#046 - Will Synnott - Rethinking 3D BIM and Unveiling the Truths of Construction Technology
We are thrilled to announce that the Bricks and Bytes Podcast is back with another captivating episode, and we couldn't be more excited to welcome back the brilliant construction technology expert, Will Synnott, Engineer Turned Construction Technology Consultant! After the tremendous success of our first episode, we knew we had to bring Will back for a thought-provoking discussion that delves deeper into the world of construction technology.
Part of this video that you'll want to watch again:
Concerns raised about temporary fixes and complex communication platforms.
Emphasis on stepping outside the "bubble" for diverse perspectives.
Critique of overemphasis on 3D BIM without understanding on-site challenges.
Advocacy for open discussions on new technologies and their impact.
Importance of building relationships and personal brands in business.
many more
We would be grateful if you would share your thoughts on our podcast. Your feedback is important to us as we strive to provide the most valuable content in the construction industry. Please leave a review and give us a thumbs up if you found the podcast valuable.
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Will Synnott, Engineer Turned Construction Technology Consultant
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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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Bricks & Bytes
#048 - Will Synnott V3 - Sales & Startup Life In Construction Tech
In this episode of Bricks & Bytes we sit down for round 2 of our interview with Will Synnott and discuss all things sales, content, engagement, productivity and the life of a construction tech consultant.
Tune in to hear:
Where startups fail when it comes to Sales
The importance of getting in front of your customer
Why do people buy construction technology
How to deal with rejection
How to manage a busy sales-work-life balance
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment or send us your thoughts - hello@bricksbytes.show.
And don’t forget to subscribe!
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Will Synnott
Engineer Turned Construction Technology Consultant 🏗 📊 | Director of Strategic Accounts at Disperse | Chartered Geologist | ConTech
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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:
(0:00:00-0:10:10) - Intro
(0:10:10-0:11:18) - Importance of sales for growing a startup
(0:11:18-0:15:45) - Where specifically do startups fail when it comes to sales ?
(0:15:45-0:18:13) - Why do people buy construction tech solutions ?
(0:18:13-0:23:29) - How to deal with clients who are not willing to adapt with tech?
(0:23:29-0:31:55) - Importance of Content Creation in Construction Tech
(0:31:55-0:40:12) - What happens if you don't change your technology?
(0:40:12-0:41:28) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#041 - Sam Gregson - Synergy in Architecture: Modular Design, Computational Tools, and Machine Learning
Today, we have Sam Gregson, the lead computational designer at Modulous, joining us for this episode. Our discussion covers a range of topics, including efficient design solutions, computational design, the importance of digitized design costing programming and procurement in shaping our future, and more.
In this episode, we take a closer look at:-
Modular construction benefits: leverage computational models.
Addressing interoperability with construction plugins.
Machine learning enhances computational design effectiveness.
Gaming insights drive advancements in design.
Diverse backgrounds within the Modulus software team.
Emphasizing creativity attracts young talent to construction.
If you're finding value in our podcast, we kindly request you to share your feedback by leaving a review. Your support enables us to attract incredible guests and deliver the finest and most enlightening content on technology in the built world.
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Sam Gregson, Lead Computational Designer at Modulous
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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:
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Bricks & Bytes
#062 - Aarni Heiskanen - Building Finland’s Biggest Office With Just 92 mb of memory - Decades of Disruptive Innovation In Construction
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Aarni Heiskanen, the Construction Innovation Agent at AE Partners
Learn why construction innovation is hard, how workers waste 80% of time, how digital tech cuts costs 20%, and how sustainability is driving the future.
Tune in to find out about:
Why construction's complexity makes innovation nearly impossible
Research showing 80% of worker time wasted searching for info
How on-site "mini factories" could optimize with robotics
How digital tech like BIM is already cutting quality costs 20%
Why sustainability is imperative and requires digitization
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Aarni Heiskanen | Construction Innovation Agent at AE Partners | ConTech
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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:
(0:00-1:22) - Intro
(1:22-6:00) - Innovations happening in construction
(6:00-19:10) - Tips to increase productivity in construction
(19:10-22:10) - What works best in terms of innovation in construction
(22:10-31:10) - What people are more interested in among tangible products and software in construction
(31:10-36:10) - Benchmarks for measuring innovation
(36:10-38:00) - AEC Business
(38:00-40:10) - Strategy for growing on LinkedIn
(40:10-41:08) - Outro
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 $6.6M round from Skip Capital to improve construction quality checks - going beyond just turning paper into apps.
We also discovered why Australian construction tech punches above its weight, with just two companies (Aconex and Safety Culture) putting the country third globally in unicorns.
Most valuable was Shubhankar's take on why typical SaaS metrics might not tell the whole story in construction tech's early stages.
Tune in to learn:
✅ Why the "build it and they will come" approach fails in construction
✅ How Australian founders turn their small market size into a global advantage
✅ What makes construction tech distribution different from regular SaaS
✅ Why community building matters as much as features
Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear practical insights for anyone building or investing in construction tech.
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Chapters
00:00 The Importance of Distribution in AEC Tech
03:05 Execution Moat: The Key to Success
05:59 Navigating Distribution Challenges in Construction Tech
09:08 Market Dynamics: Distribution Strategies for Different ARR Levels
12:04 Global Perspectives: Indian Founders Targeting the US Market
14:49 Comparative Approaches: US vs. Indian Founders in Distribution
18:08 Community Building: A Strategy for Distribution Success
21:00 The State of SaaS in Indian Construction Tech
24:12 VisiBuild: A Case Study in Construction Tech Investment
33:14 Exploring Visibild's Impact in Construction Tech
36:09 The Evolution of Quality Checks in Construction
40:05 Unicorns in Construction Tech: Australia’s Rising Stars
42:58 The Unique Landscape of Australian Startups
47:59 Challenges and Opportunities for Australian Founders
52:57 Assessing Product-Market Fit in Construction Tech
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Retrofitting Yellow Machines: The $250,000 Labor Cost Savings in Construction
Are robots taking over construction sites? The future of "yellow machines" might surprise you.
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Teleo, a startup retrofitting heavy machinery for remote operation and semi-autonomous functionality.
We also explored the intriguing case of ServiceTitan's IPO plans, shedding light on the complex dynamics of venture capital and founder equity.
Additionally, we delved into the challenges and opportunities in automating construction equipment across various environments.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ The battle between full autonomy and teleoperation in construction robotics
✅ Why retrofitting existing machinery could be a game-changer
✅ How controlled vs. uncontrolled environments impact automation adoption
✅ The potential pitfalls of aggressive venture funding for founders
Listen now on Spotify to stay ahead of the curve in construction tech innovation.
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Chapters
00:00 Exploring the Robotics Space
03:02 Teleoperation vs. Full Autonomy
05:58 Applications in High-Risk Environments
08:55 Market Dynamics and Venture Backability
12:03 OEMs vs. Startups in Innovation
14:59 The Future of Autonomous Machinery
17:54 Service Titan's Path to IPO
31:09 The Russian Roulette of Venture Capital
34:41 Conflicts of Interest in Business Decisions
39:12 The Cost of Venture Capital
41:51 Understanding IPOs and Profitability
44:04 Economic Predictions and Their Implications
52:57 The State of Construction Technology in Europe
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Bricks, Buck$ 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 $1B investment is yielding better returns."
In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we did our November Monthly Review where we reflected on an action-packed month of content creation and exciting future plans.
We even explored fascinating market dynamics, founder insights, and geographic opportunities in construction tech.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Our successful launch of the AI in Construction Report and first steps into monetization
✅ Highlights from our Boston trip interviewing startups at Suffolk's boost cohort
✅ Behind the scenes of the upcoming Ediphi super series releasing in January
✅ Plans for New York and San Francisco tour in 2025, plus a potential India expansion
Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear Owen, Martin, and Patric discuss their key takeaways from November, upcoming content plans, and Patric’s take on why founders often over-obsess with product and under-obsess with distribution.
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Chapters
00:00 End of Year Reflections
03:01 Cultural Differences in Business Mindset
05:50 The Impact of Travel on Business
08:47 Exploring AI in Construction
12:11 The Role of Community in Innovation
14:55 Challenges in Design and Construction Software
17:52 The Disconnect Between Traditional and Startup Worlds
21:00 The Influence of Trust in Business Relationships
24:07 Venture Capitalists in Government
26:59 The Future of Governance and Innovation
32:48 Understanding Argentina's Political Landscape
35:09 The Importance of Product Distribution
40:40 Marketing Challenges in Construction Tech
43:47 Trends in AEC Technology
44:29 Talent Acquisition in the AEC Sector
46:03 Investment Trends in Construction Tech
50:34 Cultural Insights: Christmas Traditions
57:33 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans
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Bricks, Buck$ 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.