10x Faster Structural Drawings: Genia's AI Co-Pilot for a New Era of Design
Imagine generating structural engineering drawings 10 times faster. That's what Genia is doing, and it's changing the game for structural engineers.
Recently we were invited to the BOOST cohort from Suffolk Technologies where we had a chance to interview Zhihao, co-founder and CEO of Genia, and we got to learn about how their generative design co-pilot is transforming the industry.
Tune in to find out about:
How Genia uses AI to generate structural drawings while ensuring accuracy and code compliance.
Why Genia is reducing human errors and material use by 5-20% in designs.
How they are building trust with engineers through transparent calculations and detailed analysis reports.
How their technology is automating end-to-end processes that were once manual and time-consuming.
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Bricks & Bytes
"Generalists Will Die” - Why Construction VC Firms Will Outperform Generalists - Vivin Hegde, GP Zacua Ventures
"Construction tech funding went from less than 30 million in 2012 to around 7 billion in 2022, a more than 60x increase in just 10 years."
***Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. SIGN UP HERE***
In this episode, we had Vivin Hegde, Director at Zacua Ventures, and we got to learn about his personal journey from an engineer in India to a VC in the US, Zacua's unique investment thesis, and how becoming a parent has changed his perspective on work and life.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why Vivin believes construction tech is ripe for disruption
✅ How Zacua's close relationship with LPs gives them an edge in investing
✅ The 3 key things Zacua looks for in early-stage startups
✅ Vivin's advice for founders on what to avoid when scaling
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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
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BuildVision is a procurement network for the $5T commercial construction market. We are transforming the commercial construction supply chain by bringing contractors, manufacturers, and project stakeholders onto a single software platform—revolutionizing how every component is sourced, purchased, and financed.
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Timestamps:
(00:00 - 02:52) - Intro To Our Sponsors & Guest
(02:52 - 14:05) - How Vivin Got Into Venture Capitals
(14:05 - 17:40) - How To Figure Out A Good Partner In Business
(17:40 - 27:00) - About Zacua Ventures
(27:00 - 29:27) - How Zacua Ventures Operates As A Team From Different Parts Of The World
(29:27 - 42:30) - Investment Thesis Of Zacua Ventures
(42:30 - 55:55) - Vivin's Perspective On Robotics In Construction
(55:55 - 01:04:00) - Relationship Between Ventures Firm And Limited Partner
(01:04:00 - 01:07:00) - How To Identify Real Problems Before Investing
(01:07:00 - 01:13:45) - Where Startups Go Wrong In Construction Tech
(01:13:45 - 01:21:17) - How Becoming A Parent Has Impacted Vivin's Life
(01:06:21 - 01:21:17) - Problems of Construction Tech Across Different Geographies
(01:21:17 - 01:22:18) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
27 Years at DPR: How a $90M Tech Budget Drives Construction Innovation
Note: This episode is a Re-Release from Corporate Innovations.
Big tech investments without testing? At DPR Construction, that's a hard NO. Even with a $90M annual tech budget, they won't invest until they've tested solutions on actual projects.
In today's episode of Corporate Innovations from Bricks & Bytes, we had Atul Khanzode, CTO of DPR Construction, sharing invaluable insights from his 27+ years of experience in construction technology and innovation.
Tune in to learn about:
✅ Why DPR requires testing every solution before investing, after losing $500K on an untested startup
✅ Their unique "discipline innovation approach" focusing on 5 key areas: safety, quality, sustainability, supply chain, and productivity
✅ How they manage a $2-3M annual innovation budget separate from their main tech spending
✅ Why they partner with OpenAI, Microsoft, and Autodesk instead of building everything in-house
Listen now on Spotify to hear Atul's practical advice for construction tech startups and learn how one of America's largest general contractors approaches innovation
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:40 The Evolution of Technology in Construction
05:41 Defining the Role of a CTO in Construction
08:36 Measuring Success in Construction Technology
11:29 Challenges of Innovation in the Construction Industry
14:45 DPR's Innovation Strategy
17:34 Navigating the Technology Adoption Process
20:46 Learning from Technology Pilots
23:41 Addressing Industry Pain Points with Technology
26:35 Investing in AI and Future Technologies
30:51 Strategic Partnerships in AI Development
32:19 Budgeting for Technology Investments
33:01 Identifying Key Stakeholders for Technology Solutions
34:20 Evaluating Technology Costs and ROI
36:02 Lessons from Failed Technology Implementations
38:05 Investing in Construction Technology
40:49 Strategic Investments and Core Business Alignment
43:03 Operational Tools for Investment Management
45:26 Emerging Trends in Construction Technology
46:55 Advice for Startups Pitching Technology Solutions
49:00 Integrating Technology, Process, and Organization
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Bricks & Bytes
Building A Business To Exit - Lessons From A $219m Sale - Saurabh Saxena
In today’s episode, we have Saurabh Saxena, an exited founder (Quandoo $219m and WNS: NYSE), Investor and current Head of Investments & Acquisitions at Axel Springer
In this episode, we learn about some key insights on building businesses with a focus on successful exits, navigating the world of private equity, embracing continuous growth and exploration, and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
How to identify if your business idea has enough "headroom" to scale using simple pre-sales tactics
Why 95% of venture-backed startups never reach a liquidity event
Why most European construction tech startups struggle to scale beyond £10 million in revenue
How private equity firms retool and scale traditional (or boring) businesses using the "buy and build" model
And what life looks like after an exit
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Saurabh Saxena | Head of Investments & Acquisitions at Axel Springer
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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:
(00:00:00-00:02:35) Intro
(00:02:35-00:15:03) How to Build a Business with an exit in mind
(00:15:03-00:21:54) KPIs that Business is good for exit
(00:21:54-00:39:27) Life post-exit
(00:39:27-00:51:05) How to be successful in the world of Private Equity
(00:51:05-01:00:02) Space @ University of Oxford
(01:00:02-01:01:23) Outro
AI, Low-Carbon Cement, and the Missing Science VCs: Hidden Pitfalls in Construction Tech Investing
Venture capital flooding into AI startups, but are we overlooking the real breakthroughs in construction materials?
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we explored Findable, a Norwegian startup transforming building documentation, which raised €9 million in Series A funding.
We discussed Holcim's investment in Sublime Systems' innovative low-carbon cement technology, sparking a conversation about sustainable building materials.
Also, we delved into a VC's perspective on the challenges faced by startups valued between $50-200 million in revenue but struggling to find exit opportunities.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ The potential and challenges of AI-driven document management in real estate
✅ Why scientific breakthroughs in building materials can't be rushed with capital
✅ The importance of distribution advantages in AI-powered construction tech
✅ The complexities of valuation and exit strategies for mid-sized startups
Listen to the full episode on Spotify to gain valuable insights into construction tech, venture capital, and sustainable building materials.
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Enscape's Journey From Idea To Exit - Moritz Luck, Co-Founder & CEO
From garage startup to major exit: The Enscape story
In this episode, we had Moritz, co-founder of Enscape, and we got to learn about his journey from a university project to a game-changing 3D rendering software... and many more!
Tune in to find out about:
✅ How Enscape evolved from a VR treadmill idea to revolutionizing architectural visualization
✅ Why focusing on customer happiness trumps optimizing for investor metrics
✅ The power of community-driven marketing in the AEC industry
✅ The future of AI in rendering and its impact on existing tools
Listen now on Spotify to hear Moritz's insights on building a successful startup, navigating acquisitions, and the future of design technology.
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Company Mentioned:
Enscape
Chaos
Autodesk
Lumion
Twinmotion
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Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
03:02 The Evolution of Enscape
06:07 Understanding Rendering in Architecture
09:01 The Role of Rendering in the Design Process
12:01 Enscape's Position in the Rendering Market
15:02 Innovations and Challenges in Rendering Technology
18:00 The Journey of Enscape: From Founding to Exit
20:59 Acquisition Insights and Market Dynamics
23:55 Customer-Centric Approach to Business
26:54 The Future of Rendering and AI Integration
29:59 The Design Stack: Merging Tools and Technologies
32:59 Community and Distribution Strategies
35:48 Final Thoughts and Future Directions
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Can Small Modular Nuclear Reactors Solve Big Energy Problem? - Last Energy's $40M Bet on Energy Independence
Nuclear power's comeback? Last Energy raises $40M for micro modular reactors
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Last Energy's $40 million Series B funding for developing 20 MWe micro modular nuclear power plants.
We also explored how nuclear energy fits into the broader energy landscape, including its role in providing baseload power for data centers.
Additionally, we delved into venture capital fund economics and the challenges of generating returns for large funds.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ The potential for modular nuclear reactors in energy independence
✅ How nuclear power complements other energy sources on the grid
✅ Why fund size impacts venture capital returns
✅ The bifurcation of VC into large platforms and specialized early-stage funds
Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear on the future of energy and venture capital.
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Company Mentioned:
- Last Energy
- Sequoia
- Andreessen Horowitz
- Tiger Global
- Revolut
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Timestamps
00:00 Welcome Back and Episode Recap
02:25 Exploring Nuclear Power and Last Energy
12:47 The Future of Nuclear Energy in the West
19:24 Regulatory Challenges and Market Demand for Nuclear
24:46 Understanding Baseload Energy and Its Importance
29:27 Venture Capital Insights and Market Dynamics
44:19 The Economics of Fund Sizes and Return
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
New Scheduling Tools, US Startups High Failure Rate, & How Supply-Side Focus is Reshaping Tech Companies
Is the traditional construction scheduling software about to become obsolete?
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we discussed Planera's fresh take on construction scheduling, which just secured $13.5M in Series A funding.
We also explored the surprising uptick in US startup failures and what it reveals about the current market.
Additionally, we delved into the potential shift from demand-focused to supply-focused business models in tech.
Tune in to discover:
✅ How Planera aims to simplify complex construction scheduling
✅ Why more startups are failing, but it might not be all bad news
✅ The rising importance of vertical integration in tech companies
✅ How emerging markets are driving innovation in B2B platforms
Want to stay ahead in construction tech and startup trends? Listen now on Spotify.
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Company Mentioned:
Planera
Oracle (specifically their Primavera P6 software)
OpenAI
Microsoft
Uber
Meta (formerly Facebook)
SpaceX
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Timestamps:
02:12 Planera: Innovating Construction Scheduling and Planning
06:42 The Challenges of Traditional Scheduling Tools in Construction 0
9:01 The High Failure Rate of Startups: A Natural Evolution
24:07 The Role of AI in Startups and the Construction Industry
30:01 The Shift towards Collaborative and Visual Solutions in Construction
31:15 The Dominance of the US Startup Market
32:39 The High Failure Rate in US Startups
33:54 Profitability of European Venture Funds
41:30 The Shift Towards Vertical Integration and B2B Marketplaces