#076 - Secrets To Boost Your Business in Construction - Business Development In The Built Environment
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Mark Worrall, CEO of BBI Services Ltd
In this episode, we learn about business development in construction, why technology works best when solving a well-defined problem, some common misconceptions like technology will magically fix problems, and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
How visual performance tracking helps teams know what to focus on fixing
Technology works best when solving a well-defined problem, not as a magic solution.
How modular fabrication needs to take a true production-led approach to succeed.
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Mark Worrall | CEO at BBI Services Ltd
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Timestamps:
(00:00:00 - 00:02:13) - Intro
(00:02:13 - 00:10:15) - About BBI Services
(00:10:15 - 00:15:30) - How to enhance people's performance at the workplace
(00:15:30 - 00:20:30) - Learning from Toyota's manufacturing practices
(00:20:30 - 00:40:49) - Biggest misconception about technology
(00:40:49 - 00:41:19) - Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#081 - From 0 to Real Estate Developer in 7 Years - The Tech, Tools, and Teachings Behind the Rise to the Top - Max Sanchez
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Max Sanchez, Real Estate Developer and Construction Innovator.
In this episode, we learn about Max's journey from music producer and sales manager to a real estate developer, the potential Max sees in using robotics and virtual reality capture in construction, and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
How Max went from selling customized USB drives to managing construction projects and diving into construction tech.
The lessons Max shares when selling tech solutions to developers.
How robotics and virtual reality capture can have a big impact in the industry
How to create win-win partnerships between developers and contractors
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Max Sanchez | Real Estate Developer and Construction Innovator
Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:06:35) Intro
(00:01:35-00:07:10) Background of Max Sanchez
(00:07:10-00:17:26) Advice for people looking to get into Real Estate
(00:17:26-00:23:00) Key Mistakes that Max made
(00:23:00-00:28:10) "Where Are We" in Construction Tech
(00:28:10-00:41:22) Technology in Property Development Business
(00:41:22-00:45:46) Reality Capture Solution and Robotics In Construction
(00:45:46-00:46:52) Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#079 - From Student to Co Founder - Building The ChatGPT for Construction
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Fauzan Reza Maulana, CEO of Rekava, an AI-driven digital assistant for the construction industry
In this episode, Fauzan shares his journey from student to Co-Founder and CEO as well as some eye-opening takeaways from his recent thesis on Startups In Construction Tech.
Tune in to find out about:
The ideal size and expertise of a founding team in construction tech
The importance of deeply understanding your customer's problems before building products
Fauzan's personal journey from civil engineering to programming to leading a tech startup and his key learnings along the way.
How Rekava is using AI to create a virtual assistant that can answer questions on construction project documents, acting as a knowledge base that never retires.
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Fauzan | Co-Founder at Rekava
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Timestamps:
00:00:00-00:02:00 Intro
00:02:00-00:06:10 Key Findings Working In Construction Tech
00:06:10-00:09:55 Current State of Construction Tech Startup
00:09:55-00:17:20 Transition from Student to Startup Founder
00:17:20-00:25:14 How do you find Founders
00:25:14-00:32:02 Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
#070 - Ben Weiss - Unlocking Hidden Potentials In Low-Tech Industries
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have Ben Weiss, Co-Founder of BinStar.
In this episode, we learn about the potential in low-tech industries like construction and the role technology can play in improving efficiency.
Tune in to find out about:
How the construction industry represents a major market opportunity that is overlooked by many investors
Why focusing on cost reduction and efficiency improvements is a better strategy than creating new revenue streams
The challenges of adopting new technology in traditional industries resistent to change
The future role of technology like drones and AI in optimisation of construction processes
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
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Ben Weiss | Co-Founder of BinStar
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Today’s Sponsor: beta – Construction and technology network platform
– connecting the tech industry with traditional construction partners.
Check www.the-beta.com
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Timestamps:
(00:00:00 - 00:02:30) - Intro
(00:02:30 - 00:05:20) - Ben's background in public markets and hedge funds
(00:05:20 - 00:12:00) - Defining "low-tech" industries and why they are interesting investment opportunities
(00:12:00 - 00:25:00) - How simple technology can have massive impact on traditional businesses
(00:25:00 - 00:35:33) - SolidSpace and its solution for construction project mistakes
(00:35:33 - 00:42:00) - Advice for new investors
(00:42:00 - 00:29:30) - Outro
"AI Can't Handle Full Design Workflows!" - Automation Promises & Real-World Limitations from AEC Experts
"Is it possible to get from concept to fully constructible building designs in hours? "In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Augmenta's $10 million seed funding for their AI-powered design platform that aims to automate electrical designs for buildings.We also learned about the ongoing debate between automated design platforms versus improved authoring tools, and which approach might ultimately capture more value in the MEP/S design space.Patric shared his investor's perspective that data infrastructure, authoring tools, and systems of record may be better investment targets than pure AI solutions, as they're likely to embed AI capabilities and control workflows long-term.Tune in to find out about:✅ The challenge of creating "fully constructible" designs through automation✅ Why minimum feature sets in building design software are exceptionally high✅ The reality that vectorial AI systems will always need human refinement✅ How the MEP design workflow might evolve with AI assistance------------Chapters00:00 Intro03:40 Augmenta's Seed Funding and Automation in Design07:02 Challenges of Constructible Designs11:35 The Importance of Minimum Feature Sets15:01 Marketing vs. Reality in Construction Tech18:19 Competition in the Automation Space20:16 Navigating the Complexities of MEP Design24:11 The Future of Automated Building Design30:11 The Role of AI in Design Automation34:26 The Intersection of Authoring Tools and Automation39:00 The Evolving Landscape of AI in Construction
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
"$65 Billion Wasted!" - How Twin Knowledge's AI Prevents Costly Construction Rework
"$65 billion worth of rework happened in the United States last year in construction. The expectation in the market is that construction projects run over budgets and timelines."In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Twin Knowledge, an AI-powered platform that raised $3.7M to help construction and real estate stakeholders QA/QC building drawings before they hit the field.We discovered how the company is tackling the massive $65B rework problem by creating AI assistants that help query unstructured data across different silos.Also, we learned about the power of "white glove" implementation approaches in construction tech from JP Bowgen of Camber Creek.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why developers feel the most pain from drawing errors✅ How Twin Knowledge can help teams do "4-5X the work with half the team"✅ Why founder expertise matters more than ever in the AI boom✅ The importance of catching errors upstream before they become costly rework-------------Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe-------------LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_ZgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/---------------Chapters00:00 Introduction to Twin Knowledge and AI in Construction02:53 Understanding the Accuracy and Utility of AI in Building Drawings06:14 The Impact of Rework in Construction and the Role of Twin Knowledge08:47 Evaluating the Value of Twin Knowledge in Construction Projects11:57 The Leadership Behind Twin Knowledge and Its Market Position14:56 The White Glove Approach in Technology Implementation17:57 The Future of Twin Knowledge and AI in Construction28:10 The Vision Behind Twin Knowledge30:01 Funding and Future Plans32:02 Competitive Landscape and Unique Positioning33:55 Understanding Cost Savings and Value Proposition36:09 Rework Challenges in Construction38:58 Incentives and Business Dynamics43:59 Final Thoughts on AI and Future Prospects
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Germany's Fiscal Bazooka Ignites Europe - Construction Tech Opportunities & Capital Shifts from Global VC Perspective
"Germany's fiscal U-turn might be the drop that makes Europe's bucket overflow."In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Camber Creek's unique investment approach with JP Bowgen - they raise funds from 300+ real estate companies to drive value for founders they back.We discussed Germany's recent "fiscal bazooka" - a massive €500 billion infrastructure fund alongside unlimited military spending, potentially kickstarting a new era of European optimism.Also, we learned about how building materials companies in Germany jumped 20% in share prices following this announcement, creating a flywheel effect for construction tech.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why JP predicts we'll see the first German construction tech unicorn in 4 years✅ How infrastructure investment creates opportunities for material innovation✅ The potential shift in global economic power dynamics✅ Why successful US startups are increasingly looking to expand into EuropeListen to the full conversation on Spotify.----------Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe---------LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_ZgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/—---------------------------Chapters00:00 Introduction to Camber Creek and JP Bowgen06:09 Germany's Fiscal U-Turn and Historical Context11:53 Implications of Germany's Infrastructure and Defense Spending17:58 The Impact on Construction Tech and Startups24:01 Future Prospects for Investment in Germany28:59 Exploring On-Site Robotics and Supply Chain Solutions31:12 The Importance of Energy Efficiency in Europe33:28 Infrastructure Investment and Its Impact on Housing36:32 The Future of Venture Capital in Europe40:34 The Shift of Founders from the US to Europe44:11 Economic Implications of US Isolationism49:57 Cultural and Economic Power Dynamics
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Reneo’s €600M to Transform Real Estate, Nodes and Links $12m Scheduling Raise
"In Europe, you need your buildings to consume less energy because we don't have a lot of prime energy." - Patric on why Reneo's business model works beyond regulations.In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Reneo's massive €600M funding round (with €45M in equity) to transform energy-inefficient buildings into greener assetsWe also explored Nodes and Links $12M Series B funding for their AI-powered scheduling management platform that enhances project delivery across construction and other industriesPlus, we gained valuable insight into how successful construction tech companies approach scheduling through three distinct models: full automation, analytics/visibility, and collaboration-focused solutions.Tune in to find out about:✅ How Reneo creates structural cost advantages through radical standardization✅ Why co-CEOs can work well with the right dynamic, especially during adversity✅ The critical difference between having a schedule versus the act of scheduling✅ Why one investor got excited seeing Salil Deshpande (Uncorrelated) backing Nodes and LinksListen to the full episode on Spotify to learn how these construction tech innovators are reshaping the industry.------Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe------LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespodYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_ZgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/-----Chapters00:00 Introduction and Context01:10 Overview of Reneo and Its Business Model05:54 Reneo's Unique Approach to Real Estate Investment11:49 Investment Rationale and Market Dynamics17:52 Challenges and Opportunities in the Real Estate Sector24:05 Conclusion and Future Outlook25:40 Exploring Nodes and Links in Scheduling Technology30:01 Models of Scheduling: Automation, Visibility, and Collaboration36:02 The Future of Scheduling Software: Differentiation and Optimization39:59 Investment Insights: Evaluating Funding and Market Dynamics