Journey From Carpentry to ConTech CEO That Raised $13.6 Million | Fraser Patterson
How do you go from dusty job sites to a Silicon Valley boardroom?
In this episode, we meet Fraser Patterson - Founder and CEO at Skillit, a New York based con-tech company that’s changing the way construction businesses find skilled workforce.
His journey began in a Hogwarts-like boarding school in Scotland. After finishing education, he became a carpenter, where he came face-to-face with the frustrations of outdated hiring practices in the construction industry. This sparked the Aha moment. He found Skillit, an online platform helping construction businesses find skilled workers from the palm of their hands. The concept attracted millions in venture capital.
Fraser's success is proof that technology is starting to replace the rusty old ways of construction. He shows that groundbreaking ideas can come from anywhere, and the right mix of research, audacity, and data can bring change to giant industries.
Join us as we listen to Fraser's extraordinary path and get a peek into the future of construction recruitment.
Tune in and learn why:
Data is the new oil. The massive impact of data on long-standing, rigid sectors like the construction industry
Finding the right Founder-Investor Fit is key to long-term success
Progress requires a deep understanding of how the world works, and not just raw brain power
The biggest problems create the biggest opportunities
Innovation begins outside the comfort zone: Why your life-changing idea may come from the most unexpected place
And much more ..
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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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This episode is brought to you by Shft—the BIM partner you need to fill the gap in your digital skills and tackle your BIM needs, end-to-end.
Visit: https://maketheshft.digital
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Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:02:35) Intro
(00:02:35-00:06:40) Fraser's Journey
(00:06:40-00:16:00) Software As A Business
(00:16:00-00:24:40) How Construction Sector Is Revolutionized
(00:24:40-00:31:25) Make or Break For Someone Building A Product In Construction
(00:31:25-00:49:29) Experience of Raising Money
(00:49:29-00:52:21) Number One Skill That A CEO Should Learn
(00:52:21-00:53:08) Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
Big Tech, VC Billions & AI Architects | Martin & Owen Exclusive
"If you could interview one Venture Capitalist in the world, who would it be?"
In today's episode, hosts Owen and Martin sit down and talk about the fascinating intersection of construction, technology, and Big-Money investment. Join them as they look back on their own evolution in a field slow to embrace change.
Martin takes us down the rabbit hole where startups meet venture capitalists. And Owen pulls the curtain on the beginning of Bricks & Bytes - and gives us a glimpse of the future. This is their story: the triumphs, the experts, and the startling revelations.
Tune in and find out:
The funny story of Martin's horror on finding a basement without reinforcement
What’s the much awaited Super Series? What’s in it for startup founders?
Why does Owen think it's still early days for robots?
Are there really NO predefined verticals?
Vinod Khosla is Martin's dream venture capitalist. Why?
All this and a lot more ..
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Get the latest in Construction-Technology, meet the venture capitalists, hear from the founders and join a thriving community.
Sign up for our newsletter at: https://bricksbytes.show
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/
X: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/
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This episode is brought to you by Shft—helping contractors like you leverage BIM to secure a leading position in the race towards construction’s digital future.
Visit: https://maketheshft.digital
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Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:03:50) Intro
(00:03:50-00:10:30) How Bricks & Bytes Started
(00:10:30-00:16:36) Shift of Bricks & Bytes into Investors and Startup Founders
(00:16:36-00:21:00) Future VCs Guests Coming Soon
(00:21:00-00:27:55) Fun Conversation
(00:27:55-00:28:22) Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
Factories in Shipping Containers to Build Houses - Facit Homes
"A £650,000 micro-factory can build 100 homes per year, while a traditional modular factory costing £100M+ struggles to deliver 200 homes annually. The math speaks for itself."
In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Bruce and Oliver from Facit Homes and Facit Technologies sharing their journey of revolutionizing home construction through digital fabrication and micro-factories. Their approach challenges traditional modular construction, showing how bringing manufacturing to the site can be more efficient and cost-effective.
Tune in to learn about:
✅ Why micro-factories are winning over traditional modular factories
✅ How Facit grew without external investment for 15+ years
✅ The real cost comparison: £2,400 vs £120,000 per house in factory overhead
✅ Why software alone can't solve construction's biggest challenges
Listen to the full episode to understand why the future of construction might be closer to the building site than you think.
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
03:50 Introduction to Facet Homes
06:39 Innovative Manufacturing in Home Construction
09:51 The Microfactory Approach
12:45 Design Philosophy and Flexibility
15:39 Scalability and Customization of Homes
18:52 Target Customers and Engagement Process
21:46 B2B and B2C Dynamics
24:40 Cost Efficiency and Time Savings
27:50 Building Trust in a Skeptical Industry
30:46 Labor and Automation in Construction
33:42 Cultural Changes in Construction
36:40 Future Vision for Facet Homes
44:24 Building the Future: Microfactories and Scalability
47:57 Challenges in Construction: Building a Company
53:51 Investor Perspectives: Overcoming Prejudice in Construction
58:13 Expanding Horizons: Going Beyond the UK
1:06:45 The Evolution of Construction: Modern Methods and Digital Fabrication
1:08:21 Improving Processes: The Future of Construction Technology
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Bricks & Bytes
The Race To Net Zero by 2050. Is It Actually Possible?
In a world teetering on the brink of environmental crisis, we go on a journey where hope meets innovation.
In today's episode, we sit down with Anil Sawhney - author of International BIM Implementation Guide and the Head of Sustainability at the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
In an open chat, Anil delves into the heart of future development, talks about the importance of sustainability in the construction industry – and shows us why it is more critical than ever.
He takes us on a journey to the future, discussing the need for new regulations and standards to drive change, the skill gaps that need to be bridged, the possibility of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and much more.
Tune in and find out:
What does "building green" really mean? It's not just about the planet! We need buildings that are good for people, cost less to run, and use fair practices.
How can we build smarter? How to integrate sustainability principles into core work processes – teach builders new ways of doing things and use tech to track how our buildings impact the earth.
Can technology help us make buildings that help the planet? The journey ahead to a net zero by 2050.
Innovation meets hope. Exciting developments in construction technology and digital tools to measure, report and reduce carbon emissions.
To learn more about the future of sustainable development and investment opportunities, sign up for our newsletter : https://bricksbytes.show
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This episode is brought to you by Shft—helping contractors like you leverage BIM to secure a leading position in the race towards construction’s digital future.
Visit: https://maketheshft.digital
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Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:05:30) Intro
(00:05:30-00:08:45) Future of Construction Tech According to RICS
(00:08:45-00:11:40) Role as a Head Of Sustainability
(00:11:40-00:34:20) How to measure Sustainabiliy in Built World
(00:34:20-00:43:21) Zero by 2050 In Construction
(00:43:21-00:44:44) Outro
Construction Crash Coming - Our NEW Host, US Economy Contracts 0.3%, Trump Tariffs Hit Construction, Autodesk vs Procore Battle, AI, Biggest Construction Tech Failures
Is Construction Headed for a Slowdown, or a Full-Blown Crash?
This week on Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, things get spicy.We dig into the 0.3% drop in US GDP—and why it might just be the beginning for the construction sector. But tariffs and rate hikes are only half the story. The real drama? AI hype cycles, Autodesk vs. Procore, and why most “AI for construction” startups are just faucets with no bathtub.
Inside this episode:Why the US economy is wobbling—and how it's already hitting constructionThe real reason projects are stalling (hint: it’s not just input costs)The “bathtub vs. faucet” theory of AI—and how it exposes weak GTM strategiesAutodesk: overpriced legacy? Or sleeping giant ready to crush Procore?The top 20 construction tech failures—modular startups dominate the list
Plus:What BuildingConnected could have become (and why Autodesk isn’t using it)Why not having pricing certainty is killing dealsThe Katerra excuse that made everyone on the show wince
Key Quote:
"You're not solving the problem. You're just identifying the problem for someone else to win." - Dustin DeVan
If you’re in AEC and want to see the next wave coming before it hits... this one’s required listening.
------Chapters00:00 Intro01:35 Introduction and Welcome02:43 US Economy Contraction and Recession Concerns08:38 Impact of Tariffs on Construction Costs13:37 Short-term vs Long-term Economic Perspectives19:40 Global Supply Chain and Trade Dynamics25:34 AI's Role in Construction and Economic Resilience31:35 Business Strategies in a Volatile Market38:25 Innovative Content Formats in AI and Supply Chains40:06 The Role of AI in Construction Economics42:57 AI as a Commodity: The Bathtub Metaphor49:26 Disrupting the Authoring Space: Challenges and Opportunities56:44 Investing in Autodesk: A Critical Analysis01:11:11 Procore's Challenges and Market Dynamics01:13:44 Marketing Strategies in Construction Tech01:15:55 Potential Disruptors: Google and Microsoft01:20:15 Mergers and Acquisitions in Construction Tech01:21:47 Top Construction Tech Failures: A Game01:27:00 Lessons from Construction Tech Failures
read more
Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
VCs Are NOT Always The Answer - Bootstrapping Benefits & Sustainable Growth from Funding Experts
"Venture capital in PropTech increased 82X from $200M to $15B in just 15 years - but is VC money right for construction tech founders right now?"In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about J.P. Bowgen's journey from AlphaSites to Macy's corporate innovation team to becoming a partner at Camber Creek.We got to learn about how Camber Creek de-risks investments by testing startups with their 300+ real estate and construction LP network before investing.Also, we learned about J.P.'s hot take that PropTech and ConTech might not actually be mature enough for venture capital money right now - with only 1 in 4 companies spending more than 1% of revenue on digitization.Tune in to find out about: ✅ How Camber Creek operates as an "outsourced R&D department" for real estate companies ✅ Why construction tech is 5-7 years behind PropTech but might soon leapfrog it ✅ The shift in ConTech companies selling upstream to owners instead of just GCs ✅ The importance of personal brand building for VCsListen now on Spotify to hear the full conversation with J.P. Bowgen.-----------Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates01:10 Journey into Venture Capital05:30 Transition from Macy's to Camber Creek14:51 Establishing a Presence in Europe16:23 Camber Creek's Investment Thesis and Origins18:29 The Digital Transformation of Real Estate19:55 De-risking Investments through Strategic Engagement21:21 The Role of Strategic Investors in Venture Capital23:41 Navigating the Landscape of Venture Capital26:26 The Importance of Media in Deal Flow30:29 Building a Personal Brand in Venture Capital33:41 Opportunistic Investing in PropTech and Construction Tech37:30 The Shift in Technology Adoption in Construction39:36 Debunking Misconceptions about Venture Capital
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
US VC Returns Underperform Globally - Market Saturation & Hidden Opportunities from Construction Unicorns
"The US VC market is the worst performing of all VC markets across the world in terms of financial performance." In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about BuildOps securing $127 million in Series C funding and achieving unicorn status with a $1B valuation.We also explored the structural differences between US and European contractor software markets, where European contractors are typically smaller and 5-10 years behind in software adoption compared to their US counterparts.Additionally, we gained insight into how fund size impacts investment strategy, with smaller VC funds avoiding obvious competitive spaces that larger funds eagerly pursue.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why BuildOps and Service Titan succeed with modular software for contractors✅ How SaaS business models justify higher valuations than traditional services✅ Why European construction software is following a roll-up strategy✅ The difference between investing in "the business" versus "the share price"------Chapters00:00 Introduction and Recent Developments04:50 BuildOps: A New Unicorn in Construction Tech19:06 Comparing BuildOps and ServiceTitan27:49 Valuation Insights and Market Dynamics
"Windows and doors constitute about 8% of a home's value, but the ratio actually skews upward as the value of the home goes up." - A fascinating insight into why this category commands such high margins globally.In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Green Fortune's $4.5M funding from Fundamental, bringing cloud manufacturing to the windows and doors industry in India.We got to learn about India's evolving investment landscape, with Western funds increasingly launching India-specific strategies rather than treating it as just another "emerging market."Also, we learnt about the "Dolphin Founder" philosophy that investors value - founders who "come up for air" by proving EBITDA profitability before a funding round.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why windows are one of the most touched points in your home and critical to energy efficiency✅ How Green Fortune is filling the "missing middle" between luxury and substandard options✅ Why building materials companies perform exceptionally well in Indian public markets✅ The upcoming IPOs of construction tech companies in India for 2025Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear more insights on construction tech investments across global markets.-----------Chapters00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:39 Investment in Green Fortune: Overview and Rationale06:30 Cloud Manufacturing in the Building Materials Sector10:04 Market Dynamics: Customization and Standardization in India13:21 The Importance of Windows in Construction15:06 Green Fortune's Unique Selling Proposition18:58 Utilization of Investment Funds26:38 Business Model and Revenue Generation26:44 Exploring Green Fortune's Sales Channels29:01 Profitability and Business Model Insights31:19 Innovations in Manufacturing and Supply Chain34:01 Investment Landscape in India39:45 Challenges and Opportunities for Startups46:55 The IPO Market in India