What Happens When AI Meets the Jobsite: July's Construction Tech Monthly Roundup
What if the next construction tech unicorn is bootstrapped and uses AI to revolutionize how we design buildings?
Rohan from Joyst, a bootstrapped AI company, shows it's possible in the construction proposal space.
In our latest Bricks and Bytes monthly recap, Owen and Martin break down July's most fascinating developments in construction technology, featuring conversations with industry leaders.
Tune in to discover:
✅ Bernardo Gamboa's take on Latam's unique construction tech ecosystem
✅ Amir Berman (BuildDots) on effective go-to-market strategies for startups
✅ Rohan from Joyst and Shar from Firmus on AI in construction documentation
✅ Dev from NPLAN on innovative pricing models in construction tech
Listen now to hear our insights on July's biggest industry shifts.
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00:00 Parenting and Catching Up
02:09 Project Tensions in Construction
05:12 The Need for a Single Solution in Construction Tech
08:33 Exploring Robotics in Construction with Bit Builders
10:01 Go-to-Market Strategies and Value-Based Pricing in Construction Tech
13:16 Updates on the Podcast Network
read more
Bricks & Bytes
Shft Co-Founder Pulls the Cover Off BIM and Separates Facts from Fiction | Michelle du Plessis
The truth about BIM that will leave us questioning everything we thought and said about the technology.
In this episode, we have the pleasure of sitting down with BIM expert and Co-Founder of Shft - Michelle du Plessis.
The straight-talking Managing Director of Shft takes us straight to the heart of BIM. Michelle, an architect-turned-BIM consultant, pulls back the curtain and reveals the truth about the technology reshaping the construction industry.
In a candid conversation, Michelle dishes out some hard truths about BIM and builders. Discover the biggest misconception about this emerging field and why there's so much unwarranted negativity surrounding it.
Tune in and explore:
The biggest myth about BIM and why the negativity around it might be justified
The harsh reality of homeownership: buying properties you know little about If text-to-BIM technology can make BIM more accessible
Will small-scale projects eventually adopt BIM? (Michelle's predictions)
Why top contractors outsource BIM and the commercial drivers behind it
And a lot more …
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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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Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:03:11) Intro
(00:03:11-00:05:55) How and Why BIM Consulting
(00:05:55-00:14:40) Understanding BIM and Common Misconceptions
(00:14:40-00:21:45) About Shft and its Customer Base
(00:21:45-00:26:00) Impact of BIM on Mid-sized Projects
(00:26:00-00:35:13) Negative Perceptions Towards BIM
(00:35:13-00:44:50) Text To BIM
(00:46:10-00:47:13) Outro
read more
Bricks & Bytes
Story of £240M at Foster + Partners: Structures, Innovation, Enquiry & Discovery | Sheriff Tarabishy
What does technology mean for the UK's #1 architecture firm?
Join Sheriff Tarabishy - Associate Partner of Foster + Partners as he reveals the innovation, sustainability and design driving the groundbreaking work at Foster + Partners. He takes us behind the scenes to reveal how they're using advanced technology to push boundaries in architecture.
Hear how the guys at Foster + Partners are developing their own cloud-based tools like Hermes for seamless work collaboration – and how they’re using machine learning to optimise design.
Sheriff shares his thoughts on our journey with AI and his take on the imminent changes that technology will bring to construction.
Key Takeaways:
How Foster + Partners uses custom tools and new technologies to drive innovation at work
The game-changing potential of machine learning and generative AI for architectural design
Overcoming challenges through cloud-based collaboration platforms
Knowledge management strategies to capture and publish institutional expertise
The future mindset of architects
And a lot more.
Tune in and take a peek into the future of design.
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This episode is brought to you by Shft—the BIM partner you need to fill the gap in your digital skills and tackle your BIM needs, end-to-end.
Visit: https://maketheshft.digital
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Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:03:30) Intro
(00:03:30-00:09:25) About Sherif's Journey
(00:09:25-00:18:10) How Does Sherif's Day Looks Like
(00:18:10-00:29:40) Discussion on Exciting Tech Like Machine Learning and Generative AI
(00:29:40-00:37:47) Process That Sherif's Team Follow
(00:37:47-00:47:14) Future Role of Architect
(00:47:14-00:47:49) Outro
read more
Bricks & Bytes
Battling Rework: How Firmus is Saving Millions in Construction Errors
"Sometimes I walk and I see buildings and I'm like, I can't believe that humans did it. We're so small and we were able to build this. That's almost unbelievable to me sometimes."
In today's episode of the Bricks and Bytes Podcast, we had Shir Abecasis, Founder and CEO of Firmus, and we got to learn about how AI is transforming the pre-construction phase, the challenges of training AI to read construction drawings, and the massive impact of design errors on project costs.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ How Firmus uses AI to detect design issues before construction begins
✅ The staggering cost of rework in construction projects
✅ Why pre-construction is becoming increasingly important in the industry
✅ The delicate balance between AI vision and providing immediate value
Listen now on Spotify to hear Shir's insights on the future of construction tech and valuable lessons for aspiring founders in the AI space.
Unicorns, Coast's $40M Raise, and $34 Billion in Construction Tech Funding - Why Headcount Growth Might Be Misleading
Construction tech funding is booming, but is it all hype?
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we learned about Coast's impressive $40 million Series B raise for their financial services platform in transportation.
We also got insights on the surprising growth in construction tech funding, reaching 0.53% of total venture capital.
Plus, we heard a critical take on using headcount growth as a measure of startup success.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why Coast is attracting big investment
✅ The unexpected trends in construction tech funding
✅ Why unicorns in the sector are both rising and falling
✅ What really matters when evaluating startups (it's not just numbers)
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Company Mentioned
Coast
Brex
Veev
Nexii
Autodesk
Trimble
FlashTrack
Procore
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:32 Introduction to Coast: Financial Services Platform for Transportation
06:12 Coast's Funding and Investors
10:23 Assessing the Viability of Coast's Target Market
13:42 Analysis of Coast's Funding Rounds and Revenue Growth
18:07 Discussion on Investor Perceptions and Series B Funding
19:09 Market News: ConstruTech Funding Landscape
23:21 Analysis of Funding Trends in ConstruTech
27:45 Hype and Funding Rounds in Construction Technology
32:18 The Growth of Highly Substantiated Companies
36:26 The Asian Market and Funding Rounds
37:25 The Changing Landscape of Exits
41:41 Headcount Growth as a Metric for Startup Evaluation
read more
Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Fencing - The Hidden Gold Mine in Construction Tech & Nexii's Surprising Comeback
Is the fencing industry secretly one of the most profitable sectors in construction?
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we learned about EverFence's $7.7 million Series A funding, showing strong interest in the fencing market.
We also discussed Nexii's attempt to relaunch after going into liquidation, highlighting the challenges in offsite modular construction.\
Plus, we got candid insights from Patric on why advice from generalist VCs might be hurting construction tech startups.
Tune in to find out:
✅ Why fencing companies can see up to 200% profit margins
✅ The pros and cons of asset-heavy vs. asset-light models in construction
✅ How bad VC advice is affecting construction tech startups
✅ Why founders should be wary of VCs who can't admit what they don't know
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Company Mentioned:
EverFence
Ergion
Nexii
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
GUEST: Holobuilder’s Path To $34m Exit, Mo Akbari’s Journey Building The Pioneering Reality Capture Tool
Ever wonder how a startup goes from $8M to a big exit in construction tech?
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we learned about HoloBuilder's journey from raising $8M to being acquired by Faro.
We also found out that despite big investments, the reality capture market still has room to grow. Companies like Cupix and Faro are leading, but there's space for new ideas in robotics and AI.
Plus, we got insights on how some VCs are betting on AI startups, hoping to find the next big winner.
Tune in to discover:
✅ Why job site pizza beats expensive marketing in construction tech
✅ The potential of scan-to-BIM technology
✅ How some AI startups raise millions with just a pitch deck
✅ Why product adoption matters more than fancy tech in construction
Listen to the full episode on Spotify to learn more about construction tech and startup funding strategies.
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Company Mentioned:
Faro
Frankfurt Airport
Siemens
Autodesk
Contilio
Disperse
OpenSpace
Cupix
Doxel
HoloBuilder
Matterport
Hansel Phelps
Buildots
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Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Overview
01:09 The Journey of HoloBuilder: From Manufacturing to Construction
08:41 The Go-to-Market Strategy of HoloBuilder
14:20 The Decision to Exit HoloBuilder
23:15 The Three Components of Reality Capture in Construction Tech
28:03 Competition in the Reality Capture Space
35:18 Success Factors in Reality Capture Solutions
39:56 The Evolving Reality Capture Market and Market Leaders
41:33 Funding Challenges and Valuation Drops in Construction Tech
45:26 The Importance of Adoption and User Engagement in Construction Tech
57:34 Niche Markets and Disrupting Workflows in Construction Tech
01:09:43 Building Strong Customer Relationships in the Construction Tech Industry
read more
Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
€5.7M VC Bet To Retrofit Europe’s Housing Stock, "Pay What You Want" models and Nemetschek to India - Bricks, Bucks & Bytes
Could a "Cloud Installer" approach help insulate 30 million European homes faster?
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we learned about Varm's €5.7M seed round for their innovative insulation business. They're using a "Cloud Installer" approach to scale across Europe.
We also discussed Nemetschek Group entering India's construction software market, starting with university partnerships.
Plus, Patric Hellermann shared why he's excited about Varm and his thoughts on "pay what you want" pricing for software.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ How insulation can cut energy costs by up to 40%
✅ Challenges of selling €2,500 software licenses in India
✅ Varm's plan to train and equip local insulation businesses
✅ Why "pay what you want" pricing might not work for high R&D software
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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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Companies Mentioned :
Foundamental
VARM
Koala Insulation
Enpal
Thermondo
1.5 degrees
Service Titan
Autodesk
Bentley
Hexagon
Nemechek Group
Trimble
Rayon
AOPropTech
Emerge
Pale Blue Dot
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Funding Round
02:32 Varm's Focus on Insulating Existing Buildings
05:41 Cloud Installer: Varm's Business Model
10:09 Blow-In Insulation: A High ROI Measure
28:06 Introduction to Nemechek Group's Expansion into India
31:59 The Potential of the Indian AEC Software Market
36:26 Challenges of Pricing Models in the Indian Market
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