"Stop Treating It Like Alien Technology" — 3D Printing Is Just Another Construction Equipment
Half of every 3D printed building in history was built in 2024.In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Stephan Mansour, Director of Operations at Printerra and one of the leading voices in additive construction standards development. We got to learn about why 2025 might be the tipping point for 3D printing in construction, how a full concrete structure can harden in just 30 minutes, and what's really holding the industry back from mass adoption... and so much more.Stephan's been in construction for nearly 20 years and led a pilot 3D printing project for Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Housing back in 2018. Since then, he's been instrumental in developing international standards that are finally giving this technology the credibility it needs.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why the "perfect storm" of labor shortages, climate disasters, and geopolitical instability is accelerating 3D printing adoption✅ The $62 million contract ICON just landed with the US Army Corps of Engineers✅ Dubai's mandate for 25% of buildings to be 3D printed by 2030 — and whether it's realistic✅ The biggest mistake companies make when getting into 3D printing (hint: don't buy that printer you saw on YouTube)✅ How standards development is the unsexy foundation that will unlock exponential growth🎧 Listen now on Spotify and Youtube! Link in the commentsOur 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 Intro01:48 Introduction and Background 04:15 The Current State of 3D Printing in Construction 07:46 Understanding Additive Construction 12:06 The Role of Standards in 3D Printing 14:33 Challenges and Opportunities in Adoption 15:01 How 3D Printing Works in Construction 20:17 Real-World Applications of 3D Printing 24:15 The Future of 3D Printing in Construction32:42 Evaluating 3D Printing Technologies 38:02 Cost Considerations in 3D Printing 39:25 Learning Curve and Workforce Development 41:49 Design Flexibility in 3D Printing 43:51 Investor Perspectives on 3D Printing 46:07 The Impact of COVID on 3D Printing Adoption 47:43 Material Limitations and Environmental Factors 51:13 Key Players in the 3D Printing Industry 54:19 Future of 3D Printing in Construction
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Bricks & Bytes
DataGrid Acquired by Procore, 1,300 Jobs Gone at Autodesk, Tim Draper Backs Robots & Why BuildVision Dropped AI Branding
Procore just wrote a 9-figure check. Autodesk just cut 1,300 people. And someone called the best salespeople "the laziest."In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Dustin, and Patric sit down with Mike Powers, Kevin Halter, and Anton Glance to dissect the most chaotic week in construction tech. A founder just landed his second major exit. A website launched with zero mention of "AI." And a former Autodesk exec didn't hold back on who's winning the platform war.We get into:The real reason Procore acquired DataGrid — and why they won't make another bet like this for yearsAutodesk's layoffs and the "buy, build, buy" cycle that keeps repeatingKevin Halter's unfiltered take on Procore vs AutodeskWhy Mike removed every mention of "AI" from BuildVision's websiteThe warning sign AI startups need to hear right nowAnton's vision for BuildDroid — the robot simulation platform backed by Tim DraperKey quote:"Autodesk historically has been buy buy buy. Okay, we bought a bunch. Now we're going to build, build, build. And then they realized we're not good at building. So then we go buy buy buy." — Dustin DevanWatch the full episode on Youtube and Spotify. Link in the comments!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.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:06 Industry Shifts and Acquisitions 03:53 Procore's Strategic Moves 07:06 Autodesk Layoffs and Market Reactions 09:54 Sales Strategies and Organizational Changes 12:50 AI's Impact on Construction Tech 15:51 Website Innovations in Construction Tech 18:53 Future of Startups in AEC Tech 21:56 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events 32:58 Introduction to Build Word AI 34:40 Customer Engagement and Project Execution 37:44 Monetization Strategies and Business Model 39:26 Founding Story and Team Dynamics 41:14 Timing and Market Readiness 43:46 Global Expansion and Market Validation 45:21 Investment Insights and Fundraising Journey 47:26 Industry Trends and Future Outlook 49:51 Sales Strategies and Market Dynamics
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Bricks & Bytes
"AI Today = 1999 Internet" - How Bluebeam Became Construction's Most Legendary Product
"The first time a customer said 'yeah, I just blue beamed it' - that was a moment."When your product becomes a verb, you know you've built something legendary.In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, we had Don Jacob, Co-founder of Bluebeam, and we got to learn about the wild 24-year journey from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab to building one of the most iconic products in construction tech... and the future of AI-powered collaboration that's coming next.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why Don left the premier space agency in the world to "sell dog food online" (and how that decision led to Bluebeam)✅ The secret sauce behind Bluebeam's legendary status: "When the phone rang, we picked up" - accessibility over everything✅ How bootstrap funding became their competitive advantage and forced the discipline that built the company DNA✅ Why we're living through the 1999 internet moment all over again with AI - and how Bluebeam Max is positioning for itBonus: the story of how a random bar encounter in Boston made this whole interview happen (thanks Tanya from Nemetschek!)Don's been at this for 24 years and the energy hasn't dimmed. If anything, he's more fired up about what's ahead than ever before.Listen now on Spotify and Youtube 🎧 Link in the comments!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.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:40 Introduction and Serendipitous Connections 03:50 The Legacy of Bluebeam and Its Founding 11:09 From NASA to Bluebeam: A Journey Through Innovation 17:27 Democratizing Design Data: The Birth of Bluebeam 26:13 The Evolution of Bluebeam: From PDF to Collaboration 33:06 Simplicity in Software: The Key to Bluebeam's Success 36:41 The Core DNA of Bluebeam 38:32 Evolution of Bluebeam's Product Offerings 41:28 Collaboration and the Introduction of Studio 43:20 Acquisition by Nemechek: A Strategic Move 45:58 Lessons Learned from Building Great Products 50:09 Leadership and Team Dynamics 55:15 The Unbound Event and Future Innovations 56:32 Integrating AI into Bluebeam's Offerings
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Bricks & Bytes
Carbon Accounting's Collapse, Apple Chooses Gemini, First 2026 IPO Is Here
What happened to carbon accounting? (Spoiler: Nobody cares anymore)In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, Dustin, and Patric dive into the rise and fall of carbon accounting in construction, why Autodesk's big bet didn't pan out, and what it reveals about the gap between tech hype and real-world adoption.In this episode:The carbon accounting boom that went bust—and why the U.S. construction industry never really caredPatric's hilarious "Frankenstein scale" metaphor that perfectly captures the absurdity of pre-construction carbon trackingCIV Robotics founder Tom Yeshurun on why they killed their drone product and how they're now doing 5,000+ layout points per dayThe construction tech IPO everyone's watching (and what it means for the industry)BREAKING: PlanGrid founders Tracy Young and Ralph Gootee just got acquired again—Lennar Homes buys their new company Tiger EyeKey quote: "When I was at Autodesk, they were very big on carbon accounting and everything would be front and center of every project by now... At least in the U.S., they don't really care about it. It's just the fact." — Dustin DevanPlus: Why construction roles are "booming" (or are they?), what AI agent is helping build the next Siri, and an invite to Ediphi's Agent-a-thon in San Francisco on January 23rd.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 Intro00:53 Introduction to Carbon Accounting 03:36 Understanding Carbon Accounting and Its Importance 05:46 Challenges in Carbon Accounting for Construction 10:38 Investigative Insights on Carbon Credits 20:05 The Acquisition of Plan A by Diginex 26:19 Incentives and Exit Strategies 27:05 Apple's AI Strategy: A Cautious Approach 29:07 The Value of Waiting in Tech Development 31:05 The Role of Employee Retention in Tech Companies 36:58 OpenAI and Competitive Reactions 43:41 EquipmentShare's IPO and Business Model Insights 53:18 Understanding Financial Metrics for Tech Companies 54:40 The Challenges of Financial Forecasting 58:26 Innovations in Construction: Civ Robotics' Approach 01:08:01 Future Directions and Exit Strategies for Startups
Oracle $100B Hour, AI Government Fail, OpenSpace CEO, Barefoot Office Debate
Oracle's CEO Just Made $100 Billion in One Hour While Your Government Wastes Millions on AI That Doesn't WorkIn this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Dustin, and Martin dive deep into the wild world of tech promises, government failures, and what's really happening behind the scenes in construction technology.Key Topics:Oracle's shocking $300 billion OpenAI deal and Larry Ellison's instant $100 billion windfallWhy the UK government's Microsoft Copilot trial was a complete disasterThe brutal truth about why companies keep buying expensive software that doesn't workOpenSpace CEO Jeevan Kalanithi reveals how reality capture is evolving beyond just taking picturesWhether going barefoot in the office makes you a genius or just weirdWhy pre-construction technology is decades behind field management toolsThe real reason AI won't save construction anytime soonSpecial guest Jeevan Kalanithi from OpenSpace joins to discuss their major Waypoint conference announcements and shares his thoughts on the AI race in construction.Key Quote: "No one's ever going to get fired because they bought Microsoft or Oracle. That's why Microsoft Teams is everywhere, even though it's trash." - DustinFrom billion-dollar stock moves to taxpayer waste to the future of building, this episode exposes the gap between tech hype and construction reality.
Chapters00:00 Intro01:45 Introduction and Travel Updates04:37 Oracle's Rise and AI Partnerships07:32 Oracle's Financial Forecast and Market Impact10:26 Productivity Trials and Microsoft 365 Co-Pilot13:05 Government Trials and AI in Planning15:52 Debate on Office Attire and Footwear27:44 The Importance of Company Culture30:13 Fashion and Professionalism in the Workplace34:46 Funding Announcements and Market Dynamics41:20 Reality Capture and Its Future in Construction55:20 Trends in RealityCapture59:11 The Importance of Data Consolidation01:02:11 Safety and Progress Tracking in Construction01:07:02 Navigating Competition in the Market01:09:58 The Role of AI in RealityCapture01:13:50 Future Directions and Company Vision
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
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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