#076 - Secrets To Boost Your Business in Construction - Business Development In The Built Environment
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Mark Worrall, CEO of BBI Services Ltd
In this episode, we learn about business development in construction, why technology works best when solving a well-defined problem, some common misconceptions like technology will magically fix problems, and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
How visual performance tracking helps teams know what to focus on fixing
Technology works best when solving a well-defined problem, not as a magic solution.
How modular fabrication needs to take a true production-led approach to succeed.
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Mark Worrall | CEO at BBI Services Ltd
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Timestamps:
(00:00:00 - 00:02:13) - Intro
(00:02:13 - 00:10:15) - About BBI Services
(00:10:15 - 00:15:30) - How to enhance people's performance at the workplace
(00:15:30 - 00:20:30) - Learning from Toyota's manufacturing practices
(00:20:30 - 00:40:49) - Biggest misconception about technology
(00:40:49 - 00:41:19) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#081 - From 0 to Real Estate Developer in 7 Years - The Tech, Tools, and Teachings Behind the Rise to the Top - Max Sanchez
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Max Sanchez, Real Estate Developer and Construction Innovator.
In this episode, we learn about Max's journey from music producer and sales manager to a real estate developer, the potential Max sees in using robotics and virtual reality capture in construction, and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
How Max went from selling customized USB drives to managing construction projects and diving into construction tech.
The lessons Max shares when selling tech solutions to developers.
How robotics and virtual reality capture can have a big impact in the industry
How to create win-win partnerships between developers and contractors
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Max Sanchez | Real Estate Developer and Construction Innovator
Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:06:35) Intro
(00:01:35-00:07:10) Background of Max Sanchez
(00:07:10-00:17:26) Advice for people looking to get into Real Estate
(00:17:26-00:23:00) Key Mistakes that Max made
(00:23:00-00:28:10) "Where Are We" in Construction Tech
(00:28:10-00:41:22) Technology in Property Development Business
(00:41:22-00:45:46) Reality Capture Solution and Robotics In Construction
(00:45:46-00:46:52) Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#079 - From Student to Co Founder - Building The ChatGPT for Construction
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Fauzan Reza Maulana, CEO of Rekava, an AI-driven digital assistant for the construction industry
In this episode, Fauzan shares his journey from student to Co-Founder and CEO as well as some eye-opening takeaways from his recent thesis on Startups In Construction Tech.
Tune in to find out about:
The ideal size and expertise of a founding team in construction tech
The importance of deeply understanding your customer's problems before building products
Fauzan's personal journey from civil engineering to programming to leading a tech startup and his key learnings along the way.
How Rekava is using AI to create a virtual assistant that can answer questions on construction project documents, acting as a knowledge base that never retires.
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Fauzan | Co-Founder at Rekava
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Timestamps:
00:00:00-00:02:00 Intro
00:02:00-00:06:10 Key Findings Working In Construction Tech
00:06:10-00:09:55 Current State of Construction Tech Startup
00:09:55-00:17:20 Transition from Student to Startup Founder
00:17:20-00:25:14 How do you find Founders
00:25:14-00:32:02 Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#070 - Ben Weiss - Unlocking Hidden Potentials In Low-Tech Industries
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Ben Weiss, Co-Founder of BinStar.
In this episode, we learn about the potential in low-tech industries like construction and the role technology can play in improving efficiency.
Tune in to find out about:
How the construction industry represents a major market opportunity that is overlooked by many investors
Why focusing on cost reduction and efficiency improvements is a better strategy than creating new revenue streams
The challenges of adopting new technology in traditional industries resistent to change
The future role of technology like drones and AI in optimisation of construction processes
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Ben Weiss | Co-Founder of BinStar
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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 - 00:02:30) - Intro
(00:02:30 - 00:05:20) - Ben's background in public markets and hedge funds
(00:05:20 - 00:12:00) - Defining "low-tech" industries and why they are interesting investment opportunities
(00:12:00 - 00:25:00) - How simple technology can have massive impact on traditional businesses
(00:25:00 - 00:35:33) - SolidSpace and its solution for construction project mistakes
(00:35:33 - 00:42:00) - Advice for new investors
(00:42:00 - 00:29:30) - 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