"I Liquidated My Entire Savings to Make Payroll" - Startup Survival Stories - Thiago & Clifton
"I checked the cash balance and the number came out negative. I had to call my wife and say we might need to liquidate our entire 401k to make payroll."In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Thiago Da Costa from DataGrid and Clifton Harness from TestFit and we got to learn about the raw truth of building construction tech startups - from pivoting at $1M ARR to nearly missing payroll.These founders didn't hold back. They shared the moments that almost broke them and the decisions that saved their companies.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why Thiago pivoted his entire company after raising a Series A (and how he told his board)✅ The morning Clifton woke up and realized he couldn't make payroll✅ Why most construction tech companies plateau at $3-5M ARR and never break through✅ How to know when you've actually found product-market fit versus when you're chasing a ghostWatch now to hear the full conversation about what it really takes to build in construction tech.Our SponsorAphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk - “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.ioChapters00:00 Introduction to Startup Journeys 05:47 Navigating the Pre-Seed Stage 12:47 The Importance of Pre-Sales and Pivoting 17:39 Understanding Product Market Fit 23:22 Defining Product Market Fit in Construction Tech 31:14 Facing Startup Challenges and Scary Moments 33:25 Navigating Financial Challenges 37:07 The Importance of Family in Business 39:00 Facing Fear of Failure and Pivots 40:32 Balancing Hype and Substance in Business 48:47 Endurance in Entrepreneurship 54:53 Optimizing for People in Startups
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Bricks & Bytes
Why 72% of Leaders Are In Trouble | Global eTraining
"It's compounding and becoming more of a crisis."That's how Susan Brattberg described the digital skills gap facing our industry right now.And honestly? She's not wrong.In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we sat down with Susan Brattberg, co-founder and Chief Customer Officer at Global eTraining, and what started as a conversation about an epic rooftop party at Autodesk University (300 people, live band, line dancing - yeah, these guys know how to do marketing) turned into a deep dive on something way more important.We talked about why training isn't just a nice-to-have anymore... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ Why the digital skills gap is now the #1 priority for CIOs across ALL industries globally✅ How technology is changing faster than ever - and why the old "train every couple years" approach is dead✅ The real ROI companies are seeing when their teams actually know how to use their tools (hint: projects run way smoother)✅ How AI is flipping the edu-tech space upside down - and why most companies have already dropped out of this nicheSusan's been doing this for 17 years (her company's campus history goes back even longer), and she's seen the evolution firsthand. From physical campuses to on-demand training to AI-powered rapid content development.If you're wondering why your projects feel chaotic or why new software rollouts never stick... this episode might have some answers.Watch the full episode out on Spotify and Youtube. Our Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk - “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.ioChapters00:00 Intro03:55 Introduction to the Journey 06:57 The Impact of Digital Skills Gap 09:50 Transitioning to Online Training 13:01 The Evolution of Training Methods 15:49 The Shift from Physical to Digital 18:50 Understanding Training Needs 21:44 Overcoming Initial Challenges 24:46 Current Trends in Training 27:45 The Role of AI in Training 30:45 Growth and Future Directions 35:00 Shifts in Business Post-COVID 37:45 Managing Growth and Team Dynamics 41:52 Sales Strategies and Customer Engagement 44:45 The Power of Branding and Events 52:32 Balancing Family and Business 54:22 The Competitive Landscape of E-Learning 56:31 Future Trends in E-Learning and AI
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Bricks & Bytes
From Signed Papers to Product Launch in 30 Days - How 21 Employees Startup Closed an M&A Deal With Zero Advisors
"Integration with Procore? Everyone warned us they'd copy our product. We did it anyway - and it became our best go-to-market decision."In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Or Lakritz, founder of StructShare (now Trimble Materials), and we got to learn about how a 21-person startup navigated acquisition conversations with multiple players, the critical importance of transparency during M&A, why integrating with Procore in 2021 was one of their best decisions... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ Why Trimble chose to buy instead of build - and how StructShare filled a strategic procurement gap✅ The real differences between being acquired by a platform giant vs. private equity (spoiler: it's all about narrative)✅ How Or managed team culture and morale through the acquisition process with full transparency✅ Why distribution matters more than product in construction tech - and what AI might change about thatThis one's packed with honest insights from someone who actually lived through it. Worth the listen.Our Sponsor:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk - “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.ioChapters0:00 Intro4:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests 4:59 The Acquisition Story of Structure 9:17 Navigating the Acquisition Process 16:18 Cultural Integration Post-Acquisition 18:15 Lessons Learned from Building Structure 31:46 The Evolution of the Procurement Space 33:04 The Evolution of Construction Tech 35:58 AI's Impact on Procurement Processes 39:20 Building the Future of Procurement 42:24 Navigating Go-to-Market Strategies 44:36 Acquisition Insights and Market Dynamics 57:35 Integrating with Industry Giants 1:01:02 Personal Growth and Impact in Business
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Bricks & Bytes
B&B Fight Night: Has AI Solved Estimating? Mike Powers Vs Luigi La Corte
The UFC arrives in AEC. And we’re live from the AEC Octagon.In the very first episode of our brand-new Bricks & Bytes Debates series, we are trading PR statements for sparring gloves. We’re putting two industry heavyweights head-to-head to battle out one of the hottest topics in construction: Has AI actually solved estimating?In this no-holds-barred contester series, our contenders took the gloves off to represent the extreme Bull and Bear cases for Artificial Intelligence:• In the Red Corner: Mike "Mighty" Powers (Co-Founder, BuildVision), arguing that LLMs have solved the extraction problem and the industry needs to embrace the "Waymo" era of automation.• In the Blue Corner: Luigi "The Stinger" La Corte (Co-Founder, Provision), arguing that estimating is more than just counting symbols - and that without 100% accuracy, AI is still just a student driver.Moderated by the referee of reason, Patric "Praying For Exits" Hellermann, this debate moves through three grueling rounds: - Round 1: The Tech. Can LLMs actually count and measure complex drawings, or are they just guessing? - Round 2: The Accuracy Gap. Is 80% accuracy "good enough" to change the industry, or is "trust but verify" just a nice way of saying "do it yourself"? - Round 3: The Liability. In a world of design-bid-build, who takes the fall when the AI misses a scope gap? Tune in to uncover:• The "Waymo" Strategy: Why waiting for perfect AI is a mistake, and how to leverage the "self-driving" mindset to reduce takeoff times by 90% today.• The Hidden Liability Loophole: Why architects and engineers could solve the estimating crisis instantly by sharing models—and the legal reason they never will.• Symbols vs. Language: Learn the fundamental technical limitation preventing LLMs from reading 2D drawings like a human, and when we can expect "Visual Language Models" to catch up.• The Subcontractor’s Dilemma: Why "Design Intent" matters more than counting linear feet, and why subs might actually be wasting time on granular takeoffs.• A "Bribe" for Better Data: One listener’s hilarious (but practical) suggestion for how to finally get the Revit model from the design team.Who will deliver the knockout punch? Tune in to decide for yourself.Chapters 00:00 Intro01:48 Introduction to Bricks and Bytes Debates 04:07 Opening Statements and Context Setting 06:51 Technical Feasibility of AI in Estimating 09:57 Practical Applications and Limitations of AI 12:59 Customer Expectations and Accuracy in AI Solutions 15:57 The Role of Human Oversight in AI Estimation 18:43 Future of AI in Construction Estimation 38:23 Navigating the Self-Driving Debate 41:19 The Evolution of AI in Estimating 43:32 Trust and Liability in Construction 46:13 The Role of Liability in AI Adoption 49:22 The Future of Estimators in AI 53:34 Rebuttals and Admissions: A Critical Discussion 59:39 The Current State of AI in Estimating
AEC's Craziest Acquisition Ever? Landing Page 101, UK Construction Doomed, Robotics to win 2026
Is the $390M AECOM-Consigli Deal Actually Worth It? (And Why Everyone Has an Opinion)In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, and Dustin dive into the construction tech industry's hottest acquisition while unpacking what it means for the future of AEC software.Key topics discussed:The AECOM acquisition of Norwegian AI startup Consigli for $390M and whether the valuation is justifiedEngineering consultancies buying software startups: smart strategy or risky bet?Dustin's firsthand experience with acquisitions and what actually happens post-dealThe hidden challenges of integrating AI software into traditional construction firmsOut-of-the-box LLMs vs. custom-built AI: which wins for construction takeoffs?Announcing the AEC Prediction Market closed beta (launching December 8th)"The level of precision that these models are gonna reach is gonna far exceed even what you would do on your own at some point. And it's very, very close anyway." – Dustin DeVanPlus: Why Owen's satirical LinkedIn post about the deal went viral, Dustin's impressive turkey trot performance, and the upcoming debate between Luigi and Powers on whether general AI models can truly replace specialized construction tools.Our SponsorsAphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk - “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.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:24 Introduction to Live Streaming Challenges 07:24 Discussion on AECOM's Acquisition of Consigli 19:19 The King Making Strategy in VC Investments 24:22 Funding Strategies in Competitive Markets 26:26 The Challenges of Venture Capital 29:19 Navigating Market Pressures and Investment Timing 31:40 UK Construction Market Trends 34:19 US Construction Landscape and Economic Outlook 36:10 Innovations in Construction Technology 38:07 The Future of Robotics in Construction 41:10 Landing Page Strategies for Startups 50:48 The Importance of Visuals in Product Presentation 53:14 Building Trust Through Social Proof 53:56 Effective Website Design Principles 55:51 The Role of Terminology in Industry Credibility 59:07 Innovative Approaches to AI in Construction 01:02:53 The Upcoming LLM Debate01:09:20 Launching the AEC Prediction Market
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Bobyard's $35M AI Claims, Oracle's $523B Backlog, Larry Ellison's Debt Mastery, Parallax Worlds $4.9M Robot Testing, ChatGPT vs Construction Reality
Can You Really Bid a Construction Project in Minutes? One Founder Says Yes, a Contractor Says It's "Completely Inaccurate"In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Martin, Patric, and Dustin tear into the latest construction tech funding news, Oracle's jaw-dropping earnings, and set up what might be the most heated debate in AEC tech this year.What's covered:Bobyard's $35M Series A for AI-powered takeoffs—and why Dustin thinks their marketing claims miss the mark on how pre-construction actually worksOracle's $523 billion revenue backlog (yes, that's more than the GDP of Norway, Austria, and Vietnam combined)How Larry Ellison became the master of debt financing and why the AI bubble might not be bursting yetTanmay Agarwal from Parallax Worlds joins to explain their $4.9M raise and how they stress-test robots in hyper-realistic digital twins before they hit factory floorsThe battle lines drawn: Mike Powers and Luigi La Corte face off in a heated teaser for Tuesday's debate on whether ChatGPT and Gemini have actually "solved" construction estimatingThe quote:"Estimating, quantity takeoff is not the most time consuming aspect of pre-construction. For any person that's ever been a part of pre-construction, that spans years. You do not spend years doing quantity takeoff." — DustinPlus, next week is the final episode of 2025—and there might be costumes involved.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.ioAphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coChapters00:00 Intro01:31 Introduction and Overview of Topics 04:24 Bobyard's Series A Funding and Impact on Construction 07:18 Debate on Trade-Specific Models vs. General Models 10:21 Challenges in Construction Estimation 13:22 The Role of Pricing in Construction Estimation 16:08 Oracle's Financial Performance and Its Implications 19:03 Future of AI in Construction 31:44 The Role of AI in Financial Models 32:41 Data Centers and the Future of AI 33:53 Understanding Oracle's Business Model 35:22 Debt Financing and Its Implications 37:19 Market Dynamics in Dubai's Real Estate 39:58 The German Economy and Construction Trends 41:19 Current State of the US Construction Market 49:33 Advancements in Robotics and AI Testing 1:00:33 Intersection of Hardware and Software in Robotics 1:01:15 Construction Robotics and Digital Twins 1:02:37 The Value of Simulation in Construction Tech 1:03:31 Data Integration from On-Site Solutions 1:04:10 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions 1:07:39 Debate on AI in Construction 1:12:24 Open Source and Benchmarking in Construction Tech
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
nPlan Raises £11.9M Series B, AI Agents Lack Evals Crisis, WhatsApp Dominates 90% Site Communication
"Most AI Agents Will Die" - Why This CTO Is Terrified About What's Coming
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, hosts Owen Drury, Martin, and Patric Hellermann sit down with some of construction tech's boldest builders who aren't holding back. Fresh off massive funding rounds and hard-won lessons, they reveal what's really happening behind the hype.
What we cover: - nPlan's £11.9M Series B - Alan Mosca (CTO) explains why they accidentally solved molecule generation while building scheduling AI- Factors' $56M raise - How they're financing $250-300M of construction work annually (and the "trick" banks don't want you to know)- The AI agent apocalypse - Why lack of evaluation frameworks will "kill off most agents"- WhatsApp is eating construction tech - 90% of site communication happens here, and smart founders are finally paying attention- Smart glasses revolution - Why this could be as transformative as mobile phones on construction sites- AI consultancies without humans - The controversial future of PM firms charging on outcomes, not hours- Why one founder stopped fundraising - "Customer money is the best capital" and why raising is a "massive distraction"- 5 accelerators, 5 lessons - Prakash Senghani (Navatech) on contradictory advice and what actually works in the Middle East- Regional pricing secrets - Why per-user pricing fails in the UAE and what to do instead
Key Quote:"I think we're getting to a stage where AI is going to become like the internet, right? You don't tell people that my app runs on the internet. That's obvious. You're going to get to a stage where your app has AI. Yeah, that's obvious, right? What are you doing with it? What's the outcome?" - Prakash Senghani
Featuring: Alan Mosca (nPlan CTO), Nitin Bhandari (Planera), and Prakash Senghani (Navatech)
🎧 Listen to the Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P7JkiN9X3N4Kh6jlDsOgi?si=91JP5nxvQbKStkp8AQdAOg 📩 Subscribe to the Bricks & Bytes Newsletter: https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/🌐 Visit our website: http://bricks-bytes.com/
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Sponsors:BuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioArchdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com
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Chapters00:00 Intro02:12 Introduction and Guest Introduction04:61 Funding News and Company Growth08:03 Technological Innovations in Scheduling10:40 Generative Models and Unexpected Discoveries13:31 Developing Custom Models for Specific Tasks16:24 The Importance of Data and Research19:08 Convergence of Machine Learning Techniques22:13 AI Skepticism and Misuse24:52 The Future of AI in Construction Tech28:08 Collaborative Scheduling and User Experience30:57 Evaluating AI Performance33:36 Insights from Nitin on Data Center Construction36:32 Planera's Unique Approach to Scheduling39:28 The Role of AI in Scheduling42:20 Lessons from Past Collaborative Tools45:18 The Future of Scheduling Technology46:33 Introduction and Context Setting47:25 Navigating Growing Pains in Business48:17 The Role of AI in Business Operations49:44 Understanding the Product and Its Impact51:14 Practical Applications of AI in Safety54:45 Target Customers and Market Strategy55:48 Shifting Gears: The Future of Construction Tech1:00:17 The Evolution of Software and Company Structures1:04:09 Current Business Climate in the Region1:06:13 The Rise of Construction Tech Startups1:10:05 Experiences with Accelerators1:15:39 Pricing Strategies for Startups1:18:41 Conclusion and Future Outlook
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Procore’s AI Bomb, Should VCs Pick Ideas, Revolutionary Site Layout Tool
Last week at Groundbreak, Procore launched Helix AI Agents claiming to make startups like Trunk Tools and Datagrid "obsolete overnight."In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, we invited Datagrid's CEO Tiago to respond (spoiler: he ghosted us... draw your own conclusions 👀)Owen, Martin, Dustin, and Patric also dives into one of the most controversial questions in startup investing: Should founders ask VCs for business ideas?In this episode:Why asking investors for startup ideas means you're already losingThe real reason big corporations can never innovate from withinWhere the truth about building outlier businesses actually liesWhy construction tech is heating up right now (and nobody knows what's coming)The Procore AI agent announcement that's shaking up the industryHow to find insights that actually matter (hint: it's not from VCs)The Brutal Reality: "If a VC had such a unique insight on that business, it would almost be a compelling enough reason to leave their job to pursue it because those things are so special and so rare"The construction tech arena is heating up. Big announcements. Bold claims. But who's actually solving real problems?If you're building in construction tech, this episode reveals the playbook no one's talking about.Watch the full breakdown before everyone else figures it out.
Chapters00:00 Intro01:32 Introduction to Business Ideas and AI Agents04:21 The Role of Investors in Business Ideation07:26 The Nature of Outlier Businesses10:05 The Limitations of VC Insights13:01 The Impact of New Browsers on Market Dynamics15:54 Procore's AI Agent Announcement and Industry Reactions18:51 Comparing Procore with Competitors28:01 Procore's Evolving Submittal Process29:04 Market Dominance and Industry Assumptions29:45 AI's Role in Construction Tech30:59 Data Activation Challenges32:10 The Importance of Data Connectivity33:54 Market Power and Vendor Lock-in34:23 Assumptions in the Construction Tech Landscape35:34 Tracy's Insights on Startup Strategies36:44 Defensibility in Construction Tech38:28 Collaboration and Network Effects39:20 Introduction to Mechasys40:07 Innovative Layout Solutions42:29 As-Built Documentation and Modifications44:29 Comparing Layout Solutions46:15 Hardware Development and Manufacturing49:20 Accuracy and Cost Competitiveness51:39 Understanding BOM Costs in Manufacturing54:32 Product Versatility and Customer Needs55:23 Innovations in Construction Management Software01:00:06 Challenges Faced by Residential Contractors01:04:21 The Importance of Estimating in Construction01:08:04 Navigating the Competitive Landscape of Construction Tech
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