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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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
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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
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Bricks & Bytes
#073 - Sarah Crawley - How Husband-Wife Duo Is Running A $1.7 Million Funded Construction Tech Company
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Sarah Crawley, Co-Founder of SymTerra
In this episode, we learn about the importance of networking, starting a tech business from scratch with just an idea, tips for raising funds for your startup, and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
The importance of establishing trust and strong relationships in the construction sector, where daily challenges are a norm.
The critical role of patience and respectful persistence in navigating the sales process in the construction industry.
How angel investors decide to fund startups, focusing on the importance of a good founding team, their story, and what makes their startup special.
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Sarah Crawley | Co-Founder of SymTerra
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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 - 00:08:35) - Intro
(00:08:35 - 00:12:15) - About Synterra
(00:12:15 - 00:15:06) - How to start a company from an idea
(00:15:06 - 00:20:56) - How to manage people to build tech as a Non-Tech Founder
(00:20:56 - 00:26:20) - Tips for someone looking to raise fund for their startup
(00:26:20 - 00:29:53) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#083 - Digital Transformation or Digital Demise? Construction’s Struggle With Digitisation, Tips For Start-Ups Building In Construction Tech, The Gold-Rush For Data
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Res Orgut, a mentor at Formwork Labs.
In this episode, we learn about the significance of innovation, data-driven decision-making, and continuous learning in the construction industry.
Tune in to find out about:
How program management offices are often catalysts for digital transformation by improving processes, governance, and standardization
The importance of problem-solving, connecting solutions to real needs
The rise of the role of data analyst in the construction industry and what this actually means
The rise of the role of data analyst in the construction industry and what this actually means for improving performance through analytics
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Res Orgut | Mentor at Formwork Labs
Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:02:28) Intro
(00:02:28-00:06:50) Role of Mentor at FormerLabs and Associate Director
(00:06:50-00:16:55) Biggest Challenge in AEC Startup
(00:16:55-00:19:30) LLMs in PMOs
(00:19:30-00:29:20) Use cases of AI and LLMs in Startup
(00:29:20-00:32:37) Success in Project Management
(00:32:37-00:32:37) Outro
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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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
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
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 $40 million Series B raise for their financial services platform in transportation.
We also got insights on the surprising growth in construction tech funding, reaching 0.53% of total venture capital.
Plus, we heard a critical take on using headcount growth as a measure of startup success.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why Coast is attracting big investment
✅ The unexpected trends in construction tech funding
✅ Why unicorns in the sector are both rising and falling
✅ What really matters when evaluating startups (it's not just numbers)
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Company Mentioned
Coast
Brex
Veev
Nexii
Autodesk
Trimble
FlashTrack
Procore
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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:32 Introduction to Coast: Financial Services Platform for Transportation
06:12 Coast's Funding and Investors
10:23 Assessing the Viability of Coast's Target Market
13:42 Analysis of Coast's Funding Rounds and Revenue Growth
18:07 Discussion on Investor Perceptions and Series B Funding
19:09 Market News: ConstruTech Funding Landscape
23:21 Analysis of Funding Trends in ConstruTech
27:45 Hype and Funding Rounds in Construction Technology
32:18 The Growth of Highly Substantiated Companies
36:26 The Asian Market and Funding Rounds
37:25 The Changing Landscape of Exits
41:41 Headcount Growth as a Metric for Startup Evaluation
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Bricks, Buck$ 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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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