Go To Market Strategies & Investing In Construction Tech | Lisa Diaz (Ex-Goldman Sachs Managing Director)
How do you find the most promising startups in construction tech?
Join us for a breathtaking episode as we sit down with Wall Street mastermind Lisa Giuffra Diaz - Founder of Turf Advisory. She bought her first stocks when she was just 14 - and when she missed her train at Grand Central, she found her millions.
Listen to this ex-Goldman Sachs powerhouse, as she reveals the roadmap to construction’s investment-oasis. From Wall Street boardrooms to construction sites, Lisa shares her path to identifying construction-tech winners – and separating wheat from the chaff. Find out how she targets the most promising ventures, tackles industry challenges, and learns from her missteps.
This is a bookmark episode for all tech startups, VCs, and business owners in the construction world.
Key Takeaways:
The Founder Filter: Understand Lisa's rigorous vetting process, highlighting how to spot founders with the resilience and vision to succeed
Pain Point Power (Attention startups and VCs): Discover the importance of identifying and solving genuine issues construction workers face as the cornerstone of successful investment
Building Beyond Borders: Get the inside track on Lisa's international expansion and how she conquered the shift to construction
The Margin Mission: Why thin margins are a construction epidemic, and how Lisa's focus on efficiency is turning the tide
The Rise of MWBEs: Explore how platforms like Tough Leaf empower minority and women-owned businesses in construction, and why investors are taking note
Financial Grit: Learn why investors demand strong financial discipline and a clear path to profitability in today's economic climate
Lessons from Failure: Gain insights from investment missteps and learn the importance of prudence when backing construction tech startups
And much more.
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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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Timestamps:
(00:00:00-00:02:44) Intro
(00:02:37-00:12:30) Why Lisa Choose Construction
(00:12:30-00:19:00) What Makes Construction Different From Other Sectors
(00:19:00-00:21:15) How To Recognize A Bad Investment
(00:21:15-00:24:07) About Turf Advisory
(00:24:07-00:34:58) Tips To Improve Annual Recurring Revenue
(00:34:58-00:40:31) Impact Of Business Cycles For Startups
(00:40:31-00:45:10) Worst Investment Decision Made By Lisa
(00:45:10-00:47:18) How To Prevent Misallocation Of Funds
(00:47:18-01:07:05) Process To Follow While Onboarding People
(01:07:05-01:11:10) Importance of Communication For Introvert Engineers
(01:11:10-01:22:56) Quick QnA With Lisa
(01:22:56-01:24:23) Outro
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Bricks & Bytes
Sold For $275M - Dustin DeVan’s Construction Tech Journey
Note: This is a Re-Release of an episode that was originally released on Groundbreakers.
"I raised $250,000 pitching random people in coffee shops." - Dustin DeVan's unconventional approach to startup funding
In this episode, we had Dustin DeVan, founder of Building Connected and Ediphi, sharing his journey from selling a company for $275 million to starting anew in the construction tech space.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ The power of cold emails in securing VC meetings
✅ Why San Francisco's startup ecosystem is no longer what it used to be
✅ How to build a successful construction tech startup in today's market
✅ The challenges of innovating within large, established companies
Listen now on Spotify to hear Dustin's insights on fundraising, scaling startups, and the future of construction technology. A must-listen for founders, investors, and anyone interested in the evolving landscape of construction tech.
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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/bricksbytespod
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg
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Bricks & Bytes
Dev Amratia - Building Real Artificial Intelligence in Construction Tech - CEO of nPlan
Note: This is a repost from an episode which was released on Groundbreakers.
"AI is not just about replacing humans, it's about elevating them." - Dev Amratia, CEO of nPlan, shares how AI is transforming construction project management.
In this episode, we had Dev Amratia and we got to learn about nPlan's journey in revolutionizing construction risk management, the power of AI in forecasting project timelines, and the importance of company culture in building a successful startup... and many more!
Tune in to find out about:
✅ How nPlan uses AI to analyze over 760,000 construction projects
✅ The concept of "adding the egg" in product development
✅ Why outcomes-based services are gaining traction in construction tech
✅ The importance of a growth mindset in startup leadership
Listen to the full episode on Spotify to discover how AI is reshaping the future of construction project management.
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
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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.
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.
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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Bricks & Bytes
Trials And Triumphs: AI, Robotics, and Investment Strategies | May Roundup with Owen & Martin
Join Owen and Martin as they take you on a journey of May's most groundbreaking conversations in the world of construction tech.
From Berlin to Amsterdam, the pair uncover the secrets behind the industry's most innovative minds and reveal the strategies that are transforming the way we build. Explore billionaire investment strategies from ex Goldman Sachs Managing Director and masterclass framework for innovation implementation.
Prepare to be inspired:
The power of constraint: How limitations can actually fuel creativity and drive innovation.
The rapid iteration mindset: Why embracing constant change and experimentation is key to staying ahead.
The future of automation: How robotics, AI, and data are revolutionising architecture and construction.
The untapped potential of retrofitting: Why upgrading existing buildings could be the next big thing.
And much more.
—---------------------------
Stay ahead. Get all the news and insider exclusives delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign up for our newsletter The Bytes Line at: https://bricks-bytes.com
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—helping contractors like you leverage BIM to secure a leading position in the race towards construction’s digital future.
Visit: https://maketheshft.digital
—----------------------------------
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 - 00:37) - Intro to Our Sponsors
(00:37 - 04:09) - What happened last month in Bricks and Bytes
(04:09 - 18:30) - What did we learn last month
(18:30 - 34:48) - Guests we had this month
(34:48 - 36:23) - Bricks and Bytes Broadcast
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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