"We Tripled Our Profits In 3 Years With Automation" - Marc Barone - COO - Buro Happold
"We've nearly tripled our profits in three years - and it wasn't one big change, it was a million small ones."In today's episode of the Bricks & Bytes, we had Marc Barone, COO of Buro Happold, and we got to learn about how they scaled from strong to exceptional, the real impact of AI on engineering productivity, and why listening matters more than action in your first 90 days as a leader... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ How Buro Happold grew 75% in three years while tripling profitability ✅ Why understanding what to say no to is as important as knowing what to say yes to ✅ The truth about measuring AI productivity gains and what actually works ✅ Why your first 90 days as COO should be about listening, not changing everythingWatch now on YouTube! Link in the comments!------------------Our Sponsor: Archdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.io------------Chapters00:00 Intro03:35 Introduction and Background05:36 Overview of Bureau Hapold06:47 Technical vs Commercial Risk Management08:59 Growth and Profitability Strategies12:45 Path to COO Role16:01 Leadership and Team Dynamics19:45 Culture and Employee Engagement25:39 Digital Transformation and AI Integration33:38 Innovation and Technology Solutions38:04 The Gradual Rollout of AI Tools42:19 Balancing Automation and Human Resources47:19 The Importance of Local Expertise52:26 Evaluating AI Tools for Business57:11 The Future of AI and Market Dynamics01:04:17 Measuring Productivity Gains from Technology01:09:08 First Steps for a New COO
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Bricks & Bytes
71% Still Use Spreadsheets in 2025 - Smart Staffing Solution from Top 20 GCs
71% of construction companies are still using Excel to manage thousands of employees—and it's costing them millions in lost projects.
In this episode of Bricks & Bytes, Owen and Martin sit down with Lauren Lake, co-founder of Bridgit, and Kevin Ferguson from AECO Product Marketing to uncover how two college students disrupted the construction workforce planning industry—and built a company that now serves half of the top 20 general contractors in North America.
In this episode:Why 42% of contractors are turning down projects despite high demand (hint: it's not what you think)The "crane hunting" strategy that led to a Harvard Business School case studyHow Bridget went from $0 to $4M ARR in just 2 years by solving one simple problemWhy construction companies are now budgeting $100K+ for workforce planning softwareThe shocking reason employees are leaving construction jobs (and it's not the pay)What happens when executives ask "where are our people?" and nobody knows the answerThe hidden cost of breaking up winning project teams after every jobHow AI and experience tracking are revolutionizing team composition decisionsWhy there's been ZERO research data on project team success since 1999The global expansion playbook that worked across North America, Australia, and the UK
"Our goal was simple: we just need to replace Excel. And that's actually a really challenging goal." — Lauren Lake
Whether you're a contractor struggling with resource allocation, a tech founder looking for validation strategies, or simply curious about how construction's labor shortage is reshaping the industry—this episode reveals why workforce planning has become the most critical investment in construction technology.
Our Sponsor: Archdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.io
🎧 Listen to the Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0xSpdQpmgf0xJvAsGAQRX5?si=QgmckXGVRnO46vOZKa0I1Q📩 Subscribe to the Bricks & Bytes Newsletter: https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/🌐 Visit our website: http://bricks-bytes.com/
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Enjoying the insights? Hit that Subscribe button to stay ahead in construction tech, AI, and the future of how we build.-----------------Chapters00:00 Intro02:40 Introduction to Bridget and Its Founders03:38 The Secret to Success in Workforce Planning05:17 Identifying Pain Points in Workforce Planning08:15 The Harvard Business School Case Study12:08 Validating the Product with Early Customers14:16 The Evolution of the Product16:55 Challenges of Replacing Excel18:12 The Importance of Visibility in Workforce Management19:27 The State of Workforce Planning Report20:39 Granular vs. Executive Workforce Management22:35 Transforming Workforce Planning Meetings24:41 Creating a New Category in Workforce Planning26:56 Rapid Growth and Market Penetration28:15 ROI in Workforce Planning Solutions30:46 What Makes a Good Workforce Planning Software?32:53 The Role of AI in Workforce Planning34:39 Educating the Market on Workforce Planning52:57 Insights from the 2025 Workforce Planning Report57:08 Investment Trends in Workforce Planning58:19 The Ongoing Reliance on Excel1:02:04 Pricing Model for Bridget1:04:53 Building a Strong Company Culture1:07:44 Managing Contractors and Subcontractors1:08:52 Closing Remarks and Future Engagements
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Bricks & Bytes
AI Isn't Taking Your Job - It's Taking Your Identity - The Self-Worth Crisis from a Built World Investor
"If you can't get to $5M in recurring revenue in 18 months, you're probably not venture fundable right now."KP Reddy just called out the entire construction tech ecosystem—and he's not holding back.In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had KP Reddy and we got to learn about why most construction tech startups are chasing the wrong business model, how AI is fundamentally changing the value of human work, and why he's now buying contractors instead of selling them software... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ Why construction attracts risk-averse founders (and why that's killing innovation)✅ The real reason CEOs want everyone back in the office (hint: it's about ego, not productivity)✅ How token-based pricing will replace hourly billing in the next 5 years✅ Why KP is teaching CEOs to vibe code—and firing consultants who say "it can't be done"This conversation will change how you think about building, investing, and working in construction tech.Watch now on YouTube. Link in the comments!-------------Our Sponsor: Archdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.io
Chapters00:00 Intro03:00 Introduction and Competitive Spirit06:05 The Shift in Venture Capital Dynamics08:42 Capital Light vs. Capital Heavy Startups11:45 Vibe Coding: The New Era of Prototyping14:45 The Role of AI in Construction and Tech17:44 The Future of CRM and Personalization in Business20:42 The Impact of AI on Job Identity and Purpose23:29 Navigating the Future of Work in AEC26:17 The Evolution of Business Models in Construction29:06 Conclusion: Embracing Change and Purpose35:56 Finding Fulfillment in Venture Capital39:38 The Role of AI in Pricing Models45:33 Ego and Status in Business Decisions49:33 Brackish Waters: The Intersection of VC and PE57:49 Transformative Tech and Market Dynamics62:39 The Nonsense of Change Management
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Bricks & Bytes
Design Is Easy, Construction Isn't - The Manual Labor Problem No One Solves In AEC
"Digital twins are still solving problems we haven't even imagined yet."
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, we had James Mize from CRB and we got to learn about why pharmaceutical and biotech construction is pushing the boundaries of what's possible with digital twins, the real reason most companies stick with their tech partners, and why information management is construction's biggest unsolved problem... and many more!
Tune in to find out about:✅ How predictive maintenance using digital twins is saving pharmaceutical companies millions in downtime costs✅ Why design innovation is racing ahead while construction remains stubbornly manual✅ The partnership model that actually works when choosing construction technology vendors✅ Why document control might disappear completely as AI learns where every file should live
Listen now on Spotify and join the conversation about the future of construction technology.----------Our Sponsor: Archdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.io-------------------Chapters00:00 Intro03:05 Exploring Digital Twins in Construction09:10 The Role of CRB in Biotech and Pharmaceutical Construction14:54 Innovation in Design vs. Construction20:50 Evaluating Technology Vendors and Solutions26:43 Navigating Pricing Models for Tech Solutions36:31 Exploring Software Innovations in Construction38:34 Identifying Pain Points in Information Management43:04 Researching Solutions: Inbound vs Outbound47:18 Evaluating Information Management Tools51:42 Lessons from Technology Failures54:11 The Role of Venture Backing in Technology Solutions55:09 Importance of Construction Experience in Founders56:39 Contrarian Views on External Validation57:41 Gathering Feedback from the Field01:00:04 Maximizing ROI from Technology Investments01:02:00 Current Initiatives and Hiring Opportunities
Human Touch in Construction Sales, False Tech Solutions, and Large Company Lawsuits - Bricks, Bucks & Bytes
"Try to keep all your human touch points and automate them on the backend."
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we dive into the world of B2B marketplaces in construction. We explore why human touch points are crucial for success, especially in an industry built on trust and relationships.
We also discuss the recent lawsuit between Oracle and Procore, where Oracle accuses a former employee of stealing trade secrets related to payment management software.
Plus, we explored HomeBoost, a startup offering simplified energy assessments for homes using AI. But is it too good to be true?
Tune in to find out about:
✅ The pros and cons of AI-powered home energy assessments
✅ The potential impact of the Oracle vs. Procore lawsuit on the construction tech industry
✅ Why B2B marketplaces in construction need to maintain human interactions
✅ The increasing trend of investors suing portfolio companies in recent years
Ready to dive deeper? Listen to the full episode on Spotify and join the conversation!
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
5 Things Founders Control During Fundraising That Most Don't Know About - Bricks, Bucks and Bytes
"VC is rocket fuel. Do not spend it on a Fiat 500. Only put very expensive rocket fuel if you're actually building a rocket."
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Speckle's recent Series A raise, showcasing the renewed liquidity in early-stage funding for 2024.
We also discovered that the construction tech sector saw impressive growth in seed stage funding sizes during Q3 2023, signaling a positive shift in the market.
Plus, we gained invaluable insights from Patrick Hellermann on what really makes VCs tick when it comes to investing in startups.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ The magic "100x potential" that VCs are looking for
✅ Why information asymmetry is your secret weapon between fundraising rounds
✅ How to leverage social validation to your advantage
✅ The power of building a rockstar team to secure funding
Listen to the full episode on Spotify and arm yourself with the knowledge to make your next pitch irresistible!
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
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Speckle's $12.5M Funding - How Open Source Software Is Changing Construction Design
Speckle's $12.5M Series A: A Game-Changer for AEC Data Infrastructure
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Speckle's impressive $12.5 million Series A funding round, led by Addition, to build the first data hub for the AEC industry.
We also learned about Rexel's rejection of an unsolicited $8.5 billion takeover bid from QXO, signaling potential shifts in the building materials distribution landscape.
Additionally, we gained insights into Patrick Hellermann's framework for evaluating potential investors, emphasizing the importance of avoiding detrimental influences over perceived value-add.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Speckle's open-source approach to AEC data infrastructure
✅ The potential impact of QXO's ambitious plans on the building materials distribution sector
✅ Key considerations for startups when evaluating corporate investors
✅ The importance of prioritizing non-interference and quality input from investors
Listen to the full episode on Spotify to dive deeper into these fascinating topics in construction tech and venture capital.
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Construction Tech Funding Hits $35 Billion: What's Next?
From AI-powered construction sales to billion-dollar air taxi gambles: Inside the high-stakes world of tech funding!
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Building Radar's impressive €6.5 million funding round from Socii Capital, powering their AI-driven sales automation software for the construction industry.
We also dove into Fundamentals' Q3 update on AEC Tech funding, revealing that total cumulative VC funding for construction tech has hit a whopping $35 billion - triple the 2019 level!
Plus, we had a heated discussion about Lilium, the German air taxi startup seeking a controversial bailout after burning through millions.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ How Building Radar is revolutionizing sales in construction
✅ The surprising increase in construction tech's share of overall VC funding
✅ Why some VCs are calling for government bailouts (and why it's raising eyebrows)
✅ The ethics of venture capital in high-risk, high-reward industries
Ready for a deep dive into the world of construction tech and VC drama? Hit play on Spotify and join the conversation!
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Company Mentioned:
Building Radar
Lilium
SpaceX
Tesla
WeWork
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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