#013 - Ram Ramisetti - Start-ups, Investing & Construction Technology
Get out of the building!!!
Today we are delighted to welcome someone who lives and breathes construction technology, Ram Ramisetti.
From India to Europe, the Middle East, and now the USA, Ram worked his way from architecture to sustainability and now acts as both an Investor, and Advisor to construction technology companies.
Tune in to hear Ram's advice and insights on:
Global construction,
Pain points and opportunities
Strategies for founders
Fundamentals for success and scaling.
If you’re enjoying the podcast, please check us out on Spotify, Google, Pocketcasts, Apple and any other place you get your podcasts from.
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Bricks & Bytes
#060 - Steve Zahm - Chief Culture Officer - Tips & Strategies For Building The Workplace People Love
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Steve Zahm, the Chief Culture Officer at Procore.
In this episode, we learn some key lessons from Steve while working at Procore, tips to build a healthy culture in a company, cultural differences in the software and construction industry, and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
Key lessons Steve learned as Chief Culture Officer
The secret sauce behind the thriving culture at Procore
Strategies for ensuring a healthy culture in any company
Cultural Differences in the software industry and construction industry
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Steve Zahm | Chief Culture Officer at Procore | 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:
(0:00-5:10) - Intro
(5:10 -06:50) - Early Vision of Procore
(6:50-9:10) - Role of Chief Culture Officer at Procore
(9:10-12:10) - Secret sauce behind healthy culture at Procore
(12:10-17:10) - Key lessons Steve learned while working in Procore
(17:10-19:00) - Ways to measure culture in an organization
(19:00-21:20) - Difference in culture between Software Industry and Construction Industry
(21:20- 22:06) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#036 -Eric Helitzer - Simplifying Material Procurement In Construction
How do we simplify material procurement in construction?
In this episode, we talk with Eric Helitzer, CEO of Subbase.
Eric discusses his transition from traditional construction to construction technology and his approach to streamlining construction procurement.
We cover important topics such as:
The significance of understanding problems to develop effective tech solutions
Tips for validating ideas before investing time and resources
How to encourage a culture that supports innovation and technology adoption
Integrating technology into existing workflows without disrupting processes
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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Eric Helitzer | Founder & CEO of SubBase
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Today's Sponsor: beta - Construction and technology network platform - connecting the tech industry with traditional partners.
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Timestamps:
00:00 - 00:55 Pre-Intro
00:56 - 01:48 Owen's Intro
01:49 - 2:06 Sponsor
02:24 - Main podcast starts
04:09 - "You have to be on job site to understand what it physically looks like and what it physically feels like to work in construction."
04:34 - Story of Eric
06:10 - 2008 to 2014 career
06:38 - Procore Software
09:11 - "Subbase was born"
10:30 - Partnering to someone with no experience in construction
11:48 - A tool that enhance workflow
13:00 - About Subbase
14:00 - Complexities in process
15:00 - Streamlining the experience
19:06 - Raised first official round of funding
20:30 - Subbase becoming end-to-end solution
21:00 - 5 to 10 year vision
22:46 - "if you were to build a startup in construction tech, where would you start?"
24:00 - Amount of rejection you are going to receive
30:32 - You have to iterate very quickly
32:00 - No one has a clear playbook
35:20 - Other trends worth pursuing
38:00 - Strengthen relationship by providing better user experience
40:46 - "Any thoughts on how people incorporate technology into existing workflows?"
45:45 - Hobbies of Eric
47:00 - " if I wasn't working in construction"
48:05 - Where people can find out about Eric
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Bricks & Bytes
#010 - Brandon Johnson - Generating leads in construction
Next episode of Bricks&Bytes with very driven Brandon Johnson, CEO of SeracTech.
Brandon’s latest venture SeracTech helps converting planning applications into sales opportunities.
Please join us for this exciting conversation with Brandon.
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.
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