13% Profit at Risk? Kroo's Solution for Construction's Cash Flow Chaos
"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.
read more
Bricks & Bytes
Alternative Materials and Affordable Homes. Touching Net Zero | Paul Richards - Founder, GURBuild
Can homes be both energy-efficient and affordable? One visionary is changing the way we know homes.
In this episode, we sit down with industry trailblazer Paul Richards – the visionary founder of GURBuild Net Zero Energy Housing. Paul shares his remarkable journey and insights into revolutionising the housing sector.
Join us for a fascinating account of a man’s struggles against stubborn traditions of the construction industry. Paul has been a pioneer in introducing modern construction methods and promoting net-zero energy homes. Listen to Paul as he shares his inspiring story of challenges and triumphs against an environmentally unstable industry.
Learn about GURBuild hybrid construction system – a groundbreaking approach to building affordable and energy-efficient homes.
Tune in and learn:
How Paul found GURBuild Net Zero Energy Housing and brought Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to home building
The importance of attracting younger generations to construction through improved site conditions and innovative practices
About homes that minimise energy consumption and the concept of operational zero carbon homes
How GURBuild's hybrid construction system is combining techniques from engineering, automotive, and aerospace industries
Paul's insights on the future of MMC and increased use of hybrid solutions, composites, panel systems, and custom designs
And a lot more
—----------------------------
Sign up for our newsletter at: https://bricksbytes.show
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—the BIM partner you need to fill the gap in your digital skills and tackle your BIM needs, end-to-end.
Visit: https://maketheshft.digital
—----------------------------------
Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:02:30) Intro
(00:02:30-00:12:25) Paul's Journey
(00:12:25-00:18:20) Solutions to Labour Shortage In Construction
(00:18:20-00:29:30) Passive House Standard and n-ZEP
(00:29:30-00:33:30) Engineer's Thoughts on Construction
(00:33:30-00:39:00) View on MMC within Construction
(00:39:00-00:41:25) How Paul stays creatuve in his work
(00:41:25-00:42:16) Outro
read more
Bricks & Bytes
BBBC 22/03/24 - $31m Dollars, 20x Revenue Growth and Straight Outta Y Combinator - PermitFlow & Furno
Welcome to the Bricks & Bytes Broadcast (BBBC) with Patric Hellermann of Foundamental.
This new format of episode is a weekly dive into the latest construction tech news from the perspective of investors.
From innovations to fundings, market insights, and VC-isms, if you’re building in construction tech, investing in construction tech, or intersecting between the tech and physical world, then we’ll help you keep your finger on the pulse.
-------
In this conversation, Patric, Martin and Owen discuss two startups: PermitFlow and Furno.
They talk about the challenges faced by PermitFlow in dealing with the slow permit process in the construction industry and the potential for digitizing the planning process.
They also discuss Furno, which offers an alternative to traditional cement plants by providing modular portable kilns that can reduce CO2 emissions.
They explore the funding differences between capital-intensive startups like Furno and digital startups like PermitFlow. Martin also shares his thoughts on time leverage and being more productive.
Takeaways:
Patric's worst investment decision
PermitFlow is a startup that aims to digitize the planning process in the construction industry and streamline the permit process.
Ferno offers modular portable kilns as an alternative to traditional cement plants, with the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 88%.
Capital-intensive startups like Ferno require significant investment for production, while digital startups like Permit Flow can attract more funding.
Martin emphasizes the importance of time leverage and being productive to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Worst Investment Decision
(01:16) Discussion on PermitFlow
(12:49) PermitFlow's Funding and Capital Requirements
(14:36) Introduction to Furno Materials
(15:54) Investor's Thoughts on Furno Materials
(23:54) Closing Remarks
-------------------------------------------------
Companies Mentioned:
Permitflow - https://www.permitflow.com/
Furno - https://furno.com/
Foundamental - https://foundamental.com/
Y Combinator - https://www.ycombinator.com/
Kleiner Perkins - https://www.kleinerperkins.com/
Felicis - https://www.felicis.com/
Hoffmann Green Cement - https://www.ciments-hoffmann.com/
Aker Solutions Norway - https://www.akersolutions.com/
read more
Bricks & Bytes
Construction’s £37 Million Augmented Reality - A New Horizon | David Mitchell, CEO at XYZ
Join us for this fascinating episode where we sit down with David Mitchell, the Founder of XYZ – a company revolutionising the construction industry with cutting-edge augmented reality tools. Discover how XYZ's headsets are transforming job sites by bringing real-life 3D models directly to workers, ensuring millimetre accuracy and preventing costly errors.
Listen as David shares his ambitious vision to revolutionise job sites worldwide with AR. Learn how their specialised AR headsets are already preventing costly errors, enabling real-time progress tracking on complex projects, and more.
Key Takeaways:
How XYZ's AR technology is propelling construction to new heights
The importance of building the right team to achieve ambitious goals
The vast potential of AR to transform the construction industry and beyond
And a lot more.
Don't miss this insightful conversation about the future of construction!
----------------------------------
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 $5T commercial construction market. We are transforming the commercial construction supply chain by bringing contractors, manufacturers, and project stakeholders onto a single software platform—revolutionizing how every component is sourced, purchased, and financed.
--------------------------------
(00:00:00 - 00:02:27) - Intro To David & Our Sponsors
(00:02:57 - 00:10:42) - About David's Journey Into XYZ Reality
(00:10:42 - 00:35:48) - Understanding XYZ Reality
(00:35:48 - 00:44:03) - How David Manages Everything
(00:44:03 - 00:50:14) - 360 Reality Capture vs XYZ Reality
(00:50:14 - 00:56:30) - Future Plans of XYZ In Terms Of The Data They're Capturing
(00:56:30 - 01:12:44) - David's Experience Of Raising Money From VCs
(01:12:44 - 01:13:39) - Outro
First Principles & Founder Success: Lessons from Scott Wolf's Levelset Journey
"20 years of experience or 1 year repeated 20 times?" - This profound question from Scott Wolfe (Levelset) captures why some founders achieve extraordinary success while others stay stagnant.
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we explored how compound experience and non-linear career paths shape successful founders in construction tech.
Tune in to learn about:
✅ How Scott Wolfe's diverse background (software, retail, law) led to Levelset's success
✅ Why non-linear experiences often lead to breakthrough innovations
✅ The truth about choosing the right capital structure for your business
✅ Why your customer should be your best source of capital
----
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Context Setting
01:08 Scott Wolf's Impactful Insights
02:15 The Concept of Compound Experience
04:17 Nonlinear vs. Linear Experiences
10:38 The Importance of Curiosity
12:20 Applying Compounded Knowledge
16:33 The Role of Blogging in Business Growth
25:50 Choosing the Right Capitalization Method
----
read more
Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
$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 $300B on AI infrastructure construction, creating massive opportunities in the data center space.
Through Patric Hellermann's investor lens, we discovered why focusing on core infrastructure and authoring tools might be smarter than chasing AI-first solutions.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ How Stratus is transforming MEP contractor workflows from design to fabrication
✅ The emerging opportunities in data center construction and infrastructure
✅ Why owning authoring tools beats single-point AI features
✅ The strategic advantage of avoiding overcrowded AI-first solutions
----
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Stratus and AI in Construction
05:44 Understanding Stratus: MEP Workflows and Digital Solutions
11:21 The Role of AI in Design and Construction
17:00 The Future of Engineering: Human Touch vs. AI
24:01 Emerging Companies and Innovations in Construction Tech
24:35 Automation in Engineering Workflows
25:50 Massive Investments in AI Infrastructure
27:52 Emerging Startups in AI Data Centers
31:40 The Role of AI in Construction
35:00 Navigating the AI Gold Rush
37:33 The Inefficiency of Venture Capital Allocation
read more
Bricks, Buck$ 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 $2B company, ICON's 3D printed homes only show a tiny 0.5% carbon advantage over regular timber construction.
We also explored why Q4 2024 was special for construction tech - it grabbed nearly 1% of all VC funding, the second-highest share ever. Even more impressive given that 2024 saw the lowest overall VC funding since 2014.
The most striking insight came from questioning the basics - why use concrete, a material best for large-scale projects, to print single-family homes?
Tune in to find out about:
✅ What's driving Asia-Pacific's growing lead in construction tech funding
✅ Why 3D printed concrete homes struggle in wet climates
✅ Which parts of construction tech are actually getting funded
✅ How early-stage funding stayed strong while growth rounds dropped
-----
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Technical Glitches
01:03 Recent News: ICON's Layoffs and Valuation
02:49 Exploring 3D Concrete Printing Technology
05:49 Sustainability Concerns in Concrete Printing
08:59 Comparative Analysis: Concrete vs. Timber Homes
12:04 Challenges in 3D Concrete Printing
14:56 Automation and Efficiency in Home Construction
18:09 Future of 3D Concrete Printing Technology
21:54 Challenges in 3D Concrete Printing
22:56 Market Fit for 3D Concrete Homes
24:04 Impact of Staff Reductions on Valuation
25:47 Understanding Company Valuations and Experiments
27:07 Applications of 3D Printing in Housing
29:02 First Principles of Cost in Construction
30:58 Trends in AEC Tech Funding
39:10 Market Dynamics and Future Predictions
read more
Bricks, Buck$ 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
-----
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