#063 - James Swanston - An Ex-Army Officer's Guide to Entrepreneurial Success
In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we have James Swanston, the CEO and co-founder of Voyage Control and an ex-officer in the British Army.
Learn about military leadership principles applied to business and entrepreneurship, war strategies to improve decision-making, how military principles work in business, and much more!
Tune in to find out about:
Serving as an army officer and key lessons learned
Applying war principles to business decisions
Making long-term plans and dealing with uncertainty
Stress management and discipline for entrepreneurs
If you enjoy today’s episode, leave us a comment. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel!
----------------------------------------
James Swanston | CEO and Co-founder of Voyage Control | ConTech
----------------------------------------
Today’s Sponsor: beta – Construction and technology network platform
– connecting the tech industry with traditional construction partners.
Check www.the-beta.com
----------------------------------------
Timestamps:
(0:00-2:59) - Intro
(2:59-6:40) - Background on military experience
(6:40-9:45) - Key lessons as an army officer
(9:45-12:01) - War principles relevant to business
(12:01-15:16) - Motivation for starting Voyage Control
(15:16-16:19) - Teamwork lessons from military
(16:19-17:09) - Principles for hiring people
(17:09-15:53) - Leadership principles
(15:53-24:00) - Decision-making process in military
(24:00-27:39) - Dealing with unexpected challenges
(27:39-29:29) - Stress management
(29:29-31:49) - Discipline lessons learnt
(31:49-40:09) - Logistics experience
(40:09-40:37) - Outro
read more
Bricks & Bytes
#028 - Delia Visan - A Masterclass in Customer Success
How do you get your customers to fall in love with your brand?
On today's podcast we have Delia Visan, a master, influencer and advocate in the world of customer success.
Delia is currently the head of Customer Success at Bright Spaces and is one of the top 25 CS Leaders of 2023.
Getting existing customers to spend more is far easier than obtaining new customers. And in this episode we chat about how CS can result in improved customer retention and a higher customer lifetime value.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why customer success is important and why startups NEED it
How small businesses can integrate customer success into their operations
Current and future trends in customer success
How to learn (and dream in) new languages
---------------------------------------
Delia Visan
Head of Customer Success @Bright Spaces || 25 Most Creative CS Leaders of 2023 by EverAfter || 2022 Top Influencers in the CS Space by Custify
---------------------------------------
Today's Sponsor: Beta Construction and technology network platform - connecting the tech industry with traditional partners.
Check www.the-beta.com
---------------------------------------
Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:02:01) - Intro
(00:02:01-00:04:06) - Tech world in Romania
(00:04:06-00:04:56) - Is Romania exporting tech outside?
(00:04:56-00:05:42) - Are tech teams based in Romania?
(00:05:42-00:07:18) - When did you discover customer success and what did you love about it?
(00:07:18-00:08:02) - Is customer success different in proptech then the other industry?
(00:08:02-00:08:54) - What is customer success?
(00:08:54-00:10:27) - What is the checklist for customer success?
(00:10:27-00:11:59) - From where the customer success starts?
(00:11:59-00:13:47) - Customer success implementations
(00:13:47-00:15:18) - When should companies implement customer success?
(00:15:18-00:17:21) - Customer obsession and customer is not always right
(00:17:21-00:20:07) - What is bright spaces?
(00:20:07-00:21:54) - Customer success with lease owner
(00:21:54-00:22:04) - Is bright spaces designed for Romanian market?
(00:22:04-00:23:42) - Future plans
(00:23:42-00:24:34) - Delia other passion
(00:24:34-00:26:18) - What are some future trends you see right now?
(00:26:18-00:27:51) - Segmentation of the customers
(00:27:51-00:29:12) - Should startup approach customer success differently then other businesses?
(00:29:12-00:30:13) - Customer satisfaction
(00:30:13-00:32:14) - How to deal with customer that you don't like?
(00:32:14-00:33:34) - Simple thing to do for customer success
(00:33:34-00:37:00) - Delia is multilingual
(00:37:00-00:37:42) - Books or resources
(00:37:42-00:38:28) - Course
(00:38:28-00:38:51) - More about Delia
(00:38:51-00:39:16) - Outro
read more
Bricks & Bytes
#026 - Alex Walzer - All Things Innovation In Construction
How do we gamify the construction industry?
On today's show we have someone who has interesting and incredible ideas for the future of the construction - Alex Walzer.
Alex is currently a Doctoral Researcher for Entrepreneurship for Digital Fabrication and Robotics in Construction
In this episode, we discuss:
Future innovations in the construction industry
How gamification can make construction more fun and engaging
Open innovation as a way to help you find new and better ways to build things
Failure - an important part of learning and innovation
---------------------------------------
Alex Walzer - Into Construction Tech
Doctoral Researcher at ETH Zurich
---------------------------------------
Today's Sponsor: Beta Construction and technology network platform - connecting the tech industry with traditional partners.
Check www.the-beta.com
---------------------------------------
(00:00:00-00:00:17) - Intro
(00:00:17-00:01:43) - How Alex reached where he is now?
(00:01:43-00:02:32) - Research
(00:02:32-00:03:31) - How do you stay focused?
(00:03:31-00:04:34) - What is worth your time from internet?
(00:04:34-00:05:33) - Strategies that can help who is embarking into construction
(00:05:33-00:06:22) - Favorite subject in contech
(00:06:22-00:07:18) - Implementation of robotics
(00:07:18-00:07:44) - Transition into robots in construction
(00:07:44-00:10:29) - Game
(00:10:29-00:12:00) - Energy
(00:12:00-00:15:04) - VC landscape in robotics
(00:15:04-00:18:12) - Contech in the moment
(00:18:12-00:19:04) - Digital fabrication
(00:19:04-00:20:03) - How digital fabrication is different?
(00:20:03-00:22:59) - What excites you in contech
(00:22:59-00:23:30) - How do we get there?
(00:23:30-00:26:18) - Consulting business and how it provides values?
(00:26:18-00:30:50) - Role of education
(00:30:50-00:33:28) - Where did you take your inspiration from?
(00:33:28-00:34:25) - Books
(00:34:25-00:36:08) - If you have unlimited budget where you would spend it>
(00:36:08-00:37:19) - More about Alex
(00:37:19-00:37:36) - Outro
read more
Bricks & Bytes
#030 - Stephen Poppe - ConTech Advising & Implementation At General/Main Contractors
Why do construction (tech) companies fail?
On today's podcast, we have Stephen Poppe, ConTech Advisor and Customer Success Leader.
Stephen is currently the Manager for Research & Development at HITT Contracting and Executive Partner at Blue Collar Capital
In this episode, we discuss:
Where people go wrong with construction tech & why companies fail
Considerations when investing in construction tech companies
Implementation and strategies for Main Contractors
Stephen's terrible taste in football (soccer) team
---------------------------------------
Stephen Poppe
R&D | Contech Advisor | Customer Success Leader | Construction Professional | Lean Practitioner(ish)
---------------------------------------
Today's Sponsor: Beta Construction and technology network platform - connecting the tech industry with traditional partners.
Check www.the-beta.com
---------------------------------------
Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:01:57) - Intro and Sponsor
(00:01:57-00:04:13) - Why did Stephen choose Contech?
(00:04:13-00:06:02) - What are people not getting right with technology?
(00:06:02-00:07:55) - Should construction companies focus on the management process?
(00:07:55-00:10:34) - Why does a company fail in Contech?
(00:10:34-00:12:43) - What is the lean startup methodology?
(00:12:43-00:14:08) - What is important when investing in a company as a capital allocator?
(00:14:08-00:16:55) - What are the initial problems that a startup face?
(00:16:55-00:18:23) - What is HITT?
(00:18:23-00:21:28) - Labor shortage
(00:21:28-00:22:42) - Is there something else that we should focus on except technology?
(00:22:42-00:24:23) - Future of tech
(00:24:23-00:27:38) - How can we get the basics right?
(00:27:38-00:31:17) - Trends in construction tech
(00:31:17-00:33:49) - VC doesn’t like 100-million-dollar ideas?
(00:33:49-00:35:48) - Book recommendations
(00:35:48-00:36:37) - Hobbies
(00:36:37-00:36:51) - More about Stephen
(00:36:51-00:37:09) - Outro
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
read more
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
read more
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 $25M from a prestigious investor only to shut up shop shortly after announcing their round.We got insights into late-stage funding challenges in construction tech, with a seasoned investor highlighting why businesses struggle to raise Series B rounds when earlier rounds were overvalued.Also, we learned why Europe might offer better returns for construction tech investors than the US, despite the US potentially delivering bigger individual outcomes.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why listening to non-VC entrepreneurs is crucial for sustainable growth✅ The mechanics of construction tech startup valuations across funding rounds✅ How to navigate down rounds and recapitalization✅ Why European construction tech startups have a 4-5x cost advantage----Chapters00:00 Introduction and Light Banter01:49 Challenges in Construction Tech Funding04:27 Strategies for Raising Capital09:20 Profitability vs. Growth in Construction Tech12:56 Late Stage Funding Trends15:24 Avoiding Overvaluation in Funding Rounds17:28 Valuation Mechanics in Funding Rounds21:16 Equity Dynamics in Down Rounds23:06 Anecdotes from the Industry25:42 Reflections on Construction Tech Investing29:25 Comparative Analysis: Europe vs. US in Construction Tech33:00 Future of Point Solutions in Construction Tech
read more
Bricks, Buck$ 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
----
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
----
.avif)
