#027 - Jefferson Sanchez - Accelerating revenue for house remodellers
On today's show we have Jefferson Sanchez - Co-Founder & COO of Revonate.
In this episode we deep dive into:
Revenue acceleration for house remodellers
Web3
AI
Platform revolution in construction.
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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Jefferson Sanchez - Co-Founder & COO of Revonate.
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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:
(00:00:00-00:01:12) - Intro
(00:01:12-00:01:54) - Sponsor
(00:01:54-00:03:21) - Jefferson’s journey to creating Revonate
(00:03:21-00:05:20) - Being a migrant and starting business
(00:05:20-00:09:13) - Key lessons learned from the failure of previous company
(00:09:13-00:10:29) - Introducing Revonate
(00:10:29-00:14:33) - AI powered construction contract
(00:14:33-00:17:13) - AI’s impact on construction in the future
(00:17:13-00:19:00) - Building trust layer in AI/ML technologies
(00:19:00-00:20:01) - Explaining Archidao
(00:20:01-00:24:04) - Use of blockchain in technology
(00:24:04-00:25:05) - Founding Revonate
(00:25:05-00:26:46) - Taking outside investments
(00:26:46-00:28:58) - Current economic situation and its impact on the future of construction tech world
(00:28:58-00:29:35) - Is Revonate designed only for the US market?
(00:29:33-00:31:16) - Jefferson’s marketing tactics
(00:31:16-00:34:46) - Work-life balance
(00:34:46-00:35:51) - Book recommendation
(00:35:51-00:36:20) - More about Jefferson
(00:36:20-00:36:38) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
How To Build A Unicorn In Construction Tech - Patric Hellermann
In today’s episode, we have Patric Hellermann, General Partner at the largest global early stage investor in construction technology - Foundamental.
Patric explains the 30bn opportunity in construction tech, the past and future models of unicorns, and how VC in the world of construction operates.
Tune in to find out about:
How VC funding in construction tech is defying the recession-hit VC ecosystem, showcasing opportunity and resilience unlike other sectors
The existing and future models of unicorn construction tech startups
What shapes the VC world in construction; from exceptional investors through to founder-fit, and what happens when a company begins to fail
Patric’s favorite investors and his way of staying creative while managing a career in VC
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Patric Hellermann | General Partner at Foundamental
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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
Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:03:18) Intro
(00:03:18-00:06:32) How to Create a Venture Capital Company
(00:06:32-00:40:22) Funding Statistics in Construction
(00:40:22-01:07:57) Unicorns in Construction Tech
(01:07:57-01:11:17) Difference Between Private Equity and Early Stage VC
(01:11:17-01:15:59) How the Due Diligence Process Looks Like
(01:15:59-01:22:39) Differences in VCs in Construction and Other Industries
(01:22:39-01:42:07) Audience's Questions
(01:42:07-01:42:52) Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#038 - Vlad Opanasiuk - Construction Transformation: Automation, Open Source & Tech Integration
In this episode, we sit down with Vlad Opanasiuk, CEO of REDD, emphasizing the unique challenges and opportunities in automating construction processes. He shares insights from a startup accelerator, highlighting the importance of quick execution and adaptability in the industry.
During the episode, we dive into:
Automation in construction beyond robot factories.
Vlad's experience in a startup accelerator (Entrepreneur First).
Construction industry challenges in venture capital circles.
Construction digital integration
Data collection driving AI success
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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Vlad Opanasiuk, CEO @ REDD (Revolutionary Engineering & Digital Design)
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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:
00:09 - Owen's Intro
00:54 - Shout out to our sponsor
01:09 - Podcast Starts - What is design automation?
05:37 - How do you think the industry is about automation?
09:13 - Incubator and launchpad
12:10 - How venture capitalist invests
14:57 - Ideas don't really matter
16:10 - None of the team had technical background
19:11 - Construction industry is a difficult industry for VC circles
21:58 - Not everything is software
23:00 - We are not selling designs. We are selling risks
26:00 - BIM and ML integration
30:15 - REDD - Revolutionary Engineering & Digital Design
33:10 - Outsourced RnD Department
34:00 - Is this for investor or engineer?
37:15 - What is the main obstacle and why is it not possible to do?
39:21 - how deep the product is, what's the range of this product?
43:48 - Plant based replacement concept
48:55 - Off topic question
52:20 - Ending
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Bricks & Bytes
#078 - 3 ESG Metrics That Your Startup Needs Before Approaching Investors In Construction Tech - Jimmy Jia - Pi Labs
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Jimmy Jia, Venture Partner, ESG at Pi Labs.
We learn about how ESG is transforming investment decisions, what ESG metrics startups should focus on, and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
How ESG metrics are becoming key drivers for construction tech investors
The right time for startups to begin tracking ESG factors
Tips from an ESG investor on how startups should approach funding
If you're enjoying the podcast, I'd really appreciate if you could leave a rating and review.
(00:00:00 - 00:02:00) - Intro
(00:02:00 - 00:04:41) - About Energy Efficiency of buildings
(00:04:41 - 00:10:26) - About Sustainable Finance
(00:10:26 - 00:15:30) - ESG issues and complexities
(00:15:30 - 00:29:30) - Financial accounting for sustainability
(00:29:30 - 00:36:40) - Building green startups
(00:36:40 - 00:43:32) - Balancing work and environmental goals
(00:43:32 - 00:43:46) - 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
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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
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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 $300B on AI infrastructure construction, creating massive opportunities in the data center space.
Through Patric Hellermann's investor lens, we discovered why focusing on core infrastructure and authoring tools might be smarter than chasing AI-first solutions.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ How Stratus is transforming MEP contractor workflows from design to fabrication
✅ The emerging opportunities in data center construction and infrastructure
✅ Why owning authoring tools beats single-point AI features
✅ The strategic advantage of avoiding overcrowded AI-first solutions
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Stratus and AI in Construction
05:44 Understanding Stratus: MEP Workflows and Digital Solutions
11:21 The Role of AI in Design and Construction
17:00 The Future of Engineering: Human Touch vs. AI
24:01 Emerging Companies and Innovations in Construction Tech
24:35 Automation in Engineering Workflows
25:50 Massive Investments in AI Infrastructure
27:52 Emerging Startups in AI Data Centers
31:40 The Role of AI in Construction
35:00 Navigating the AI Gold Rush
37:33 The Inefficiency of Venture Capital Allocation
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Bricks, Buck$ 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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