Why SaaS Is Dying & How Procurement Is Changing, Reality-Check On AI in Construction - Mike Powers
Are SaaS pricing models doomed in construction tech? Mike Powers thinks so.
In this episode, we had Mike Powers, founder of BuildVision, and we got to learn about his contrarian take on SaaS pricing in construction, the challenges of selling to the industry, and his vision for revolutionizing procurement in mechanical and electrical equipment... and many more!
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why BuildVision avoids traditional SaaS pricing
✅ The importance of providing tangible value to construction clients
✅ Strategies for penetrating large organizations as a startup
✅ Mike's views on AI's impact on construction in the next 5-10 years
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Timestamps:
(00:00 - 07:04) - Intro
(04:34 - 07:04) - What helped Mike Build BuildVision
(07:04 - 11:34) - Understanding Vision of BuildVision
(11:34 - 18:28) - Pricing Structure That Successful Startups Follow In Construction
(18:28 - 25:10) - Mike’s Take On The Use Of AI In Construction
(25:10 - 31:26) - How BuildVision Differentiates From Its Competitors
(31:26 - 38:57) - Struggles While Managing To FundRaise For BuildVision
(38:57 - 44:27) - How VCs Work With Team
(44:27 - 52:54) - Mike’s Advice For People Who Want To Master Sales
(52:54 - 01:05:12) - How Mike Made Transition From Sales To A Founder
(01:05:12 - 01:05:52) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
BBBC 13/04 - Europe's Hottest Startup, Retrofitting, PR Best Practice & Nonsense
With ageing housing stock and increasing environmental targets, retrofitting emerges as a critical solution.
In this episode, Patric, Owen & Martin dissect the challenges and opportunities inherent in this market, emphasizing the crucial role of data analysis and physical substance in guiding effective retrofitting decisions.
The conversation extends to the significance of platforms like Enter.de, which serve as vital connectors between suppliers, homeowners, and contractors in the retrofitting process.
Additionally, they explore the role of PR in investment rounds, acknowledging its potential for signalling momentum and raising brand awareness, albeit with the caveat of careful curation and audience consideration.
Key Takeaways:
Retrofitting addresses the pressing need posed by ageing housing stock and environmental goals.
Effective retrofitting decisions hinge on a blend of data analysis and physical substance.
Platforms like Enter facilitate seamless collaboration between stakeholders in the retrofitting process.
PR in investment rounds can boost momentum and brand visibility, but it necessitates thoughtful curation and understanding of the target audience.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Sunshade Experiment
10:55 Data Analysis and Physical Substance in Retrofitting Decisions
29:17 The Benefits and Considerations of PR in Investment Rounds
Companies Mentioned:
- XYZ Reality
- Enter.De
- Furbnow
- AECOMarketing (Kevin Ferguson)
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Bricks & Bytes
Why Latin America Needs Its Own Construction Tech Solutions - Bernardo Gamboa, Partner at Global Projects Strategy
Is Latin America the next frontier for construction tech?
In this episode, we had Bernardo Gamboa, Partner at Global Projects Strategy, who shared fascinating insights into the construction tech landscape in Latin America.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ The unique challenges and opportunities in the Latin American construction market
✅ How financial solutions are driving tech adoption in the region
✅ Why US companies struggle to expand into Latin America
✅ The exciting potential for AI and data-driven solutions in construction
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00:00 - Intro
00:41 - Background of Bernardo
3:45 - About BuildTech
06:47 - First Mover Advanatages That Bernardo Had In Latin America
11:30 - Examples Of Big Companies In Latin Amrerica
14:04 - Construction Tech Scenarios In Latin America
15:40 - Labor Shortage In Latin America
22:37 - Key Areas Of Investments For Bernardo
30:26 - Understanding Construction In Latin America
35:00 - Challenges In Integrating New Technologies In Construction In Latin America
39:00 - Things That Bernardo Looks Before Investing
48:50 - Future Of VC Culture In Latin America
59:20 - What Excites Bernardo About The Future Of Construction In Latin America
01:04:18 - Outro
"We've done over 160 acquisitions since 2002. Some small, some billion-dollar companies." - Alex Brihac, VP of Strategy at HexagonIn today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Alex Brihac from Hexagon, a $6 billion company that most in construction tech haven't heard of! We learned about their acquisition strategy, how they evaluate companies, and their vision for construction tech's future.Tune in to find out about:✅ How Hexagon decides between building vs buying technology (they spend $800-900M annually on R&D!)✅ Their four-pillar framework for evaluating acquisition targets✅ Why they sometimes acquire service businesses, not just technology companies✅ How founders should approach acquisition conversations with strategic buyersListen now on Spotify to hear insights from a company that's been quietly reshaping the construction tech landscape through strategic acquisitions for decades.--------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-------LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_ZgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/
Chapters00:00 Intro04:17 Introduction to Hexagon and Its Significance07:11 Understanding Hexagon's Technology and Services10:20 Research and Development Strategy13:21 Future Trends and Strategic Focus16:20 Mergers and Acquisitions Strategy22:10 Evaluating Potential Acquisitions28:25 Acquisition of Traditional Businesses and Services39:17 Shifting Payment Models in Technology40:03 Strategic Acquisitions and Market Dynamics43:08 Evaluating Potential Acquisitions44:05 Mergers and Acquisitions Strategy47:17 Current Trends in M&A Market50:23 Competitive Landscape in Acquisitions55:17 Advice for Founders on Negotiating Acquisitions59:15 Day-to-Day Responsibilities and Strategic Focus01:03:16 Creating Successful Strategies and Execution
€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
--------------------
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/
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
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
€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
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/
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 $30M funding round suggests so...
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we explored Tendered's major Series A funding, signaling the Middle East's growing importance in construction innovation.
We also dissected a billion-dollar logistics acquisition that could reshape the industry's tech landscape.
Plus, we uncovered why gross margins might be the hidden key to startup success in construction.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why Saudi Arabia is becoming a hotbed for construction tech
✅ How global trade shifts are impacting construction and logistics
✅ The surprising truth about product differentiation and deployment complexity
✅ Why distribution, not just product, creates category winners
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Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Funding News
01:32 Tendered: Revolutionizing Heavy Equipment Operations
25:03 The Signal of the Acquisition for the Logistics Technology Market
28:18 Asset-Like Transportation Solutions in Logistics
29:06 Comparing Funding in Logistics and Construction
29:20 The Risks and Opportunities of Focusing on the Saudi Arabian Market
29:50 Conclusion
31:06 The Correlation Between Logistics and the Wider Economy
36:21 The Impact of Geopolitical Events on Trading and Logistics Companies
45:07 The Importance of Gross Margin and Contribution Margin
55:05 The Seasonality of the AEC Sector
56:43 Avoiding Mistakes and the Role of Distribution in Becoming a Category Creator
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Bricks, Buck$ 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