#036 -Eric Helitzer - Simplifying Material Procurement In Construction
How do we simplify material procurement in construction?
In this episode, we talk with Eric Helitzer, CEO of Subbase.
Eric discusses his transition from traditional construction to construction technology and his approach to streamlining construction procurement.
We cover important topics such as:
The significance of understanding problems to develop effective tech solutions
Tips for validating ideas before investing time and resources
How to encourage a culture that supports innovation and technology adoption
Integrating technology into existing workflows without disrupting processes
If you’re enjoying our podcast, please leave us a review! This helps us get more amazing guests to give you guys the best and most informative content on technology in the built world.
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Eric Helitzer | Founder & CEO of SubBase
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Today's Sponsor: beta - Construction and technology network platform - connecting the tech industry with traditional partners.
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Timestamps:
00:00 - 00:55 Pre-Intro
00:56 - 01:48 Owen's Intro
01:49 - 2:06 Sponsor
02:24 - Main podcast starts
04:09 - "You have to be on job site to understand what it physically looks like and what it physically feels like to work in construction."
04:34 - Story of Eric
06:10 - 2008 to 2014 career
06:38 - Procore Software
09:11 - "Subbase was born"
10:30 - Partnering to someone with no experience in construction
11:48 - A tool that enhance workflow
13:00 - About Subbase
14:00 - Complexities in process
15:00 - Streamlining the experience
19:06 - Raised first official round of funding
20:30 - Subbase becoming end-to-end solution
21:00 - 5 to 10 year vision
22:46 - "if you were to build a startup in construction tech, where would you start?"
24:00 - Amount of rejection you are going to receive
30:32 - You have to iterate very quickly
32:00 - No one has a clear playbook
35:20 - Other trends worth pursuing
38:00 - Strengthen relationship by providing better user experience
40:46 - "Any thoughts on how people incorporate technology into existing workflows?"
45:45 - Hobbies of Eric
47:00 - " if I wasn't working in construction"
48:05 - Where people can find out about Eric
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Bricks & Bytes
#010 - Brandon Johnson - Generating leads in construction
Next episode of Bricks&Bytes with very driven Brandon Johnson, CEO of SeracTech.
Brandon’s latest venture SeracTech helps converting planning applications into sales opportunities.
Please join us for this exciting conversation with Brandon.
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Bricks & Bytes
#051 - Ron Nussbaum - From Marines to Tech Founder: Communication, Construction Tech, and Bootstrapping a Startup
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes we got a chance to talk with Ron Nussbaum, founder of BuilderComs, to discuss the importance of communication in the construction process, social media presence, team building more:
We also touch on Ron's transition from the US Marines to Construction and his present venture - BuilderComs.
Tune in to find out about:
Importance of focussing on solving customer’s PAIN points
Importance of communication in Construction
How to build a successful team in your business
75 Hard Challenge
Importance and leveraging of social media presence
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Ron Nussbaum | Founder of BuilderComs | 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!
If you are, use promo-code BRICKS100 for $100 off your ticket price.
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 partners.
Check www.the-beta.com
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Timestamps:
(0:00:00-0:07:43) - Intro
(0:07:43-0:12:22) - Introduction of BuilderComs and Ron’s experience transitioning from Marines to Construction to Tech Startup Founder
(0:12:22-0:17:28) - How to address a long-standing customer pain point in the construction industry
(0:17:28-0:23:16) - How to find ideal team members
(0:23:16-0:25:14) - Role as a CEO, founder, and hands-on contributor
(0:25:14-0:32:47) - Importance of building audience and brand recognition
(0:32:47-0:37:10) - Bridging the Knowledge Gap in Construction
(0:37:10-0:41:25) - 75 Hard Challenge: A Life-Changing Routine
(0:41:25-0:42:56) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#055 - Kingma Ma - Getting Inside a VC's Mind: Pitching, Investing, Common Mistakes, Due Diligence and Funding
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Kingma Ma, Managing Director UK at PT1 and Member Board of Directors at UK PropTech Association (UKPA).
In this episode, we discuss PT1’s investment thesis, mistakes businesses make when pitching their services to VCs, VC's approach to investing in startups, ConTech in the UK vs. Europe and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
The VC investment process
Most common framework VCs follow for investing in businesses
What makes a great founder
PT1’s due diligence process
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Kingma Ma | Managing Director UK at PT1 | 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
—-----------------------------------
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:
(0:00:00-0:06:55) - Intro
(0:06:55-0:09:35) - Day in the life of an MD in the UK
(0:09:35-0:21:00) - PT1's framework for investing in businesses
(0:21:00-0:30:30) - PT1’s due diligence process
(0:30:30-0:32:50) - Comparing ConTech in the UK vs. Europe
(0:32:50-0:35:15) - Determining the potential success of a startup
(0:35:15-0:39:10) - Common mistakes businesses make when pitching their services
(0:39:10-0:41:00) - VC's approach to investing in startups
(0:41:00-0:58:20) - Best practices for VCs when communicating with investors
(0:58:20-0:59:07) - Outro
$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 $300B on AI infrastructure construction, creating massive opportunities in the data center space.
Through Patric Hellermann's investor lens, we discovered why focusing on core infrastructure and authoring tools might be smarter than chasing AI-first solutions.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ How Stratus is transforming MEP contractor workflows from design to fabrication
✅ The emerging opportunities in data center construction and infrastructure
✅ Why owning authoring tools beats single-point AI features
✅ The strategic advantage of avoiding overcrowded AI-first solutions
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Stratus and AI in Construction
05:44 Understanding Stratus: MEP Workflows and Digital Solutions
11:21 The Role of AI in Design and Construction
17:00 The Future of Engineering: Human Touch vs. AI
24:01 Emerging Companies and Innovations in Construction Tech
24:35 Automation in Engineering Workflows
25:50 Massive Investments in AI Infrastructure
27:52 Emerging Startups in AI Data Centers
31:40 The Role of AI in Construction
35:00 Navigating the AI Gold Rush
37:33 The Inefficiency of Venture Capital Allocation
read more
Bricks, Buck$ 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
read more
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