Inside the Mind of Europe's Largest VC Founder in Built-World | Gregory Dewerpe
Join us for an exclusive insider look at AO Venture Capital, Europe's largest built-world VC firm with direct access to $40 Billion in real estate.
In this episode, we sit down with AO’s founder Gregory Dewerpe, as he reveals the genesis of AO, their unique approach to investing in new construction technology, and the key factors that drive success in this space. If you're a startup, a venture capitalist, or a business owner – this episode is a must-listen.
Find out:
How AO Venture Capital is leading the way in funding innovative solutions for a more sustainable built environment
The unique investment approach that sets AO apart, and gives your startup a competitive edge
What key factors will determine your success in the built world technology sector, directly from a leading investor
How Dewerpe’s background in real estate and entrepreneurship shapes their investment strategy.
Ready to transform the built world? Don't miss this episode! Sign up for more inspiring stories and expert insights.
#AOVentureCapital #BuiltWorld #VC #Sustainability #Technology #Entrepreneurship
—----------------------------
Stay ahead. Get all the news and insider exclusives delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign up for our newsletter The Bytes Line at: https://bricks-bytes.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/
—---------------------------
This episode is brought to you by Shft—helping contractors like you leverage BIM to secure a leading position in the race towards construction’s digital future.
Visit: https://maketheshft.digital
—----------------------------------
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.
—-------------------------------------
Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:02:17) Intro
(00:02:17-00:10:17) About A/O
(00:10:17-00:12:35) How To Raise Funds In The Beginning
(00:12:35-00:16:44) Key Lessons Leant While Building A/O
(00:16:44-00:20:47) Definition of Built World According To Gregory
(00:20:47-00:30:10) Opportunities In Built World
(00:30:10-00:32:50) Questions VCs Ask To Founders
(00:32:50-00:39:34) What Makes One Retrofit Company Stand Over Another
(00:39:34-00:44:53) Thoughts Behind Investing In SPAN
(00:44:53-00:47:25) Thoughts Behind Investing In ENTER
(00:47:25-00:56:26) Labor Shortage In Construction
(00:56:26-00:59:53) Profitability Of Startups In Construction
(00:59:53-01:06:54) Process Followed In A/O While Raising Funds
(01:06:54-01:09:14) Differences In Startup Founders in Europe vs US
(01:09:14-01:09:58) Outro
read more
Bricks & Bytes
Suffolk Boost Program, Super Series with Ediphi, AI Report & Construction Tech Funding - October’s Monthly Roundup
"50% of construction projects are over budget or late due to contract compliance issues."
In this month’s roundup episode, Martin & Owen discussed about their newly released AI report, which explores AI applications in construction document management. They interviewed five startups and Microsoft to gather insights for this report.
They discussed upcoming plans, including a trip to Boston to record episodes with Suffolk's Boost program startups.
Martin and Owen reflected on some notable episodes from October, including conversations with industry veterans like Amar from Autodesk and a discussion on why construction tech companies fail, using Flux as a case study.
They touched on the rapid growth of construction tech funding, now representing 0.8% of total VC funding, up from 0.2-0.3% pre-2021.
They also mentioned their robotics podcast, Bitbuilders, and an interesting episode about space construction with Lee Rosen from Think Orbital.
Go and check out the AI Report on our Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/bricks_bytes/shop/construction-tech-revolution-in-india-596700?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=productshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
Also, don’t forget to watch the full roundup episode here:
read more
Bricks & Bytes
The Truth Behind DeepSeek’s Impact on AEC | Alan Mosca on AI & Construction Tech
"Training an AI model's final run for $6M does not mean the entire model costs $6M"In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Alan Mosca, CTO and co-founder of nPlan, who shared fascinating insights about AI developments, construction tech, and the future of project planning.Tune in to find out about:✅ The truth behind DeepSeek's training costs and why media reporting missed the mark✅ How nPlan's Barry agent helps construction teams make better decisions through meeting notes, WhatsApp integration, and email connectivity✅ Why the future of software isn't SaaS - it's buying outcomes through agents that perform specific tasks✅ nPlan's game-changing "Schedule Studio" that can generate detailed project schedules in 45 minutesListen to the full episode to learn how AI is reshaping construction planning and why transparency, not blame, is key to better project outcomes.----Chapters00:00 Intro05:26 Introduction and Overview of Enplan07:12 DeepSeek and the Reality of AI Training Costs15:36 Open vs Closed Source Models in AI26:23 The Rise of Agents in AI and Construction31:23 Future of Startups: Agents vs Traditional Software36:01 The Evolution of AI and the Path to AGI44:01 Defining AGI and Its Implications45:26 Introduction to Nplan and Its Mission47:24 The Functionality of Barry: AI in Project Management49:27 Continuous Learning and Model Optimization53:23 Demonstrating the Value of Planning in Construction57:28 Customer Perspectives on AI in Project Management1:00:31 Product Development and Future Directions for Nplan1:11:39 Cultural Change in Construction Through AI
read more
Bricks & Bytes
Kojo's $275m Journey - How CEO Maria Davidson Built One Of AEC Tech's Most Exciting Businesses
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
Retrofitting Yellow Machines: The $250,000 Labor Cost Savings in Construction
Are robots taking over construction sites? The future of "yellow machines" might surprise you.
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Teleo, a startup retrofitting heavy machinery for remote operation and semi-autonomous functionality.
We also explored the intriguing case of ServiceTitan's IPO plans, shedding light on the complex dynamics of venture capital and founder equity.
Additionally, we delved into the challenges and opportunities in automating construction equipment across various environments.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ The battle between full autonomy and teleoperation in construction robotics
✅ Why retrofitting existing machinery could be a game-changer
✅ How controlled vs. uncontrolled environments impact automation adoption
✅ The potential pitfalls of aggressive venture funding for founders
Listen now on Spotify to stay ahead of the curve in construction tech innovation.
-----
Chapters
00:00 Exploring the Robotics Space
03:02 Teleoperation vs. Full Autonomy
05:58 Applications in High-Risk Environments
08:55 Market Dynamics and Venture Backability
12:03 OEMs vs. Startups in Innovation
14:59 The Future of Autonomous Machinery
17:54 Service Titan's Path to IPO
31:09 The Russian Roulette of Venture Capital
34:41 Conflicts of Interest in Business Decisions
39:12 The Cost of Venture Capital
41:51 Understanding IPOs and Profitability
44:04 Economic Predictions and Their Implications
52:57 The State of Construction Technology in Europe
read more
Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
What We Learned After a Year of Talking to Construction Tech's Biggest Names
"Follow the money to grow, follow your passion to build. While US construction tech startups have raised $30B, India's $1B investment is yielding better returns."
In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we did our November Monthly Review where we reflected on an action-packed month of content creation and exciting future plans.
We even explored fascinating market dynamics, founder insights, and geographic opportunities in construction tech.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Our successful launch of the AI in Construction Report and first steps into monetization
✅ Highlights from our Boston trip interviewing startups at Suffolk's boost cohort
✅ Behind the scenes of the upcoming Ediphi super series releasing in January
✅ Plans for New York and San Francisco tour in 2025, plus a potential India expansion
Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear Owen, Martin, and Patric discuss their key takeaways from November, upcoming content plans, and Patric’s take on why founders often over-obsess with product and under-obsess with distribution.
-----
Chapters
00:00 End of Year Reflections
03:01 Cultural Differences in Business Mindset
05:50 The Impact of Travel on Business
08:47 Exploring AI in Construction
12:11 The Role of Community in Innovation
14:55 Challenges in Design and Construction Software
17:52 The Disconnect Between Traditional and Startup Worlds
21:00 The Influence of Trust in Business Relationships
24:07 Venture Capitalists in Government
26:59 The Future of Governance and Innovation
32:48 Understanding Argentina's Political Landscape
35:09 The Importance of Product Distribution
40:40 Marketing Challenges in Construction Tech
43:47 Trends in AEC Technology
44:29 Talent Acquisition in the AEC Sector
46:03 Investment Trends in Construction Tech
50:34 Cultural Insights: Christmas Traditions
57:33 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans
read more
Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
156 Indian Companies Grew 20% Annually for 20 Years: What It Means for Construction Tech
Did you know that India has 156 publicly listed companies that have grown their revenue by over 20% annually for the past 20 years? That's more than the US, China, Japan, and Germany combined!
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about the upcoming IPOs of Swiggy and BlackBuck in India, signaling a vibrant economy and thriving tech sector.
We also discovered that B2B marketplaces are flourishing in India, with BlackBuck's successful IPO setting a positive example for similar companies worldwide.
Additionally, we learned about the opening IPO window in Western markets, with companies like ServiceTitan and Klarna preparing to go public.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ The surprising growth rates of Indian companies
✅ How B2B marketplaces are thriving in India
✅ The opening IPO window in Western markets
✅ Upcoming construction tech IPOs to watch
Listen now on Spotify to gain insights into the rapidly evolving construction tech landscape and investment opportunities in India and beyond.
read more
Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Cintoo's $37M Series B, Reality Capture Market Growth, Partech's Investment Strategy - How Cintoo Is Revolutionizing Reality Capture in Construction
Is the construction tech market becoming more obvious? Are we on the cusp of a tech IPO boom?
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Cintoo's $37 million Series B funding round led by Partech, signaling growing interest in reality capture and data compression for construction sites.
We also explored the potential for a surge in tech IPOs in 2025, as evidenced by Thrive Capital's rumored $1 billion investment in Databricks at a $55 billion valuation.
Additionally, we discussed the evolving landscape of construction tech investing, where specialist knowledge becomes less critical as companies mature and become more "obvious" to generalist investors.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ The growing market for reality capture in construction
✅ How to interpret large late-stage funding rounds
✅ The potential for a tech IPO boom in 2025
✅ The changing dynamics of specialist vs. generalist investors in construction tech
Listen to the full episode on Spotify to dive deeper into these insights and more.
.avif)
