13% Profit at Risk? Kroo's Solution for Construction's Cash Flow Chaos
"Data silos are real, right?" That's how our conversation started with Kroo, and it perfectly captures the challenge they're tackling in construction.
Recently we were invited to the BOOST cohort from Suffolk Technologies, where we had a chance to interview Barry and Jonathan, Kroo's co-founders, and we learned about their modern data management approach and how it can help construction companies.
Tune in to find out about:
How Kroo is unifying data from different platforms like project management, ERP, and scheduling software.
Why 80-90% of the industry is still struggling with basic data management.
How Kroo is helping companies forecast cash flow and manage project costs.
Why a data-driven approach is essential for efficiency and growth in the construction sector.
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Bricks & Bytes
Alternative Materials and Affordable Homes. Touching Net Zero | Paul Richards - Founder, GURBuild
Can homes be both energy-efficient and affordable? One visionary is changing the way we know homes.
In this episode, we sit down with industry trailblazer Paul Richards – the visionary founder of GURBuild Net Zero Energy Housing. Paul shares his remarkable journey and insights into revolutionising the housing sector.
Join us for a fascinating account of a man’s struggles against stubborn traditions of the construction industry. Paul has been a pioneer in introducing modern construction methods and promoting net-zero energy homes. Listen to Paul as he shares his inspiring story of challenges and triumphs against an environmentally unstable industry.
Learn about GURBuild hybrid construction system – a groundbreaking approach to building affordable and energy-efficient homes.
Tune in and learn:
How Paul found GURBuild Net Zero Energy Housing and brought Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) to home building
The importance of attracting younger generations to construction through improved site conditions and innovative practices
About homes that minimise energy consumption and the concept of operational zero carbon homes
How GURBuild's hybrid construction system is combining techniques from engineering, automotive, and aerospace industries
Paul's insights on the future of MMC and increased use of hybrid solutions, composites, panel systems, and custom designs
And a lot more
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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:
(00:00:00-00:02:30) Intro
(00:02:30-00:12:25) Paul's Journey
(00:12:25-00:18:20) Solutions to Labour Shortage In Construction
(00:18:20-00:29:30) Passive House Standard and n-ZEP
(00:29:30-00:33:30) Engineer's Thoughts on Construction
(00:33:30-00:39:00) View on MMC within Construction
(00:39:00-00:41:25) How Paul stays creatuve in his work
(00:41:25-00:42:16) Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
BBBC 22/03/24 - $31m Dollars, 20x Revenue Growth and Straight Outta Y Combinator - PermitFlow & Furno
Welcome to the Bricks & Bytes Broadcast (BBBC) with Patric Hellermann of Foundamental.
This new format of episode is a weekly dive into the latest construction tech news from the perspective of investors.
From innovations to fundings, market insights, and VC-isms, if you’re building in construction tech, investing in construction tech, or intersecting between the tech and physical world, then we’ll help you keep your finger on the pulse.
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In this conversation, Patric, Martin and Owen discuss two startups: PermitFlow and Furno.
They talk about the challenges faced by PermitFlow in dealing with the slow permit process in the construction industry and the potential for digitizing the planning process.
They also discuss Furno, which offers an alternative to traditional cement plants by providing modular portable kilns that can reduce CO2 emissions.
They explore the funding differences between capital-intensive startups like Furno and digital startups like PermitFlow. Martin also shares his thoughts on time leverage and being more productive.
Takeaways:
Patric's worst investment decision
PermitFlow is a startup that aims to digitize the planning process in the construction industry and streamline the permit process.
Ferno offers modular portable kilns as an alternative to traditional cement plants, with the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by 88%.
Capital-intensive startups like Ferno require significant investment for production, while digital startups like Permit Flow can attract more funding.
Martin emphasizes the importance of time leverage and being productive to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Worst Investment Decision
(01:16) Discussion on PermitFlow
(12:49) PermitFlow's Funding and Capital Requirements
(14:36) Introduction to Furno Materials
(15:54) Investor's Thoughts on Furno Materials
(23:54) Closing Remarks
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Companies Mentioned:
Permitflow - https://www.permitflow.com/
Furno - https://furno.com/
Foundamental - https://foundamental.com/
Y Combinator - https://www.ycombinator.com/
Kleiner Perkins - https://www.kleinerperkins.com/
Felicis - https://www.felicis.com/
Hoffmann Green Cement - https://www.ciments-hoffmann.com/
Aker Solutions Norway - https://www.akersolutions.com/
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Bricks & Bytes
Construction’s £37 Million Augmented Reality - A New Horizon | David Mitchell, CEO at XYZ
Join us for this fascinating episode where we sit down with David Mitchell, the Founder of XYZ – a company revolutionising the construction industry with cutting-edge augmented reality tools. Discover how XYZ's headsets are transforming job sites by bringing real-life 3D models directly to workers, ensuring millimetre accuracy and preventing costly errors.
Listen as David shares his ambitious vision to revolutionise job sites worldwide with AR. Learn how their specialised AR headsets are already preventing costly errors, enabling real-time progress tracking on complex projects, and more.
Key Takeaways:
How XYZ's AR technology is propelling construction to new heights
The importance of building the right team to achieve ambitious goals
The vast potential of AR to transform the construction industry and beyond
And a lot more.
Don't miss this insightful conversation about the future of construction!
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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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BuildVision is a procurement network for the $5T commercial construction market. We are transforming the commercial construction supply chain by bringing contractors, manufacturers, and project stakeholders onto a single software platform—revolutionizing how every component is sourced, purchased, and financed.
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(00:00:00 - 00:02:27) - Intro To David & Our Sponsors
(00:02:57 - 00:10:42) - About David's Journey Into XYZ Reality
(00:10:42 - 00:35:48) - Understanding XYZ Reality
(00:35:48 - 00:44:03) - How David Manages Everything
(00:44:03 - 00:50:14) - 360 Reality Capture vs XYZ Reality
(00:50:14 - 00:56:30) - Future Plans of XYZ In Terms Of The Data They're Capturing
(00:56:30 - 01:12:44) - David's Experience Of Raising Money From VCs
(01:12:44 - 01:13:39) - Outro
Apple Kills Cold Calling, In Office Scares CEO’s, Insurance Proves Climate Change Fears
20 cold calls a day, $150 million in legal fees, and why the smartest CEOs are terrified of in-person competitors.In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, hosts Owen, Martin, Dustin, and Patric are joined by Justin Levine, CEO of Shepherd, for a no-holds-barred discussion about the future of business, technology, and construction.What we dive into:Apple's new AI call screening feature and why it spells doom for sales teamsThe shocking reality of 20 cold calls per day (and why most are terrible)Remote vs. office work: which startup would you fear more as a competitor?Why VCs are hilariously bad at cold outreach emailsConstruction insurance secrets that could save companies millionsThe $270 million Millennium Tower disaster (where legal fees cost more than the actual fix)Why hiring remotely means you need more experienced peopleThe race to build the first $100 billion construction tech companyKey Quote: "If there's a competitor that's going to do exactly what we do - one fully remote, one five days in office - I am 100% more scared of the five day in office per week." - Justin LevineFrom San Francisco's absurd delivery fees to the future of AI gatekeepers, this episode reveals uncomfortable truths about modern business that every entrepreneur needs to hear.--------------------------------------------------------Chapters00:00 Intro01:20 Introduction and Coffee Talk04:20 Construction Assurance and Safety07:31 iOS Updates and Cold Outreach Challenges10:20 Innovations in Construction Insurance13:23 Wrap-Up Policies and Cost Efficiency16:22 Cold Outreach Strategies in 202519:11 The Future of AI in Sales and Marketing28:01 The Importance of Mindset in Growth28:39 Transparency in VC Interactions29:27 Challenges of Cold Outreach in VC30:24 The Role of Experience in Fundraising33:54 Finding the Right Investor Fit40:41 Understanding Investor Strike Zones43:41 Defining Alpha in Venture Capital44:59 The Long-Term Journey of Startups47:42 The Bathtub Analogy in AI and Data Ownership49:58 The Debate on Hustle Culture in Startups50:22 The Value of In-Person Work Culture58:59 The Challenges of Remote Work01:08:15 Remote Work Considerations in Different Industries01:09:11 Remote Work vs. Co-location in Tech and Hardware01:11:42 The Impact of Time on Productivity01:12:28 Rising Costs in Construction Insurance01:16:32 The Challenges of Construction Defects01:21:16 Reducing Insurance Premiums through Technology01:26:59 Business Models in Construction Insurance01:32:01 Future Trends in Construction Technology
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
New Steel Tariffs Hit, Is A 12hr Work-day Unreasonable, Decision Making Frameworks, ChaGPT NoteTaker Kills Startups
50% Tarrifs are about to break construction - And That's Only The BeginningIn this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, our hosts dive deep into the chaos reshaping the construction industry and startup world. What we cover:The shocking 50% steel and aluminum tariffs that just doubled construction costs overnightWhy rebar prices have exploded 26% and added $14,000 to every homeHow 68% of builders are now facing project delays due to supplier chaosThe brutal truth about why VCs pushing "996" work culture are dead wrongChatGPT's bombshell announcement that just killed $250M worth of AI startupsWhy construction tech companies are becoming consultancies (and if that's good or bad)The real reason behind tariffs that nobody talks aboutForward deployed engineers - the new trend taking over AEC techWhy some founders are burning out while others thrive"VCs pushing 9 to 6 are idiots. Most founders have no liquid capital and are actually struggling to make ends meet. You need to do whatever makes you most effective because it's not about hours you work, it's about output." - DustinFrom supply chain disasters to startup strategies, this episode unpacks the macro forces reshaping how we build - and who survives the chaos.------------------Sponsors:BuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.io4M Analytics - Instant, reliable utility data you can trust and verify - https://www.4manalytics.com/----------------------Chpaters00:00 Introduction and Current Events04:45 Impact of New Tariffs on Construction07:48 Economic Implications of Tariffs10:55 Labor Market Dynamics in Construction13:52 Challenges in Project Management16:57 Future of Construction Projects19:52 Immigration and Labor Supply22:51 Market Reactions and Predictions25:47 Conclusion and Future Outlook31:58 Infrastructure Investment and Economic Resilience33:43 Restoration Business Dynamics34:53 Market Optimism and Economic Trends39:48 Technology in AEC: Forward Deployed Engineering52:11 Software Stack Consolidation and Customization58:09 Partnerships in Technology Solutions01:05:24 The 996 Work Culture Debate01:08:10 Personal Work Routines and Mental Health01:11:01 Decision-Making in Business01:16:24 The Role of Bias in Decision-Making01:21:02 Expertise and Learning in Business01:26:01 Hiring and Team Dynamics01:31:27 The Future of AI Note-Taking
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Builder AI $450M Bankruptcy - The Beginning Of The End for AI Startups? Johnny Ive's $6.5B Hire by OpenAI, Hiring Missionaries vs Mercenaries, TAM Reality Check
A $450 million AI startup just went bankrupt after lying about their revenue - and this might be just the beginning of the AI apocalypse.In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, Dustin, and Patrick dive deep into the shocking collapse of Builder AI and what it reveals about the entire AI industry. From fraudulent revenue claims to human workers disguised as AI, this cautionary tale exposes the dark side of Silicon Valley's latest obsession.Key topics discussed:Builder AI's spectacular $450M bankruptcy and 25% revenue overstatementWhy 90-95% of AI companies are headed for failure according to VCsOpenAI's questionable $6.5 billion acquisition of Johnny Ive's design firmHow construction companies are getting fed up with AI promisesThe deadly mistakes founders make with venture debtWhy hiring "missionaries" beats "mercenaries" every timeThe real cost of delayed hiring decisions on cash burnWhy Ivy League credentials might actually hurt you in construction techThe truth about TAM calculations and industry sizing myths"I talked to a VC yesterday, and we were guesstimating... 90% to 95% of AI companies are just going to go to zero." - Dustin DeVanTune in for unfiltered insights on AI hype, hiring secrets, and what really matters in construction tech.----------------------Chapters00:00 Intro01:13 Welcome Back and Conference Insights04:12 AI in the AEC Industry: Challenges and Opportunities07:11 Builder AI: A Case Study in Failure10:15 The Impact of AI on Communication and Critical Thinking13:21 Navigating Debt and Financial Stability in Startups16:21 The Future of Software in Construction19:08 The Role of Communication in a Tech-Driven World33:39 Navigating Venture Debt and Equity Financing39:18 Understanding Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) and Its Implications47:16 The AI Hype: Reality vs. Expectations53:18 Evaluating the Impact of Emerging Technologies01:05:30 The Role of Data in AI Development01:12:23 The Future of AI and Its Limitations01:18:19 Hiring Strategies in the AEC Tech World01:21:59 Understanding Talent Acquisition and Onboarding01:31:33 The Impact of Backgrounds on Hiring Success01:38:54 Assessing the True TAM of the Construction Industry----------------------------Sponsors:BuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.io4M Analytics - Instant, reliable utility data you can trust and verify - https://www.4manalytics.com/
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Why Data Centers Might Crash, Autodesk Alienates Christians, Y Combinator Predatory Practices, Paper Beats Digital, with Softbank's $100B Pledge
"Data centers might be overbuilding. When industries overshoot, they always crash back to reality." - Dustin DeVan on our latest episodeIn today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about the $500B "Stargate" project between OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle that's having trouble finding backers as data center costs rise.We got to hear why Autodesk's God-themed ad campaign shows they don't understand their construction customers, despite having amazing 91% profit margins. Also, we heard TestFit CEO Clifton Harness explain how their tools cut dirt costs from 30% to 20% on industrial projects through better site grading.Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why smart capital is hesitant to invest in data center construction right now ✅ How Y Combinator takes 7% equity while giving little value to founders ✅ Why Safe Notes are becoming unpopular with serious investors ✅ The real reason construction permits are harder to get in the US vs Europe------------Timestamps00:00:00 Intro00:01:07 Introduction and Event Season Insights00:04:09 Data Center Construction: Boom or Bust?00:07:11 Stargate Project and AI Infrastructure Challenges00:10:03 Market Dynamics and Overcapacity Concerns00:12:59 Energy Consumption and Utility Challenges00:16:07 Investment Hesitations in Data Center Technologies00:19:04 Marketing Strategies and Autodesk's Controversial Campaign00:40:42 Distraction Tactics in Business00:42:05 Stock Valuations and Market Strategies00:43:06 Analyzing Autodesk's Financial Performance00:50:10 The Role of Boards in Corporate Governance00:52:07 Civil Engineering Innovations and Controversies00:59:11 Sales Strategies and Company Growth01:08:47 Introduction to Bricks and Bytes01:09:07 Understanding Market Segmentation01:10:01 Debating Y Combinator's Impact01:11:05 The Value of Mentorship in Startups01:13:16 Critique of SAFE Notes01:14:57 The Complexity of Infrastructure Costs01:22:08 Comparing Planning Systems: Anglosphere vs Europe
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