We're Already Too Late - Real Talk on Labor Crisis Solutions from Construction Brothers and Bricks & Bytes
"We reacted too late to the labor shortage. Now we need to work smarter - it has to happen."In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Tyler Campbell, host of Construction Brothers Podcast, and we got to learn about why construction tech keeps failing, the reality behind the $13 trillion industry myth, and how major projects still run on Excel spreadsheets... and many more!Tyler shared eye-opening insights from his journey building FieldProof and interviewing hundreds of industry leaders.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why RFIs have become weapons for project delays ✅ The real reason construction apps fail to get field adoption ✅ How a £100 million project runs entirely on Excel ✅ Why robotics and AI agents are the only path forwardThe construction industry is more fragmented than we think. Time to face the hard truths about where we're heading.Watch now on Youtube to hear the full conversation about construction's biggest challenges and what comes next.--------------Chapters00:00 Intro01:50 Introduction and Podcast Origins04:53 The Fragmentation of the Construction Industry07:43 The Journey of Starting a Podcast13:50 Content Creation and Audience Engagement19:55 Challenges and Issues in the Construction Industry28:14 Comparing Construction Markets: US vs UK32:04 Mindset and Risk-Taking in Construction36:17 The Role of Technology in Construction39:36 Data Collection Challenges in Construction44:44 The Future of Robotics in Construction51:21 Human-Centric Technology in Construction
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Bricks & Bytes
Every Home Is A Prototype - 30X Growth & Mass Customization from Ex-Amazon VP
"We're building about 30 times more square footage this year than we did last year."That's what Vikas Enti told me. And he's not talking about some massive construction company.He's talking about a startup that's completely reimagining how homes get built.In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Vikas Enti, CEO of Reframe Systems and former Amazon Robotics VP, and we got to learn about how he's applying mass customization principles from e-commerce to solve the housing crisis, why every home built today is essentially a prototype, and how his team can fix construction mistakes in 9 minutes while the industry takes weeks... and many more!Vikas spent 11 years at Amazon Robotics deploying over half a million robots. Now he's using that same software-defined manufacturing approach to build climate-resilient homes faster and cheaper than traditional construction.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why the assembly line approach is killing modular construction ✅ How they're solving the skilled trades shortage with iPad instructions ✅ The real reason construction costs $350-450 per square foot in infill markets ✅ Why 40% of plumbers and electricians will retire in the next 10 yearsListen now on Spotify and discover how one team is turning construction into a software problem.
Chapters03:00 Introduction and Recent Developments06:03 Expansion into California and Fire Resilience08:45 Vikas Enti's Background and Transition to Construction12:11 The Need for Mass Customization in Construction15:01 Software-Defined Manufacturing and Automation17:55 Design Automation and User Interaction20:55 Challenges in Hardware and Automation24:08 The Future of Construction and Change Management35:41 Navigating Change Management in Construction37:30 The Shift to Developer-Centric Models39:11 Embracing a Beginner's Mindset for Innovation41:50 Scaling Microfactories and Business Models44:48 Delivering Turnkey Solutions: The Role of Microfactories48:31 Unit Economics and Competitive Positioning52:24 Balancing Profitability and Affordability54:29 Understanding Competition in the Construction Industry59:32 The Information Problem in Construction
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Bricks & Bytes
Most Startups Die at $5M ARR - Breaking the $10M Barrier in Construction Tech
"The best renewal is no renewal. So closing a three-year agreement, right?"In today's episode of our Go To Market Series from the Bricks & Bytes Podcast, we have Kevin Halter (CRO of OpenSpace) share his journey from scaling PlanGrid from $5M to $100M+ ARR and building high-performing sales teams in construction tech.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why construction tech requires a unique go-to-market approach focused on project-level ROI✅ How to transition from project-level sales to enterprise agreements (the key to breaking the $10M ARR ceiling)✅ What to look for when hiring sales talent ("fire in the belly")✅ When founders should hire their first VP of Sales vs CROWhether you're a founder struggling with the 5-10M ARR plateau or a sales leader in construction tech, this episode delivers practical insights on building scalable go-to-market motions in an industry where "it's easy to start a pilot, but hard to scale."
06:30 Introduction to Construction Tech Journey09:30 Scaling from 5M to 100M ARR12:31 Understanding Project-Level Value15:22 Building Trust and Transparency in Construction18:28 Transitioning to Enterprise-Level Sales21:28 The Importance of Customer Success Management24:28 Hiring the Right Sales Team27:29 Effective Communication with Executives30:24 Building Long-Term Partnerships33:31 Creating a Scalable Sales Model44:47 Building Long-Term Partnerships (appears to be repeated)48:30 Lessons from Biotech for Construction Tech53:17 Hiring and Scaling Sales Team57:57 Developing Talent and Leadership1:07:31 Choosing the Right Company to Join1:14:53 When to Hire a Chief Revenue Officer
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Bricks & Bytes
Construction Tech Marketing is Broken - Industry Skepticism Problem & Proven Go-to-Market from Ex-director of Marketing at 4M Analytics
"We're in an industry that loves ROI calculators... but the industry has built some sort of skepticism to these ROI calculators."This reality check from David Horesh hit different.In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had David Horesh and we got to learn about why construction marketing is still a blue ocean, how to avoid the handshake trap, and why memes might be your secret weapon... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ Why understanding construction jargon is make-or-break for tech marketers✅ The leaky bucket problem killing your sales funnel✅ How AI agents can replace entire marketing teams✅ Why construction professionals want memes with their morning coffeeDavid spent 7 years helping construction tech companies go from zero to serious ARR. His insights on digital marketing in a traditional industry will change how you think about go-to-market.Listen now on Spotify and discover what most construction tech founders get wrong about marketing.----------Chapters00:00 Intro01:52 Introduction to David Horesh and His Journey04:50 Understanding Go-To-Market Strategies07:52 The Importance of Knowing Your Customer10:52 Defining Go-To-Market Team Structures13:50 Navigating Change in the Construction Industry16:54 Building Relationships and Network Effects19:43 The Role of ROI in Marketing Strategies22:54 Marketing Channels in Construction26:00 Leveraging Digital Marketing in Construction28:42 Creating Engaging Content for the Industry38:22 Building Relationships in Marketing40:37 From Traffic to Sales: The Conversion Process43:27 The Importance of Awareness and Trust48:52 Understanding the Marketing Funnel55:58 Recruiting the Right Marketing Talent01:01:51 Leveraging AI in Marketing01:04:51 Measuring Marketing Success
Live from AU, Hosts World Travels, University Entrepreneurship Culture, NFL Insider
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen reports live from Autodesk University in Nashville while Martin shares insights from ETH Zurich's startup conference and Patrick breaks down why popular AI bubble theories are dead wrong.Key Topics Discussed:Why European universities systematically crush entrepreneurial thinkingThe truth behind construction tech's massive funding rounds (80-120M per quarter)How to spot real market bubbles vs. media hype around AI stocksWhy hardware startups face an uphill battle against venture capital preferencesThe innovation crisis at large tech companies like AutodeskPatrick's exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the LA Rams stadiumMartin's analysis of timber-earth construction panels and venture backabilityKey Quote: "You're basically being taught all the time to stay within reason. And if you want to build a really awesome company, you have to be going against the grain and doing things that other people will call you crazy for." - Patric on why universities fail at creating entrepreneursFrom concrete innovation to NFL stadium construction secrets, this episode exposes the uncomfortable truths about where construction technology is really headed.
Microsoft just bet $10M on construction AI - but industry insiders think it's a massive mistake.In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Patrick, and Dustin dive into the biggest tech moves shaking up construction while welcoming guests from two hot startups that just raised millions.Key topics discussed:Microsoft's massive $10M AI bet with Balfour Beatty - and why some think it's overpricedBluebeam acquires Firmus AI in a surprising exit storyAutodesk's crushing $1.7B earnings that made investors very happyWhy Figma's stock crashed despite good earningsOneCrew raises $7.5M to modernize paving contractorsBuildFactory's $3.3M raise for prefab marketplace (plus an epic stealth mode fail)OpenAI's ironic $400K job posting for a content strategist"Those are amazing companies, but both those pieces of software need to be shot behind the tool shed. Like they are so old." - Dustin DeVan on legacy construction softwareFrom billion-dollar acquisitions to startup war stories, this episode reveals what's really happening behind the scenes in construction tech - including how one founder got exposed by a LinkedIn web scraper and why some think Microsoft is charging contractors way too much for basic AI tools.
Our Sponsor: Archdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.io4M Analytics - Instant, reliable utility data you can trust and verify - https://www.4manalytics.com/
Chapters00:00 Intro01:26 Introduction and Martin's Travels03:11 Microsoft's Investment in AI for Construction15:48 Acquisition of Firmus AI by Bluebeam23:50 Autodesk's Latest Earnings Report29:22 Earnings Insights and Market Reactions32:20 Autodesk's Strategic Shifts and Growth Potential34:24 Figma's Earnings and Market Positioning37:11 Figma's AI Initiatives and Future Directions51:05 OneCrew's Innovative Approach to Paving Software01:01:00 AI in Construction: The Future of Scheduling and Management01:04:37 Navigating the Challenges of Selling to Government Agencies01:05:42 Britton Langdon's Journey: From Stealth to Startup01:07:40 The Prefabrication Marketplace: Bridging Supply and Demand01:14:22 Quality Control in Prefabrication: Ensuring Standards01:20:12 Defining Prefab: Strategies for Cost and Efficiency
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Robotics Mega Show with Dusty Robotics and ex-Waymo exec & CTO of Bedrock Robotics
Why these ex-Waymo engineers decided to conquer construction with their new startup, Bedrock Robotics.In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen and Patrick dive deep into the robotics revolution hitting construction with two industry-changing guests. Mo joins as co-host, bringing his Silicon Valley robotics expertise to unpack the biggest funding rounds and breakthroughs happening right now.Key topics discussed:- Why Dusty Robotics chose layout printing over flashier robot applications- How ex-Waymo engineers are retrofitting excavators with self-driving tech- The brutal truth about why most construction robotics startups failWhy accuracy is becoming the ultimate moat in construction robotics- How labor shortages are forcing the industry to embrace automation- The surprising lesson from building 60 robots in-house before outsourcing- Why Field AI's $405 million funding signals a tipping point for the industry- How construction sites are actually the perfect training ground for real-world roboticsKey quote: "Obviously everything's going to be built by robots in the future." - Tessa Lau, Dusty RoboticsFeaturing Tessa Lau, founder of Dusty Robotics (the most respected robotics company in construction tech), and Kevin Peterson, CTO of Bedrock Robotics (fresh out of stealth with $80 million to automate heavy machinery). This episode reveals why construction might be the key to unlocking robotics everywhere else.
🎧 Listen to the Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P7JkiN9X3N4Kh6jlDsOgi?si=91JP5nxvQbKStkp8AQdAOg 📩 Subscribe to the Bricks & Bytes Newsletter: https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/🌐 Visit our website: http://bricks-bytes.com/
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Chapters00:00 Intro01:06 Introduction to Robotics in Construction03:53 Current Trends and Sentiments in Robotics06:45 Barriers to Adoption in Robotics09:40 Autonomy vs. Collaboration in Robotics12:40 Field AI and Its Impact on Construction15:29 Dusty Robotics: Revolutionizing Job Sites18:18 The Future of Construction with Robotics21:04 Challenges in Construction Tech23:53 The Importance of User Experience in Robotics26:55 Lessons Learned from Robotics Development29:36 The Role of Accuracy in Robotics32:50 Proprietary Hardware vs. Off-the-Shelf Solutions39:43 Prototyping and Time to Market42:40 Manufacturing Challenges in Robotics44:46 Adoption of Robotics in Construction46:23 Pricing Strategies for Hardware47:41 Building a Thriving SaaS Business49:20 Transitioning from Self-Driving Cars to Construction53:30 Unique Product Offerings in Construction Robotics56:29 Collaboration Between Humans and Machines59:24 Adapting to Change in Construction01:11:09 The Future of Robotics in Construction
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Construction Productivity Myths, UAE Real Estate, TIMES VC Rankings, with Barton Malow
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, Dustin, and Patric dive deep into the biggest misconceptions shaking up construction and venture capital. Plus, we're joined by Victor Muchiri from Barton Malow (a $5 billion general contractor) who reveals what tech actually works in the field.What we cover:Why Dubai developers are bringing $19 billion worth of construction in-house (and whether this trend will hit the West)The shocking truth about that McKinsey productivity chart everyone uses in pitch decksWhy 8 out of 10 construction companies can't even define what a "project" isTime Magazine's controversial VC rankings that reward management fees over actual returnsVictor's insider perspective on which construction technologies actually deliver resultsThe Pablo Escobar business model lesson that might change how you think about valuationsKey quote: "Construction companies can't even define what a project is. Eight different customers cannot define internally what a project is. One customer had eight different definitions. This is your business - the project is the equivalent of the order in manufacturing." - PatricFrom Sequoia being mysteriously absent from "top VC" lists to why rats eating cash might be better than some investment strategies, this episode challenges everything you think you know about construction productivity, venture capital, and business models.------------Chapters00:00 Introduction and Awkward Beginnings03:08 Dubai's In-House Construction Trend11:01 The Best Owner Logic in M&A18:40 Market Dynamics and Developer Strategies21:19 Construction Productivity and Industry Comparisons30:45 Luxury and Value in Construction32:09 The Economics of Markup and Intangible Assets34:32 Current Trends in the UK Construction Market36:02 Introduction to Barton Mello and Its Operations38:36 Innovations in Construction Technology41:31 Data Strategies in Construction45:10 Defining Projects in Construction49:59 Standardization Challenges in Construction53:15 Engaging with Startups in Construction Technology54:35 Navigating AEC Tech Startups56:01 The Importance of Industry Expertise57:09 Defining Success in Venture Capital58:36 Exploring America's Top Venture Capital Firms59:53 Evaluating Venture Capital Performance01:01:42 Critiquing the Scoring Criteria of VC Firms01:04:49 The Role of Sequoia in Venture Capital01:08:25 Understanding the Power Law in VC Investments01:10:19 The Impact of Management Fees on VC Performance01:13:13 The Purpose Behind Controversial Lists01:15:33 Top Podcasts and Their Influence
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