UNCUT: Big Money. Big Tech. Rags To Riches - Construction's Digital Dawn | April Roundup w/ Owen & Martin
Ready for a no-holds-barred look at the high-stakes world of construction tech? Join Owen and Martin for their unfiltered April roundup.
We're turning the spotlight on million-dollar deals, underdog wins, robot bricklayers, and all the industry buzz. Plus, get the inside track with our new "Bricks, Bytes & Broadcast" format featuring investor Patric Hellerman.
Never miss a beat.
Key takeaways from 9 action-packed episodes:
Profit-first secrets from real estate heavyweight Shawn Van Dyke (and what's the big deal with the "toothpaste theory"?)
Master the fundraising game – learn the art of the pitch
East vs. West: Startup pitch strategies clash across continents
Could robots be building your next home? We explore the future of automation
Multi-billion pound digital transformation at Canary Wharf
Get inspired by leaders like Foster + Partners (and their in-house digital tools)
And a lot more ..
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Sign up for our newsletter The Bytes Line at: https://bricksbytes.show
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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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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:
(00:00:00-00:00:36) Our Sponsors
(00:00:36-00:03:25) Some Chit-Chat
(00:03:25-00:14:45) B&B Broadcast & Fav Episodes
(00:14:45-00:20:58) Robotics in Construction
(00:20:58-00:28:08) Interesting Insights From Episodes Released In April
(00:28:08-00:33:22) Plans For Future
read more
Bricks & Bytes
The $2 Billion Playbook For Driving Innovation | Todd Wynne - CIO, Rogers O Brien
Construction is not looking for innovation. It’s solutions like this they’re chasing with millions.
Join us for an exciting episode with Todd Wynne, Co-Founder of Project Atlas and the Chief Innovation Officer at Rogers O'Brien Construction – as he reveals the secrets behind success in construction innovation. Get a clear picture and see why some construction innovations work while most do not. This is a pivotal episode for innovators, venture capitalists, and construction business owners.
Join Wynne as he takes us through his entrepreneurial journey with Project Atlas, a mapping technology acquired by Bluebeam in 2018 after years of passion, perseverance and pitfalls. Discover what companies like Autodesk and Procore are looking for when considering acquisitions – and why innovation needs a framework to be successful in construction.
Key takeaways:
The "Better Way" philosophy: How to instil a mindset of continuous improvement within your organisation
The Optima framework: A strategic approach to innovating and implementing new technologies
Management strategies: Tactics for overcoming resistance and driving successful adoption
Insights into the construction tech landscape: Expert guidance on navigating the evolving market and identifying the right solutions for your business.
Lessons from a successful acquisition: Hear firsthand how Wynne's entrepreneurial journey with Project Atlas led to a major industry acquisition.
And much more.
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Sign up for our newsletter The Bytes Line at: https://bricks-bytes.com
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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:
(00:00:00-00:02:15) Intro
(00:02:15-00:06:41) About Project Atlas
(00:06:41-00:08:03) How Todd Found His Co-Founder
(00:08:03-00:23:18) Defining Innovation And Steps To Implement It
(00:23:18-00:34:40) Todd's OPTIMA Framework
(00:34:40-00:44:05) Questions To Be Asked Before Making A Big Decision
(00:44:05-00:51:18) How To Tackle Cost While Implementing Technology In Construction
(00:51:18-00:54:40) Head Count vs Revenue
(00:54:40-01:05:27) Story Behind Project Atlas
(01:05:27-01:11:34) Keep Building vs Selling
(01:11:34-01:12:39) Outro
read more
Bricks & Bytes
Why Construction Is The New Hotbed Of Tech Innovation| Omar El-Ayat, General Partner at Euclid Ventures
Join us as Omar El-Ayat, general partner at Euclid Ventures, takes us on a journey into the exciting world of vertical SaaS - and explains its phenomenal impact on the construction industry. Discover how purpose-built software is tackling age-old challenges in construction, helping businesses overcome fragmentation and streamline complex processes.
Plus, hear why investing in founders with deep domain expertise is crucial, the importance of addressing critical "hair on fire" problems, and how new technologies like generative AI could influence the next wave of innovation.
Key Takeaways:
Understand how Vertical SaaS differs from horizontal software and why it's essential for the construction industry.
Learn the importance of domain expertise and industry connections in fostering successful Vertical SaaS ventures.
Discover the significance of addressing acute pain points ("hair on fire" problems) to drive technology adoption.
Tune in to uncover how Vertical SaaS is not just a trend but a transformative force in the construction industry!
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Sign up for our newsletter The Bytes Line at: https://bricks-bytes.com
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/
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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:
(0:00 - 2:14) - Intro to Guest and Sponsor
(2:14 - 9:30) - Omar's journey as a Venture Investor
(9:30 - 14:15) - How To Spot Large Underserved Industry For Investment
(14:15 - 15:40) - What Is Vertical SaaS
(15:40 - 24:10) - Omar's Approach to Industry where He Is Not An Expert At
(24:10 - 32:27) - Recurring Challenges While Selling In Construction
(32:27 - 48:30) - Omar's Views on Go-To-Market In Construction
(48:30 - 56:20) - Importance of AI while choosing Startups In Vertical Startup
(56:20 - 58:36) - Importance of Profitability While Investing In Startups
(58:36 - 01:10:52) - Learnings Omar's Learned Building Euclid Ventures
(01:10:52 - 01:11:31) - Outro
read more
Bricks & Bytes
Selling To Owners Is Harder - Why Construction Tech Companies Should Target Developers Over Contractors To Make Money
"If you're a VP of Sales and things go wrong, you either failed or got a bad plan. But if you're a CRO and things go wrong, you probably shouldn't have taken the job."In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Mike Pettinella and we got to learn about scaling construction tech from zero to a $275M exit, the brutal realities of international expansion, and why targeting owners instead of contractors is the harder but smarter play... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ Why sales is only two things: volume and efficiency (and you can't train volume)✅ The real difference between selling to American vs British buyers✅ How Building Connected went from zero revenue to Autodesk acquisition✅ Why dedicated reality capture beats DIY solutions every timeMike's journey from forensic construction consulting to leading sales at unicorn startups reveals hard-won insights about building in the most relationship-driven industry on earth.Listen on Spotify now to hear the full conversation.-----------Our Sponsor: Archdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.io---------------Chapters00:00 Intro02:49 Understanding Roles: CRO vs. VP of Sales03:58 Building Connected: The Journey to Acquisition06:05 Transitioning to Monetization: Challenges and Strategies07:55 Sales Strategies: From Inside Sales to Enterprise Deals11:49 Geographic Sales Dynamics: Where's the Business?14:03 Consulting to Sales: Skills and Strategies Transferred16:22 Managing Sales Volume: Efficiency and Technology19:14 Cultural Shift: Selling in EMEA vs. North America24:59 Expanding Markets: Product Adaptation is Key28:58 OnSight IQ: The Journey and Vision of a Startup33:34 Characteristics of Great Founders: Relentlessness and Empathy37:25 Cooking and Morning Routines38:38 Targeting Owners in Construction42:54 The Importance of Construction Data Ownership46:12 Strategies for Targeting Developers49:14 Reality Capture in Construction53:04 Best Practices for Reality Capture56:08 Future of Data Utilization in Construction58:45 Speeding Up Sales Cycles1:00:35 Managing Multiple Stakeholders1:02:09 Closing Big Deals1:04:04 Pricing Strategies in Construction Tech1:05:48 Mentoring in Sales1:09:02 The Story Behind the Art1:11:29 Exciting Product Developments
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 $8M to being acquired by Faro.
We also found out that despite big investments, the reality capture market still has room to grow. Companies like Cupix and Faro are leading, but there's space for new ideas in robotics and AI.
Plus, we got insights on how some VCs are betting on AI startups, hoping to find the next big winner.
Tune in to discover:
✅ Why job site pizza beats expensive marketing in construction tech
✅ The potential of scan-to-BIM technology
✅ How some AI startups raise millions with just a pitch deck
✅ Why product adoption matters more than fancy tech in construction
Listen to the full episode on Spotify to learn more about construction tech and startup funding strategies.
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Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe
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Company Mentioned:
Faro
Frankfurt Airport
Siemens
Autodesk
Contilio
Disperse
OpenSpace
Cupix
Doxel
HoloBuilder
Matterport
Hansel Phelps
Buildots
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Timestamps
00:00 Introduction and Overview
01:09 The Journey of HoloBuilder: From Manufacturing to Construction
08:41 The Go-to-Market Strategy of HoloBuilder
14:20 The Decision to Exit HoloBuilder
23:15 The Three Components of Reality Capture in Construction Tech
28:03 Competition in the Reality Capture Space
35:18 Success Factors in Reality Capture Solutions
39:56 The Evolving Reality Capture Market and Market Leaders
41:33 Funding Challenges and Valuation Drops in Construction Tech
45:26 The Importance of Adoption and User Engagement in Construction Tech
57:34 Niche Markets and Disrupting Workflows in Construction Tech
01:09:43 Building Strong Customer Relationships in the Construction Tech Industry
read more
Bricks, Buck$ 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