Will AI Replace Construction Managers? - Amir Berman, Go-To-Market Strategist At Buildots
In this episode, Amir Berman of Builddots challenges the status quo in construction technology. We explore how AI and data are silently revolutionizing the industry, despite widespread skepticism.
Berman shares lessons from his failed startup, proposing controversial new models for ROI and product management in construction tech. We delve into the clash between digital solutions and physical realities, and uncover strategies to bridge this divide.
Berman's insights on Performance Driven Construction Management hint at a future where data, not intuition, drives decisions.
As AI begins to automate traditionally human-centric processes, we confront the implications for the workforce and the industry's future. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why old ways of tracking progress might be costing you money
✅ The hard truth about getting value from construction tech
✅ How AI spots delays before humans can
✅ Why your project data might be useless without the right tools
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00:00 - Intro
02:12 - Lessons From Starting & Failing A Startup
08:15 - Innovation Happening In London In Construction
10:42 - Measuring ROI in Construction
12:45 - Product Management in Construction vs Other Industries
15:31 - BuildDots: Progress Tracking and Data Modeling for Construction
36:30 - Capturing and Utilizing Performance Data
38:08 - Creating Data Standards for 4D
38:37 - The Power of Productivity Data
41:42 - Innovation and Continuous Improvement
48:35 - Showcasing Value through Case Studies
51:51 - Go-to-Market Strategies in Construction Tech
56:15 - The Challenge of Creating a Clear ROI Formula
59:33 - The New Layer Strategy: Performance-Driven Construction Management
01:06:42 - Charging Based on Construction Volume
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Bricks & Bytes
Reshaping Construction Risk Management With AI - Provision
"We're not trying to replace expert opinion about what is a risk. We're trying to make sure you're aware of everything that could go wrong."
In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Luigi and Brendan from Provision AI. We learned about their journey in creating a risk identification tool for construction projects, the challenges they faced, and how they're revolutionizing project risk management.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ How Provision AI helps contractors identify and manage project risks
✅ The evolution of their product from initial concept to current iteration
✅ Their approach to achieving product-market fit in different segments
✅ The importance of partnerships in growing awareness and improving their product
Listen now on Spotify to hear how Provision AI is changing the game in construction risk management!
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Bricks & Bytes
AI Agents Are Changing The Game - The Future Of Construction Workflows
"AI agents aren't replacing humans—they're just handling 80% of the work, freeing skilled professionals to do what they do best."In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had James Garner, Global Head of Data, Insights & Analytics at Gleeds, discussing how AI is transforming construction consultancy.Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why construction is finally catching up with technology after decades of slow adoption ✅ How the barriers to implementing AI have fallen dramatically, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes ✅ Why AI agents are perfect for construction's workflow-based processes ✅ The potential risks of handing our industry's intellectual knowledge to big tech companiesJames believes 2025 will be the year of AI agents, with concrete case studies emerging by year-end. Don't miss this insightful conversation about the future of construction tech!---------Chapters00:00 Intro03:38 Introduction and Company Overview09:43 The Role of AI in Project Management15:32 James Garner's Career Journey22:42 Innovation Processes in Consulting28:30 Data Analytics in Projects36:28 The Future of Internal LLMs43:34 Human Oversight in AI Processes49:58 The Impact of AI on Consultancy Competition56:10 Project Data Analytics Task Force
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Bricks & Bytes
200,000 Users, 120 Countries : How Rayon is Changing Architectural Design Software
Is the future of architectural design in the cloud? 🤔
In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, Stan from Rayon talks about revolutionizing 2D drafting for architects and interior designers.
He shares how cloud-based software is changing the game, making design tools more accessible and collaborative.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why 90% of buildings are still designed in 2D
✅ How cloud-based tools are disrupting traditional CAD software
✅ The power of product-led growth in design tech
✅ Why focusing on "fresh starters" is key to adoption
Listen to the full episode on Spotify to learn how Rayon is shaping the future of architectural design software.
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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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Chapters
00:00 Intro
02:08 Stan's Journey from Architecture to Tech
13:28 Introducing Rayon: A New Tool for Architects
24:41 Targeting the Interior Design Market
30:53 Go-to-Market Strategy and Community Engagement
51:19 Fundraising Journey and VC Partnerships
01:00:58 The Future of Design and Technology
Building Materials Marketplace vs Cloud Manufacturing: What Works Where?
Building my own house made me realize how broken construction supply chains are - Saudi BRKZ founder's story sounds familiar?In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we explored how Saudi BRKZ secured $17M Series A funding for their construction materials marketplace, bringing their total raise to $22.5M in just two years.We discussed how emerging markets like Saudi Arabia present unique opportunities for construction tech marketplaces that wouldn't work in Western markets, due to their concentrated demand and fragmented supply.We also got fascinating insights from Patric on why having 1,100 suppliers might not be the most efficient strategy for a construction materials marketplace, and why the "cloud manufacturer" model could be more effective.Tune in to learn about:✅ Why Saudi Arabia's construction tech scene is heating up✅ The difference between managed marketplaces and cloud manufacturers✅ How venture debt can be smartly used in profitable marketplace models✅ Why expanding to 40 cities quickly might raise questions for investorsListen to the full episode on Spotify to hear our deep dive into construction tech marketplaces and emerging market opportunities.----------------Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Insights01:55 Exploring Construction Tech Opportunities05:01 Understanding Bricks and Its Business Model09:56 Supply Chain Dynamics in Emerging Markets15:08 Funding Strategies and Market Expansion20:06 Debt Financing and Working Capital Management23:51 The Role of Debt in Business Growth24:18 Evaluating Investment Metrics25:10 Understanding Unit Economics26:31 Investment Opportunities in Saudi Arabia28:11 Optimism in the Construction Industry29:39 Navigating Customer Relationships in Startups30:00 The Challenge of Custom Solutions35:34 The Importance of Long-Term Relationships36:18 Technology Integration in Construction39:02 The Future of Construction Technology----------------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/—---------------------------------------------------------- #podcast #construction #constructionindustry #bricksandbytes #startups #architecture #design #civilengineering #engineering #constructiontechnology #engineer #architect #civilengineer #concrete #podcaster #podcasting #entrepreneur #podcasts #podcastlife #startups #entrepreneurship
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Invoice reconciliation, AI automation, Material data infrastructure & CFO-driven adoption
From calling suppliers to schedule deliveries to manually typing data into Excel - this German startup secures €12.5M to fix construction's paper problem.In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we had Henric Meinhardt from comstruct walk us through how they're digitizing the material delivery and invoice reconciliation process between suppliers and contractors.We got to learn about how they're using AI to process unstructured data from thousands of suppliers, replacing manual data entry with automated workflows.And interestingly, we heard an investor's perspective on why focusing on financial processes can be the best entry point into construction companies, starting with the CFO rather than on-site teams.Tune in to find out about:✅ How comstruct automates invoice matching and material tracking✅ Why large language models are making traditional EDI interfaces obsolete✅ Their unique go-to-market strategy targeting CFOs first✅ How they convinced World Cup winner Mario Götze to investListen to the full episode on Spotify to hear how comstruct is building the infrastructure for construction's digital future.-----------Chapters00:00 Introduction to Constrakt and Funding Success03:06 The Evolution of Construction Processes06:07 Agentic AI and Its Impact on Construction09:01 Future of Invoicing in Construction12:11 Optimizing Procurement Processes15:08 Supplier Engagement and Automation17:48 Competition and Market Landscape20:59 ESG Considerations in Construction24:07 International Expansion and Future Plans24:37 Technical Difficulties and Humor25:09 Go-to-Market Strategy Insights28:57 Understanding Customer Needs and ROI29:59 Investment and Growth Plans31:44 Navigating the Construction Tech Landscape32:38 Pre-Construction Processes and Challenges36:54 Prioritization in Business Strategy39:14 Engaging Investors in Unique Niches
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Why European Construction Tech Could Outperform US Startups: A 5X Cost Advantage Revealed
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we learn about the story of an AEC start-up that raised $25M from a prestigious investor only to shut up shop shortly after announcing their round.We got insights into late-stage funding challenges in construction tech, with a seasoned investor highlighting why businesses struggle to raise Series B rounds when earlier rounds were overvalued.Also, we learned why Europe might offer better returns for construction tech investors than the US, despite the US potentially delivering bigger individual outcomes.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why listening to non-VC entrepreneurs is crucial for sustainable growth✅ The mechanics of construction tech startup valuations across funding rounds✅ How to navigate down rounds and recapitalization✅ Why European construction tech startups have a 4-5x cost advantage----Chapters00:00 Introduction and Light Banter01:49 Challenges in Construction Tech Funding04:27 Strategies for Raising Capital09:20 Profitability vs. Growth in Construction Tech12:56 Late Stage Funding Trends15:24 Avoiding Overvaluation in Funding Rounds17:28 Valuation Mechanics in Funding Rounds21:16 Equity Dynamics in Down Rounds23:06 Anecdotes from the Industry25:42 Reflections on Construction Tech Investing29:25 Comparative Analysis: Europe vs. US in Construction Tech33:00 Future of Point Solutions in Construction Tech
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Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
First Principles & Founder Success: Lessons from Scott Wolf's Levelset Journey
"20 years of experience or 1 year repeated 20 times?" - This profound question from Scott Wolfe (Levelset) captures why some founders achieve extraordinary success while others stay stagnant.
In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we explored how compound experience and non-linear career paths shape successful founders in construction tech.
Tune in to learn about:
✅ How Scott Wolfe's diverse background (software, retail, law) led to Levelset's success
✅ Why non-linear experiences often lead to breakthrough innovations
✅ The truth about choosing the right capital structure for your business
✅ Why your customer should be your best source of capital
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Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Context Setting
01:08 Scott Wolf's Impactful Insights
02:15 The Concept of Compound Experience
04:17 Nonlinear vs. Linear Experiences
10:38 The Importance of Curiosity
12:20 Applying Compounded Knowledge
16:33 The Role of Blogging in Business Growth
25:50 Choosing the Right Capitalization Method
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