Investments in AI Infrastructure
27:52 Emerging Startups in AI Data Centers
31:40 The Role of AI in Construction
35:00 Navigating the AI Gold Rush
37:33 The Inefficiency of Venture Capital Allocation
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
The Truth About 3D Printed Homes: A Deep Dive Into ICON's $450M Technology
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 $2B company, ICON's 3D printed homes only show a tiny 0.5% carbon advantage over regular timber construction.
We also explored why Q4 2024 was special for construction tech - it grabbed nearly 1% of all VC funding, the second-highest share ever. Even more impressive given that 2024 saw the lowest overall VC funding since 2014.
The most striking insight came from questioning the basics - why use concrete, a material best for large-scale projects, to print single-family homes?
Tune in to find out about:
✅ What's driving Asia-Pacific's growing lead in construction tech funding
✅ Why 3D printed concrete homes struggle in wet climates
✅ Which parts of construction tech are actually getting funded
✅ How early-stage funding stayed strong while growth rounds dropped
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Technical Glitches
01:03 Recent News: ICON's Layoffs and Valuation
02:49 Exploring 3D Concrete Printing Technology
05:49 Sustainability Concerns in Concrete Printing
08:59 Comparative Analysis: Concrete vs. Timber Homes
12:04 Challenges in 3D Concrete Printing
14:56 Automation and Efficiency in Home Construction
18:09 Future of 3D Concrete Printing Technology
21:54 Challenges in 3D Concrete Printing
22:56 Market Fit for 3D Concrete Homes
24:04 Impact of Staff Reductions on Valuation
25:47 Understanding Company Valuations and Experiments
27:07 Applications of 3D Printing in Housing
29:02 First Principles of Cost in Construction
30:58 Trends in AEC Tech Funding
39:10 Market Dynamics and Future Predictions
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Building a €450M Construction Tech Giant: How Philip Schröder's Marketing Built Germany's Latest Energy Tech Giant
"Your margin is my opportunity... unless you're selling outcomes in construction tech!"
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we explored 1KOMMA5°'s impressive €150M pre-IPO round and their unique approach of acquiring 30+ companies since 2021 to scale their energy tech business.
We also learned about an intriguing debate around whether companies can call themselves "market leaders" in Germany, sparked by a court case between 1KOMMA5° and their competitor.
The most fascinating insight came from Patric's take on fixed vs. variable costs in construction tech: Companies that produce with fixed costs but sell outcomes (variable costs) have a unique opportunity to build generational businesses in construction - but this window might only last 10 years.
Tune in to learn about:
✅ Why 1KOMMA5°'s founder Philip Schröder's marketing genius is their secret sauce
✅ How selling outcomes beats traditional SaaS pricing in construction
✅ Why converting variable costs to fixed costs through automation is game-changing
✅ An innovative structural engineering firm reducing design time by 90%
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
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:56 Diving into One Comma Five
06:01 Understanding the Solar PV Market
11:59 Investment Insights and Market Valuation
18:03 The Role of Technology in Energy Solutions
24:02 Marketing Strategies and Competitive Landscape
30:12 Future Challenges and Business Models
31:07 The Evolution of Energy Training
32:29 Understanding Fixed vs. Variable Costs
37:38 The Impact of SaaS on Construction
43:34 Exploring IPOs and Market Trends
49:45 Emerging Trends in Construction Technology Sales
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Building a $1.6B Construction Tech Company in Australia - Lessons on Distribution vs Product
"The construction tech founders obsess over product, but distribution might matter more."
In today's episode, we discussed about VisiBuild securing a $6.6M round from Skip Capital to improve construction quality checks - going beyond just turning paper into apps.
We also discovered why Australian construction tech punches above its weight, with just two companies (Aconex and Safety Culture) putting the country third globally in unicorns.
Most valuable was Shubhankar's take on why typical SaaS metrics might not tell the whole story in construction tech's early stages.
Tune in to learn:
✅ Why the "build it and they will come" approach fails in construction
✅ How Australian founders turn their small market size into a global advantage
✅ What makes construction tech distribution different from regular SaaS
✅ Why community building matters as much as features
Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear practical insights for anyone building or investing in construction tech.
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Chapters
00:00 The Importance of Distribution in AEC Tech
03:05 Execution Moat: The Key to Success
05:59 Navigating Distribution Challenges in Construction Tech
09:08 Market Dynamics: Distribution Strategies for Different ARR Levels
12:04 Global Perspectives: Indian Founders Targeting the US Market
14:49 Comparative Approaches: US vs. Indian Founders in Distribution
18:08 Community Building: A Strategy for Distribution Success
21:00 The State of SaaS in Indian Construction Tech
24:12 VisiBuild: A Case Study in Construction Tech Investment
33:14 Exploring Visibild's Impact in Construction Tech
36:09 The Evolution of Quality Checks in Construction
40:05 Unicorns in Construction Tech: Australia’s Rising Stars
42:58 The Unique Landscape of Australian Startups
47:59 Challenges and Opportunities for Australian Founders
52:57 Assessing Product-Market Fit in Construction Tech