"A tech-enabled general contractor reduced construction costs by 30% and build times by 25% - not by replacing trades, but by empowering them with better tools."In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Salman from Mosaic who shared how they're revolutionizing the built-to-rent housing sector by bringing together software and construction expertise.Tune in to find out about:✅ How Mosaic achieves 30% cost reduction compared to traditional commercial GCs✅ Their approach to "gentle disruption" that works with existing trades rather than replacing them✅ How they're scaling to 2,000 units under construction with just 60 employees✅ Why the future of construction might be in data granularity rather than new materials or roboticsListen to the full conversation on Spotify and learn how Mosaic is addressing the housing crisis by making construction more efficient without reinventing the wheel.--------Chapters00:00 Intro03:30 Introduction and Mishaps04:36 The Mission Behind Mosaic07:35 Understanding Technology-Powered General Contracting10:50 Current Projects and Clientele15:21 Value Proposition for Developers15:49 Exploring Built-to-Rent Communities21:12 Cost Efficiency and Scheduling Benefits23:50 The Secret Sauce of Technology30:39 Minimizing Third-Party Behavior Change37:42 Management Tools and Future Innovations39:04 Core Business Artifacts and Cost Models41:02 Leveraging Historical Data for Costing44:03 Granular Cost Representation and Construction Practices45:34 Mosaic's Team Structure and Efficiency Metrics46:34 Profitability and Growth Dynamics at Mosaic49:11 Future Growth and Market Expansion Strategies51:48 Licensing Technology and Productization57:14 Cultural Mindset for Achieving Profitability1:01:25 Enhancing Trade Relationships through Technology1:04:52 Collaborative Cost-Saving Dynamics in Construction1:08:54 Identifying Opportunities for Cost Savings
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Bricks & Bytes
"Tariffs Will Bankrupt Contractors" - Contracts Hiding Risk & Free Solution from Document Crunch
"Knowledge is power when dealing with tariffs. The lack of it caused numerous contractors to go out of business during the last supply chain disruption. We're not going to let that happen again."In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, Josh Levy from Document Crunch shared how they're helping construction companies navigate the recent tariff changes with China, Canada, and Mexico - completely free.Tune in to find out about: ✅ Document Crunch's growth to 100+ countries as a document compliance platform ✅ The free Tariff Risk Assessment Tool that audits contracts for tariff-related risks ✅ Why cost isn't the only risk - supply chain disruptions will follow ✅ How contractors can protect themselves against material price escalationListen now on Spotify to learn how to protect your projects from unexpected costs and delays Get free access to their Tariff Assessment Tool here : https://www.documentcrunch.com/2025-tariffs----------------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-----------Chapters00:00 Introduction to Document Crunch and Recent Growth02:56 Evolution of Document Crunch's Services05:48 Impact of Geopolitical Changes on Construction09:03 Introduction of the Tariff Risk Assessment Tool11:48 Industry Response to Rising Costs14:52 Functionality and Use of the Tariff Risk Assessment Tool18:00 Final Thoughts and Call to Action
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Bricks & Bytes
Disrupt Autodesk? This Ex-Autodesk CEO Has Some Advice - Amar Hanspal
"The battle is always the speed between which a startup gets distribution and an incumbent gets innovation." - Amar Hanspal's provocative insight on industry disruption
In this episode, we had Amar Hanspal, former co-CEO of Autodesk, and we got to learn about the challenges of building successful products, the importance of team dynamics, and crucial lessons for startups in the AEC space.
Tune in to find out about:
✅ Why it takes 7-10 years to build a successful company in AEC
✅ The importance of focusing on cash flow over profit for young companies
✅ How to determine if your MVP is truly viable
✅ Why execution matters more than the initial idea
✅ Balancing growth and sustainability in startup development
Listen to the full episode on Spotify to gain invaluable insights from Amar's 30+ years of experience in product development and startup growth.
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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
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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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Timestamps
00:00 Amar Hanspal's Journey: From Autodesk to Startups
05:44 The Current State of Design Tech
11:55 Challenges in Disrupting Incumbents
23:34 12 Lessons on Product Development
01:03:07 The Future of Entrepreneurship in Tech
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#podcast #construction #constructionindustry #bricksandbytes #startups #architecture
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Bricks & Bytes
3D Scan To BIM - Building Documentation Is Wrong 80% Of The Time
"I started Integrated Projects with $12,000 in what I thought was emergency funds. Looking back, probably the silliest decision." - Jose CruzIn today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Jose Cruz of Integrated Projects (IPX) sharing his journey from bootstrapping to raising venture funding.Tune in to find out about:✅ How growing up in his parents' pizza shop gave Jose a "cheat code" for understanding business✅ The problem with building documentation (8 out of 10 landlords start projects with inaccurate as-built drawings)✅ How IPX is revolutionizing Scan-to-BIM technology by combining 3D scanning and modeling✅ Why Jose bootstrapped for 5 years before raising capital ($12K savings to $1.2M revenue)Listen to the full conversation to learn how IPX is scaling to meet the challenge of digitizing 1.6 billion existing buildings worldwide:-----------------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 Intro04:20 The Leap into Entrepreneurship07:08 Foundations of Confidence and Experience10:11 The Early Days of IPX13:20 Understanding the Need for Digitization16:23 Target Audience and Market Dynamics19:21 Case Study: Tesla's Use of IPX Services22:25 The Shift from CAD to BIM25:06 The Role of Building Owners in Digital Asset Management28:24 The Process of Scanning and Modeling31:22 Advancements in Scanning Technology34:22 The Future of Scan-to-BIM Automation41:54 Building Trust with Customers44:03 Securing Enterprise Clients46:29 The Bootstrapping Journey50:24 Deciding to Fundraise52:50 Navigating Investor Relationships55:47 Transitioning from Founder-Led Sales58:45 Marketing Strategies for Growth01:02:11 The Role of Community in Business Growth01:05:21 Personal Reflections on Venture Capital01:09:54 Key Advice for AEC Entrepreneurs
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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