Most Founders Hire CROs Too Early - Revenue Leadership Mistakes & Smart Framework from Unicorn Builders
"Bringing in a CRO too early is the death of any business. It's like bringing in Lewis Hamilton and saying drive my Fiat in a school zone."In today's episode of the Bricks & Bytes, we had Ricky from Deep Space and we got to learn about why most founders hire the wrong sales leadership at the wrong time, how to scale from zero to unicorn status, and the brutal reality of go-to-market in construction tech... and many more!Ricky took simPro from $10M to over $1B valuation as their first CRO. Now he's doing it again with Deep Space while running his own venture fund.Tune in to find out about:✅ The exact revenue stage when you should hire a CRO (hint: it's not when you think)✅ Why construction sales still requires picking up the phone in 2025✅ How to build repeatable sales processes that actually work in AEC✅ The real difference between good and bad revenue leadersListen now on Spotify and learn from someone who's actually built the playbook.
Chapters00:00 Intro01:50 Introduction and Guest Background05:48 Ricky's Journey in Tech and Venture Capital09:56 The Role of a Chief Revenue Officer (CRO)13:56 Sales Strategies and Market Adaptation17:51 Building Trust and Value in Sales21:46 Hiring Sales Reps and Team Dynamics25:38 Identifying the Right CRO for Your Business29:49 Metrics for Evaluating a CRO33:55 Advice for Early-Stage Founders36:01 Marketing and Content Strategy in AEC Tech37:54 Navigating Domain Expertise in Marketing41:15 Understanding the Sales Cycle Touchpoints43:49 Essential Tools for Early-Stage Businesses45:51 Deep Space: The Future of Construction Management Software52:52 Transparent Pricing in Software Solutions53:46 The Evolution of Product Management55:50 Balancing AI Adoption with Business Strategy57:52 Analyzing Ricky's LinkedIn Insights
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Bricks & Bytes
Inside AtkinsRealis' Digital Transformation - How AtkinsRealis Drives Digital ROI
"Genius is 99% perspiration and only 1% innovation."In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Darren Martin, Chief Digital Officer at Atkins Realis, sharing powerful insights about technology implementation in a global engineering firm with 40,000 employees.Tune in to find out about: ✅ How they evaluate technology investments (looking for at least 4X ROI within 12-18 months) ✅ The challenges of integrating startup technologies into enterprise environments ✅ Their approach to AI implementation across the organization ✅ Why future construction will combine "hyper personalization and hyper modularization"Listen now on Spotify to hear Darren's perspectives on innovation at scale in the AEC industry!
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Bricks & Bytes
Traditional Design Stack Is Dying! - Solving Compliance Challenges with AI-Powered Floor Plans
"To be able to provide more data faster, we need to rely on generation. In order to progress a project and know what's going to be built, you need floor plans." - Jesper on why floor plan generation matters.In today's episode of the Future of Design Series from the Bricks and Bytes, we had Jesper, co-founder and CPO of Finch, sharing insights on construction tech and the evolution from architect to tech founder. His journey from running an architecture firm to building a tool that generates floor plans 13x faster is fascinating!Tune in to find out about:✅ How a viral Grasshopper prototype led to a waiting list of 80,000 professionals✅ Why interoperability between design tools is crucial for the AEC industry✅ The importance of creating "compliant" floor plans that meet regional regulations✅ Why Jesper believes the future of design stack will be a fragmented market with best-in-class toolsListen to the full episode on Spotify to learn how Finch is transforming architectural workflows and why focus is the most valuable advice for construction tech founders.Download the Future of Design report here: https://bricks-bytes.com/downloads/------------Chapters00:00 Intro06:25 From Architecture to Tech: Jesper's Journey09:22 The Birth of Finch: Addressing Industry Frustrations12:20 Innovating Design: The Unique Features of Finch15:29 Compliance in Design: Ensuring Regulatory Adherence18:30 The Future of Finch: Focus and Interoperability21:36 Understanding the Market Need: Why Floor Plans Matter24:18 Client Success Stories: Efficiency and Time Savings27:33 Defensibility and Competition: Standing Out in the Market30:15 Interoperability Challenges: Seamless Integration with Existing Tools33:13 Emerging Tools in Architecture and Design36:07 Understanding Finch's Target Audience38:45 Go-to-Market Strategies and Lessons Learned39:58 Team Structure and Development Focus42:59 Funding and Financial Strategy47:28 Future of Design Tools in Construction
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Bricks & Bytes
How PlanGrid was Acquired for $875m - Ralph Gootee, CTO
"When we launched PlanGrid, it was the only enterprise product on the iPad. Even Facebook refused to make an iPad app because Zuckerberg didn't believe in it."In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, we had Ralph Gootee and we got to learn about how PlanGrid became the first enterprise app on iPad, the brutal year-long acquisition process, and why pricing decisions can make or break your startup... and many more!Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why iPad was crucial to PlanGrid's success when even Facebook refused to build an iPad app ✅ The $17,000 marketing hack that involved giving away free iPads to customers ✅ How having 5 co-founders worked despite conventional wisdom saying otherwise ✅ Why AI augments engineers but won't replace them anytime soonListen now on Spotify to hear the full story behind one of construction tech's biggest exits and what Ralph is building next with TigerEye.# Chapters00:00 Intro01:45 The Journey of PlanGrid: From Startup to Acquisition11:37 Product Development and Market Fit: Lessons Learned21:44 Navigating the Acquisition Landscape: Strategies and Insights31:41 The Role of AI in Construction: Opportunities and Challenges41:49 Building for Success: Founder's Mindset and Company Culture29:49 From Idea to Prototype: The Birth of a Startup31:18 Y Combinator: The Turning Point for PlanGrid33:39 Building a Team: The Importance of Co-Founders39:45 Solo Founders vs. Co-Founders: A Comparative Insight42:40 User Acquisition: The Power of Viral Growth in Construction46:44 Pricing Strategies: Lessons Learned from PlanGrid53:54 Hiring the Best: Building a Legacy at PlanGrid54:28 The Legacy of Plangrid and Its Impact on the Industry54:58 Challenges in Recruiting and Building a Team56:26 The Importance of Hiring the Right People58:54 Scaling Challenges and the Need for Fast Decisions01:02:13 Emerging Companies in Construction Tech01:03:18 Lessons Learned from Building Plangrid01:07:12 The Role of AI in Software Development01:13:08 Introducing TigerEye: A New Venture01:20:59 Evaluating ROI in Construction Tech
How Starpath Robotics Plans to Mine Space Water From Moon- Is It Even Possible?
Construction robots: From hot dogs to highways?
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we explored how robotics is changing construction.
We learned about Starpath Robotics' plan to mine water on the Moon for rocket fuel. This could change how we explore space.
We also covered how construction companies are now more open to using robots. This is due to a lack of skilled workers.
Patric and Gabriele shared insights on investing in construction tech startups.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why robotics companies should start with specific problems
✅ How construction robots can help with labor shortages
✅ What investors look for in robotics startups
✅ The importance of building a track record in robotics
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Billion-Dollar Blindspots: Are Construction Tech's 'Best' Lists Building on Quicksand?
Is the construction industry building its future on a foundation of hype? Think again. The latest market maps and "best-of" lists might be leading you astray.
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we explored McKinsey's updated report projecting a $22 trillion construction market by 2040, alongside the industry's looming labor crisis.
We discussed the expansion of the Bricks and Bytes podcast network, including new shows like "BitBuilders" focusing on robotics in construction.
Patric also shared his critical analysis of "best-of" lists and market maps in construction tech, revealing surprising insights about company success rates.
Tune in to find out:
✅ Why the construction industry is facing its most challenging and high-activity era ever
✅ How robotics might transform on-site construction in unexpected ways
✅ Why well-funded companies often underperform compared to their less publicized counterpart
✅ The importance of looking beyond funding and PR when evaluating construction tech startups
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Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever: https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/
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Company Mentioned:
- McKinsey
Gecko Robotics
Monumental
Mighty Buildings
Nexii
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00:01.08 - 14:00: Introduction and Bricks and Bytes podcast network updates
14:00 - 20:10: McKinsey's updated construction productivity report
20:10 - 29:00: Labor shortage in construction industry
29:00 - 38:00: Potential solutions to labor shortage
38:00 - 44:00: Attracting talent to construction industry
44:00 - 50:30: Patric Hellermann's analysis of "best-of" lists
50:30 - 54:00: Detailed breakdown of study results
54:00 - 57:30: Discussion on implications of the study
57:30: Closing remarks and end of episode
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
The Niche Domination Strategy - Why 1% of a Huge Market Could Kill Your Startup
Is your startup targeting just 1% of a massive market? Think again. This common pitch strategy might be hurting your chances with investors.
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we learned about Opus Flow's €1.7 million investment to boost their ERP solution for sustainable installers.
We also explored the 3D visualization market, discussing by 7.2 (formerly known as Apex Partners)'s investment in Lumion, a key player in AEC software.
Patric also shared valuable insights on building successful startups in crowded markets like construction tech.
Tune in to find out:
✅ Why focusing on a specific niche can be more powerful than chasing a small slice of a big market
✅ How Opus Flow stands out in the competitive ERP space
✅ Why adding AI isn't always enough to beat established players like Lumion
✅ The importance of profitability in your core business before expanding
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Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe
-----------------------------
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/
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Company Mentioned:
- OpusFlow
- Lumion
- Enscape
- Twinmotion
- Inframarket
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Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Icebreaker
06:32 Navigating the Crowded Market: Opus Flow's Differentiation
10:40 The Challenges of a Red Ocean Market and Margin Compression
13:00 The Importance of Partnerships and Distribution for Opus Flow
21:37 Becoming a Category Leader: Challenges and Opportunities for Opus Flow
24:03 Introduction to the Rendering Industry
26:28 Challenges Faced by Startups
31:20 The Importance of Differentiation and Capturing Entire Workflows
36:12 The Significance of Focusing on Specific Niches
44:46 Building a Profitable Core Business
48:30 The Misconception of Targeting a Small Percentage of a Large Market
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Why 2D Design Still Beat 3D & The Surprising Impact of AI on Architectural Firms and Pricing
Is the future of architecture in 2D, not 3D? Testfit founder's has got a surprising take…
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we learned how TestFit grew from a weekend project to raising a Series A, changing how architects do feasibility studies.
We also discovered why small firms might replace big ones like Gensler, as AI changes how architecture works.
Patric shared why "outcome as a service" companies are shaking up the construction tech world.
Tune in to find out:
✅ Why 2D design might still beat 3D and VR
✅ How AI could change the money side of architecture
✅ Why keeping customers matters more than getting new ones in construction tech
✅ The role of VC money in an industry that rarely reinvests in itself
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Company Mentioned:
TestFit
Gensler
Autodesk
Prologis
Katera
Good Eggs
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Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/
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Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Background
09:31 Issues with the Design Stack
18:44 The Importance of 2D Design
23:43 Automation and Problem Solving
26:01 Challenges in the Design Stack
26:53 Building Meaningful Automation in AEC
30:07 The Impact of Narratives in the Venture Industry
33:24 The Future of Architecture and Design in an AI-Driven World
34:21 The Potential Fragmentation of the AEC Industry
41:07 Picking VCs and the Importance of Customer Retention