"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
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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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
$1.5M AI Employee Bonuses, Procore Growth Slowdown? & LinkedIn Growth Hacks with Derek Wong
What happens when AI hype, billion-dollar bets, and the cold reality of hardware vs. software collide — plus, how to dominate LinkedIn without sounding like everyone else?In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes Owen, Martin, Patric, and Dustin are joined by LinkedIn strategist Derek Wong to unpack:Which AI giant will actually have the best model by the end of August — and why public betting markets might be getting it wrongThe surprising slowdown at Procore vs. Trimble’s surge — and what it says about the future of construction techWhy hardware “moats” can be a game-changer for tech companiesThe right and wrong ways to use AI in business (and why LLMs aren’t your calculator)Derek’s playbook for turning LinkedIn into the ultimate “box of donuts” for winning high-value customers"Hardware is an amazing bathtub — once you control the install base, your software gets stickier and your distribution gets easier." — Patric Hellermann-----Sponsors:BuildVision - 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 Intro01:13 Earning Potential and Career Strategies05:26 AI Models and Company Performance10:07 Evaluating AI Tools and Their Limitations14:42 Practical Applications of AI in Business17:52 Understanding User Interaction with AI Tools19:58 Market Dynamics in Construction Technology22:54 Contrasting Business Models: Procore vs. Trimble24:45 Valuation Insights and Market Perception31:25 The Future of Procore: Leadership and Vision39:28 Building Relationships through Content on LinkedIn46:45 Mind Share and Brand Recognition48:27 The Importance of Target Audience50:26 Crafting a Compelling LinkedIn Profile52:03 The Dangers of Self-Labeling54:26 Clarifying Your Value Proposition55:29 Content Strategy for Engagement57:57 The Role of Content in Building Relationships59:43 Understanding Your Goals on LinkedIn01:01:58 The Future of AI and Construction01:08:00 The AI Race and Its Implications01:09:46 Innovations in Modular Housing
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Turner's 44% Growth, Figma IPO Rogue Calculations, Meta's $150B Block & AI's 85% Fail Rate with Dex from Propel People
Construction companies are posting "impossible" growth numbers while tech giants can't spend their billions. What's really happening?In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Dustin, and Patric dive deep into the shocking stories reshaping the construction industry, plus a special guest appearance from construction tech veteran Dex who just raised $3 million to solve the industry's biggest crisis.What we cover:Turner Construction's mind-blowing 44% revenue growth (and why it's "impossible")The Figma IPO scandal that cost early investors millionsWhy Meta can't spend $150 billion even though they want toConstruction's $20 billion labor shortage crisisWhy 85% of AI projects fail (and the patterns that actually work)Energy bottlenecks blocking massive infrastructure spendingDex's new startup Propel People tackling the skilled worker shortageKey Quote: "This is highway robbery for the existing investors... they just lost a ton of value." - Patric on the Figma IPO controversyFrom billion-dollar construction wins to IPO disasters, energy grid meltdowns to recruiting revolutions - this episode reveals the hidden forces driving massive changes across the industry. Whether you're in AEC, tech, or just curious about where the economy is heading, these insights will change how you see the business world.-------Chapters00:00 Intro01:00 Origins of 'Okay' and Its Cultural Significance03:40 Turner's Impressive Growth in Construction06:21 Diversification and Strategic Partnerships in Construction09:23 Turner's Expansion into European Markets12:14 Figma's IPO and Market Dynamics15:01 Valuation Challenges and Investor Sentiment18:16 Banking Practices and IPO Pricing Strategies25:21 The State of AI in Enterprises29:16 Challenges of Pilot Programs30:53 Historical Insights on Project Failures35:00 Ensuring Technology Adoption41:43 Energy Infrastructure Bottlenecks47:36 Introduction to Propel People52:13 Building a Recruiting Platform for Construction56:24 Sourcing Talent in the Construction Industry58:18 Evolution of Technology in Construction60:11 The Role of Social Media in Recruitment63:04 Founder-Led Sales and Market Insights67:05 Setting Foundations for Success in Startups
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
$555K Salary for Construction Engineers, Trunk Tools $40M Round, Stone Carving Robots with Monumental Labs
OpenAI is paying construction engineers $555K – but there's a catch that nobody's talking about.In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, and Dustin expose the shocking reality behind AI salaries in construction, debunk viral industry charts, and reveal why your favorite building materials might be making a comeback.What we cover:Why OpenAI is paying engineers 5x more than top architecture firmsThe truth behind "construction AI growth" charts flooding social mediaHow AI coding tools are changing the startup game (and why most companies are doing it wrong)Trunk Tools' massive $40M funding round – and what it means for the industryInside Dexto's $15M bet on prefabrication technologyWhy stone buildings could dominate the future (thanks to robots)The real strategy behind why successful startups raise more money than they needKey quote: "I've never met a civil engineer or an architect making that much money. Ever." – Dustin DeVan on OpenAI's salary offeringsFrom fake data manipulation to robotic stone carving, this episode pulls back the curtain on where construction tech is really headed. Whether you're an investor, founder, or just trying to understand why your industry is changing so fast – this one's a must-listen.--------Sponsors:BuildVision - 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 Intro01:25 Introduction and Welcome Back02:43 Exploring AI in Engineering Jobs04:55 Salary Insights for Engineers at OpenAI08:60 The Future of Engineering Roles and Compensation11:46 Equity and Compensation in Tech Companies17:32 Navigating AI Technologies in Business21:53 Funding and Growth in the AI Sector22:30 The Evolution of AI in Construction Tech25:37 The Importance of Founder Branding in Tech31:10 Analyzing AI Adoption Across Industries36:41 Dextal: Revolutionizing Prefabrication Technology51:55 Introduction to Robotic Stone Carving52:32 Innovative Building Techniques with Stone54:04 The Role of AI in Stone Carving55:53 Future of Stone Construction57:22 Business Model and Customization59:29 Reviving the Craft of Stone Carving61:11 Challenges in Stone Architecture64:32 Sustainability of Stone as a Building Material65:50 Personalization in Sculpture67:18 Market Demand for Stone Products70:51 The Future of Robotics in Construction
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