#029 - Josh Graham - Weather risk management in construction
Our today's guest is Josh Graham - CEO of tech company EHAB, which uses advanced weather modelling and impact analysis to help construction companies de-risk critical infrastructure projects.
In this episode we talk about:
- Josh's journey of setting up EHAB
- key lessons learnt when creating his startup
- real use cases of blockchain and smart contracts in construction industry.
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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Josh Graham | CEO of EHAB and CVC (Climate Venture Collective)
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Today's Sponsor: beta - Construction and technology network platform
- connecting the tech industry with traditional partners.
Chek: https://www.the-beta.com
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Timestamps:
00:00:00 --> 00:01:13 - Intro
00:01:13 --> 00:01:57 - Sponsor
00:01:57 --> 00:03:29 - Josh’s history of creating EHAB
00:03:29 --> 00:05:08 - Problems in creating sustainable property development company
00:05:08 --> 00:07:13 - Opportunities in sustainable property development
00:07:13 --> 00:07:38 - Does EHAB stand for something?
00:07:38 --> 00:10:10 - Process of identifying weather as a problem to tackle
00:10:10 --> 00:16:00 - Changes that EHAB makes in weather forecasting
00:16:00 --> 00:17:01 - Accuracy of forecast data
00:17:01 --> 00:20:05 - Key lessons learned in Josh’s journey
00:20:05 --> 00:22:06 - Future plans for EHAB
00:22:06 --> 00:23:02 - Project types that can benefit from EHAB
00:23:02 --> 00:24:44 - More about Climate Venture Collective
00:24:44 --> 00:30:01- Blockchain technology and its impact on construction industry
00:30:01 --> 00:33:54 - Smart contracts agreements
00:33:54 --> 00:35:04 - Josh’s regular day
00:35:04 --> 00:35:35 - What would you do with unlimited budget?
00:35:35 --> 00:36:18 - Book recommendation
00:36:18 --> 00:36:58 - More about Josh
00:36:58 --> 00:37:20 - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#019 - Paul Heming - Non Technical Founder CEO Insights In Construction Tech
From QS to the co-founder of a tech platform C-Link and host of the Own The Build podcast....
Today we welcome the legend, Paul Heming.
In this episode we deep dive into:
Paul's story and his early days of the journey
To-do's and not to-do's in the construction as a non-technical founder
About C-Link
The threats AND opportunities of technology on roles like QS', Architects/Engineers
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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Paul Heming
Co-Founder at C-Link (Procurement Software for Construction SMEs) and Host of the Own the Build Podcast.
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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 --> 00:01:32 - Intro
00:01:32 --> 00:02:32 - Sponsor
00:02:32 --> 00:03:33 - History of Paul Heming
00:03:33 --> 00:04:28 - Early days of the journey
00:04:28 --> 00:05:02 - Working a job during the beginning of the startup
00:05:02 --> 00:07:34 - The future of the QS role
00:07:34 --> 00:09:25 - Did Paul always wanted to be a QS?
00:09:25 --> 00:12:55 - What is C-Link?
00:12:55 --> 00:13:58 - Is C-link going to branch to SME's ?
00:13:58 --> 00:15:30 - What's the implementation srategy of C-Link?
00:15:30 --> 00:16:20 - At the beginning did C-Link bootstrap?
00:16:20 --> 00:17:42 - Should you bootstrap a business?
00:17:42 --> 00:19:51 - Marketing
00:19:51 --> 00:22:24 - Do and don't as non-technical founder of a construction company
00:22:24 --> 00:24:30 - Mistakes during hiring the technical team
00:24:30 --> 00:25:02 - When do you need a full-time CTO?
00:25:02 --> 00:26:33 - Future of C-Link
00:25:02 --> 00:29:05 - The purpose of the podcast (Own The Build Podcast)
00:29:05 --> 00:30:11 - Best episodes podcast (Own The Build Podcast)
00:30:11 --> 00:34:54 - The extinction of roles in construction
00:34:54 --> 00:36:13 - Team building
00:34:54 --> 00:37:25 - What is Paul's productivity hack?
00:37:25 --> 00:38:47 - What are you currently reading?
00:38:47 --> 00:39:24 - More about Paul
00:39:24 --> 00:39:42 - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#074 - Chris Barber - How Chris Turned an Idea from the Pub into a Startup
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Chris Barber, Co-Founder of C-Link and Prosper
In this episode, we dive into the realities of starting a business, lessons learned by Chris along the way, the Project Bank Account campaign, the early days of C-Link, and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
The importance of having a technical co-founder when building a software company
Why communicating your vision clearly is key to scaling your team
How bootstrapping for years forces smarter marketing with limited resources
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Chris Barber | Co-Founder of C-Link and Prosper
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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:
(00:00:00 - 00:02:34 ) - Intro
(00:02:34 - 00:08:27 ) - Introduction to C-Link and Prosper,
(00:08:27 - 00:15:18) - Project Bank Account Campaign
(00:15:18 - 00:21:12) - What would Chris do differently when starting out C-Link in 2024
(00:21:12 - 00:32:24) - Vision of C-Link
(00:32:24 - 00:35:09) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#075 - How the Next Wave of AI will Reshape Construction with Hugh Seaton
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Hugh Seaton, CEO at The Link.
In this episode, we learn about large language models, how AI like ChatGPT can transform construction, the risks involved in the usage of AI, the importance of hiring people for attitude over ability, and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
How ChatGPT can automate up to 15-20% of field paperwork in construction
AI risks like generating false information require humans to keep in the loop for now to check outputs.
Hiring for attitude over ability results in engaged employees who grow into roles as companies and tech evolve.
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Hugh Seaton | CEO at The Link
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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:
(00:00:00 - 00:04:40) - Outro
(00:04:40 - 00:12:15) - Rise of the AI Wave
(00:12:15 - 00:23:50) - Deep Dive into 'The Link'
(00:23:50 - 00:29:22) - Effective Techniques for Hiring Competent Team Members
(00:29:22 - 00:32:20) - Analysis of the Construction Industry in China
(00:32:20 - 00:34:29) - 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.