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
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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
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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
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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.
€69M for Carbon Capture, Trimble Buys Flashtract & Why VC Success from Accelerators is Misleading - Bricks, Bucks & Bytes
Is raising venture capital really a sign of success for startups?
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we explore Neustark's €69M growth round. We learn how they're making carbon capture a scalable industrial process, not just a scientific breakthrough.
We also dive into Trimble's acquisition of Flashtract, following similar moves by Autodesk and Procore. This trend is reshaping construction payment solutions.
Patric also shares some candid thoughts on startup accelerators and what really matters for success. Hint: it's not just about fundraising.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why Neustark's focus on industrialization sets them apart in the crowded climate tech space
✅ The evolving landscape of construction payment solutions and what it means for startups ✅ The surprising stats on startup success rates from accelerators (and why they might not matter)
✅ Why building a sustainable business trumps fundraising hype every time
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00:00 Intro
01:04 Neustark: Industrializing Carbon Capture and Storage
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
$1B Logistics Deal, $30M Saudi Tech Funding, and 3 Construction Market Insights: Gross Margin, Distribution & Impact Of Global Trade Shifts - Bricks, Bucks & Bytes
Is Saudi Arabia outpacing Silicon Valley in construction tech? A recent $30M funding round suggests so...
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we explored Tendered's major Series A funding, signaling the Middle East's growing importance in construction innovation.
We also dissected a billion-dollar logistics acquisition that could reshape the industry's tech landscape.
Plus, we uncovered why gross margins might be the hidden key to startup success in construction.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why Saudi Arabia is becoming a hotbed for construction tech
✅ How global trade shifts are impacting construction and logistics
✅ The surprising truth about product differentiation and deployment complexity
✅ Why distribution, not just product, creates category winners
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Funding News
01:32 Tendered: Revolutionizing Heavy Equipment Operations
25:03 The Signal of the Acquisition for the Logistics Technology Market
28:18 Asset-Like Transportation Solutions in Logistics
29:06 Comparing Funding in Logistics and Construction
29:20 The Risks and Opportunities of Focusing on the Saudi Arabian Market
29:50 Conclusion
31:06 The Correlation Between Logistics and the Wider Economy
36:21 The Impact of Geopolitical Events on Trading and Logistics Companies
45:07 The Importance of Gross Margin and Contribution Margin
55:05 The Seasonality of the AEC Sector
56:43 Avoiding Mistakes and the Role of Distribution in Becoming a Category Creator
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
BONUS - How India’s FIRST Unicorn In Construction Tech Was Created – InfraMarket - with Shubhankar Bhattacharya
From delivering concrete in Mumbai to becoming India's second-largest concrete supplier - how did InfraMarket do it?
In this episode, we had Shubh from Foundamental, an early investor in InfraMarket, and we got to learn about the unique challenges of the Indian market, InfraMarket's innovative acquisition strategy, and their journey to becoming a construction tech unicorn.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ How InfraMarket built trust by simply delivering on time in a market where that's not guaranteed
✅ The company's "outcome as a service" approach and its path to profitability
✅ InfraMarket's strategic expansion into consumer-facing products and global markets
✅ The role of working capital in scaling a construction materials business
✅ Insights on InfraMarket's upcoming IPO and India's growing stock market
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Timestamps
0:00 - Intro
4:13 - Presence Of Foundamental in India
8:12 - Space That Foundamentals are Focussing In India
11:45 - Labor Shortage In India
14:00 - Impact on Interest Rates In Construction Industry In India
16:20 - Dollar Milkshake Theory
20:00 - Misinconceptions in terms of Investing in India
23:00 - How Shubh Ended Up Investing In InfraMarket
37:40 - Acquisition Strategy
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Why 70% Of Investors Have A Negative Impact On Your Startup And The Future Of Energy Assessments - Bricks, Bucks & Bytes
Is remote sales killing your construction tech startup? One founder learned it the hard way. By listening to an investor who had no idea.
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Kelvin, a French startup using AI for home energy audits, which just raised 4.7 million euros.
We explored Turner & Townsend's latest construction cost survey, revealing cooling inflation across the sector.
Also, we delved into Vinod Khosla's controversial take that 90% of VCs add no value, with Patrick offering his candid perspective.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why Kelvin's remote energy assessment model may face challenges
✅ How construction labor shortages are reaching critical levels worldwide
✅ The dangers of taking advice from investors unfamiliar with construction
✅ Why construction cost inflation varies dramatically by region
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Company Mentioned:
Kelvin
Turner and Townsend
Enter
Enpal
Schneider Electric
Mac Markler
Kosla Ventures
Modulus
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Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Name
02:17 Kelvin: Using Technology for Energy Efficiency Audits
03:21 Construction Costs and Inflation
09:19 Challenges of Remote Data Assessment in Construction
35:15 The Dishonesty in the Investment World
49:00 The Lack of Exits in Construction Tech
53:27 Finding Value in Investors
55:43 Insights from Ex-Employees of Construction Tech Companies