#077 - AI's Transformative Impact on Architecture and Engineering - Conversational Design, Predicting Delays and Saving £200bn
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Alan Mosca, Co-Founder and CTO at nPlan
In this episode, we learn about how AI is starting to transform construction planning, design, and risk analysis, how generative AI is helping architects rapidly iterate over design options, and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
How NPlan accurately analyses historical project data to predict future delays and budget overruns with over 90% accuracy
His predictions for design to be completed with conversational AI
What jobs AI threatens the most
Tips for technical founders in ensuring their AI products solve real problems and the importance of vertical specialisation.
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Alan Mosca | Co-Founder and CTO at nPlan
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Timestamps:
(00:00:00 - 00:02:13) - Intro
(00:03:31 - 00:08:18) - How Alan got into machine learning and AI
(00:08:19 - 00:16:12) - Use of AI to predict construction project risks
(00:16:13 - 00:24:18) - How to apply AI/ML to optimization and planning in construction
(00:24:19 - 00:45:26) - Impact of AI in construction
(00:45:26 - 00:48:26) - Outro
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Julian Clayton, the VP of Product for General Contractors at Procore.
In this episode, we learn about Julian’s journey, Innovations and product management at Procore, the role of a VP in the product team and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
What VP of Product does
How innovation happens and new products are launched
How the implementation of products are managed
Strategies to keep yourself motivated
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Julian Clayton | VP of Product for General Contractors at Procore | ConTech
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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:
(0:00-12:30) - Intro
(12:30 -14:50) - What a VP of Product does
(14:50-18:00) - How innovation happens while launching a new product
(18:00-24:00) - How you manage the implementation of new products
(24:00-28:10) - How do you decide on products to be released in future
(28:10-32:10) - Strategies that keep you motivated
(32:10- 33:01) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#053 - Linden Dover - Strategies For Startup Growth In Construction Tech
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Linden Dover, Founder of Weaver. We discuss his journey of building a tech startup, B2B and B2C dynamics in the construction industry, future of home renovation and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
Strategies for growing a startup
Challenges while onboarding construction workers in tech
B2C challenges in construction tech
The future of home renovation
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Linden Dover | Founder of Weaver | ConTech
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We are travelling to Chicago to Procore Groundbreak on September 19th and 20th to interview innovators in construction technology - let us know if you are coming!
If you are, use promo code BRICKS100 for $100 off your ticket price.
Check https://www.procore.com/groundbreak
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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:
(0:00:00-0:05:54) - Intro
(0:05:54-0:10:07) - How to manage tech background in any startup
(0:10:07-0:19:34) - Strategies for growing a startup
(0:19:34-0:25:24) - How to onboard construction workers in tech
(0:25:24-0:27:05) - B2C challenges in construction tech
(0:27:05-0:37:04) - Thoughts on home renovation with tech and its future
(0:37:04-0:37:25) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#069 - Valentina Shegoyan - Securing Venture Capital In Real Estate Technology
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Valentina Shegoyan, Managing Partner at Second Century Ventures
In this episode, we learn venture capital investing, the future of real estate, what VCs look for in startup founders, and much more!
Tune in to find out:
Valentina’s journey to becoming a top VC
How the venture capital industry works and how to get funding as a startup
The qualities VCs look for in startup founders beyond just a good pitch
How real estate is becoming more data-driven and tech-enabled
Advice for startups on applying to accelerator programs and pitching to investors
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Valentina Shegoyan | Managing Partner at REACH UK - Second Century Ventures
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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 - 00:01:03) - Intro
(00:01:03 - 00:05:20) - Becoming a Managing Partner at a Venture Capital Firm
(00:05:20 - 00:06:04) - Insights Gained as a Managing Partner at Second Century
(00:06:04 - 00:12:40) - Understanding Venture Capital and Its Investments
(00:12:40 - 00:16:02) - Three Strategies for Engaging with Venture Capitalists
(00:16:02 - 00:24:24) - Traits Indicative of a Successful Founder
(00:24:24 - 00:29:30) - Predictions for the Future of the Real Estate Market
(00:29:30 - 00:32:10) - Dynamics of VC-Founder Relationships and Aligning Incentives
(00:32:10 - 00:36:41) - Early-Stage and Later-Stage Venture Capital Investing
(00:36:41 - 00:39:28) - Outro
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 $7.7 million Series A funding, showing strong interest in the fencing market.
We also discussed Nexii's attempt to relaunch after going into liquidation, highlighting the challenges in offsite modular construction.\
Plus, we got candid insights from Patric on why advice from generalist VCs might be hurting construction tech startups.
Tune in to find out:
✅ Why fencing companies can see up to 200% profit margins
✅ The pros and cons of asset-heavy vs. asset-light models in construction
✅ How bad VC advice is affecting construction tech startups
✅ Why founders should be wary of VCs who can't admit what they don't know
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Company Mentioned:
EverFence
Ergion
Nexii
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Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe
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Bricks, Buck$ 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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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:
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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X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/
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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