Episode - Page 16 of 37 - Bricks and Bytes

Profit Isn’t a Dirty Word! – Aligning Client-Contractor Goals from an Innovation Director

Owen Drury / March 25, 2025

“The interest of a contractor and the interest of a client are the same: I want you to finish this building to the best quality, to that date. And if I’m really smart as a client, I want you to make money too.” In today’s episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had James Pellatt, founder of Digital Trees consultancy, sharing insights from his extensive career in real estate and construction technology. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why construction innovation is difficult and how bureaucracy, leadership gaps, and procurement approaches create barriers ✅ The cultural differences between US and European construction tech adoption ✅ How smart buildings should be planned from the briefing stage, not as an afterthought ✅ James’ vision for how generative AI could reduce project delivery times by 12-18 months Listen now on Spotify to hear James discuss how he helps clients bridge the gap between traditional construction and digital transformation.

“Tariffs Will Bankrupt Contractors” – Contracts Hiding Risk & Free Solution from Document Crunch

Owen Drury / March 21, 2025

“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 escalation Listen 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 ———– Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Document Crunch and Recent Growth 02:56 Evolution of Document Crunch’s Services 05:48 Impact of Geopolitical Changes on Construction 09:03 Introduction of the Tariff Risk Assessment Tool 11:48 Industry Response to Rising Costs 14:52 Functionality and Use of the Tariff Risk Assessment Tool 18:00 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

“AI Can’t Handle Full Design Workflows!” – Automation Promises & Real-World Limitations from AEC Experts

Owen Drury / March 21, 2025

“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

Why Most Construction Tech Tool Fails – The 80% Rule & Innovation Culture from a $2.7B Contractor

Owen Drury / March 20, 2025

“We’re not overly concerned about what our titles say externally. We’re far more interested in what they say internally.” – Mitch Cornelius, CTO at Fortis Construction In today’s episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Mitch Cornelius from Fortis Construction who shared insights on innovation in construction for a $2.7B company. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why Fortis focuses on employee experience over ROI when evaluating new tech ✅ How they reduced tech fragmentation by moving from dozens of point solutions to a platform approach ✅ Their “80% rule” for technology adoption across project teams ✅ Why they engage with early-stage startups but deliberately avoid establishing a CVC arm The construction industry is evolving rapidly with AI and other technologies. Hear how Fortis is positioning itself as a pioneer rather than a cowboy in this changing landscape. —– Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:30 Introduction to Fortis and Its Operations 06:29 The Role of the CTO in Innovation 09:40 Innovation as a Company-Wide Responsibility 12:30 The Innovation Team Structure 15:33 Sources of Innovation: Field vs Management 18:34 Pain Points in Innovation and Technology 21:22 Evaluating Technology Providers 24:33 Point Solutions vs. Platform Solutions 27:29 User Experience and Adoption of New Tools 30:31 The Future of Construction Technology 41:31 The 80% Rule and Superintendent Workloads 42:34 Pioneering vs. Cowboy Mentality in Startups 45:03 Strategic Partnerships with Early Stage Startups 46:32 Corporate Venture Capital: A Different Approach 48:46 AI in Construction: Current Trends and Future Potential 53:24 Collaboration with Big Tech Companies 56:00 Interest from Big Companies in Construction Tech 57:25 Advice for Early Stage Startups 01:00:29 Collaboration Among Contractors 01:02:35 Pricing Models for Technology in Construction 01:07:41 The Future of General Contracting

Housing Crisis Solved? – Suburban Isolation & Affordability from Built-to-Rent Technology

Owen Drury / March 18, 2025

“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 robotics Listen to the full conversation on Spotify and learn how Mosaic is addressing the housing crisis by making construction more efficient without reinventing the wheel. ——– Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:30 Introduction and Mishaps 04:36 The Mission Behind Mosaic 07:35 Understanding Technology-Powered General Contracting 10:50 Current Projects and Clientele 15:21 Value Proposition for Developers 15:49 Exploring Built-to-Rent Communities 21:12 Cost Efficiency and Scheduling Benefits 23:50 The Secret Sauce of Technology 30:39 Minimizing Third-Party Behavior Change 37:42 Management Tools and Future Innovations 39:04 Core Business Artifacts and Cost Models 41:02 Leveraging Historical Data for Costing 44:03 Granular Cost Representation and Construction Practices 45:34 Mosaic’s Team Structure and Efficiency Metrics 46:34 Profitability and Growth Dynamics at Mosaic 49:11 Future Growth and Market Expansion Strategies 51:48 Licensing Technology and Productization 57:14 Cultural Mindset for Achieving Profitability 1:01:25 Enhancing Trade Relationships through Technology 1:04:52 Collaborative Cost-Saving Dynamics in Construction 1:08:54 Identifying Opportunities for Cost Savings

“$65 Billion Wasted!” – How Twin Knowledge’s AI Prevents Costly Construction Rework

Owen Drury / March 14, 2025

“$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/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ ————— Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Twin Knowledge and AI in Construction 02:53 Understanding the Accuracy and Utility of AI in Building Drawings 06:14 The Impact of Rework in Construction and the Role of Twin Knowledge 08:47 Evaluating the Value of Twin Knowledge in Construction Projects 11:57 The Leadership Behind Twin Knowledge and Its Market Position 14:56 The White Glove Approach in Technology Implementation 17:57 The Future of Twin Knowledge and AI in Construction 28:10 The Vision Behind Twin Knowledge 30:01 Funding and Future Plans 32:02 Competitive Landscape and Unique Positioning 33:55 Understanding Cost Savings and Value Proposition 36:09 Rework Challenges in Construction 38:58 Incentives and Business Dynamics 43:59 Final Thoughts on AI and Future Prospects

The End Of Software As We Know It: How DataGrid’s Agentic System Is Transforming Construction

Owen Drury / March 13, 2025

“If I were creating a product for construction today, I wouldn’t be designing a point-and-click interface.” In today’s episode of Groundbreakers from the Bricks & Bytes podcast, we had Thiago da Costa, founder of Data Grid, sharing his journey from visual effects to transforming construction with AI agents. Tune in to find out about: ✅ How agentic AI differs from standard AI and why it’s transforming construction workflows ✅ Why Data Grid focuses on connecting ALL data sources rather than just solving one isolated construction problem ✅ How AI agents can read through 26GB of construction drawings and make them instantly searchable ✅ Why current construction software models are broken and how consumption-based pricing is gaining traction Thiago offers a fascinating perspective on where construction tech is headed – away from traditional interfaces and toward intelligent agents that do the work while humans focus on strategy and relationships. —-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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ —– Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:52 Introduction to Thiago Da Costa 06:55 Journey Through AEC Tech and Autodesk 09:56 Building Data Platforms and Acquisitions 12:43 Investing in Innovation: SpaceX and Beyond 15:50 Challenges in the AEC Industry 18:54 The Future of Product Design in AEC 21:56 Understanding Agentic AI 24:43 Applications of Agentic AI in Construction 27:53 Data Grid: Revolutionizing AEC Tech 40:44 Integrating AI with Construction Workflows 43:13 Data Management and AI’s Role 44:28 AI in Project Estimation 48:05 Addressing Pain Points in Construction 55:40 Challenges and Limitations of AI in Design 57:36 Business Growth and Product Focus 01:04:29 Charging Models and Customer Engagement 01:07:26 The Future of AI in Construction

No More 2D Drawings! – How 3D Scan-to-BIM is Transforming Building Documentation

Owen Drury / March 11, 2025

“I started Integrated Projects with $12,000 in what I thought was emergency funds. Looking back, probably the silliest decision.” – Jose Cruz In 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/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ —————————— Listen here: https://promocards.byspotify.com/api/share/06eaf3ba-0771-40ca-8483-b8c305ebd794 ————————————————————– 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. 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. Visit: https://maketheshft.digital ——————————— #podcast #construction #constructionindustry #bricksandbytes #startups #architecture #design #civilengineering #engineering #constructiontechnology #engineer #architect #civilengineer #concrete #podcaster #podcasting #entrepreneur #podcasts #podcastlife #startups #entrepreneurship

Germany’s Fiscal Bazooka Ignites Europe – Construction Tech Opportunities & Capital Shifts from Global VC Perspective

Owen Drury / March 7, 2025

“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 Europe Listen 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/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ —————————— Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Camber Creek and JP Bowgen 06:09 Germany’s Fiscal U-Turn and Historical Context 11:53 Implications of Germany’s Infrastructure and Defense Spending 17:58 The Impact on Construction Tech and Startups 24:01 Future Prospects for Investment in Germany 28:59 Exploring On-Site Robotics and Supply Chain Solutions 31:12 The Importance of Energy Efficiency in Europe 33:28 Infrastructure Investment and Its Impact on Housing 36:32 The Future of Venture Capital in Europe 40:34 The Shift of Founders from the US to Europe 44:11 Economic Implications of US Isolationism 49:57 Cultural and Economic Power Dynamics

Most Tech Implementations Secretly Fail – $4.2Bn GC Innovation Implementation Process

Owen Drury / March 6, 2025

“Just because a tool is installed on your desktop doesn’t mean you’re actually using it to its full value.” – Aaron Anderson In today’s episode of Corporate Innovation from the Bricks & Bytes Podcast, we had Aaron Anderson, Director of Innovation at Swinerton, sharing incredible insights about technology adoption in the construction industry. Tune in to find out about: ✅ How they filter out “90% salespeople, 10% engineers” tech companies from their evaluation process ✅ Why contractors often “like to let other people fail first” when adopting new technologies ✅ The critical factors that make a technology implementation successful on construction sites ✅ How innovation often comes from carpenters who “get bored doing the same thing” and find better solutions Listen to the full episode on Spotify to learn how one of America’s oldest construction companies (135 years!) approaches innovation with a lean team of just two people. —– Chapters 00:00 Intro 04:52 Introduction to Innovation at Swinerton 07:41 The Role of Technology in Construction 10:46 Employee Ownership and Innovation 13:52 Ground-Up vs. Top-Down Innovation 16:51 Implementation of Innovation and Technology 23:01 Challenges in Contracting and Technology 26:41 Navigating Technology Adoption 31:40 Transparency and Integration in Technology 36:39 Technologies in the Toolbox 38:26 Innovations in Construction Technology 44:22 Evaluating and Implementing New Technologies 50:35 The Role of Relationships in Technology Adoption 56:38 Tools and Collaborations in Construction 01:02:42 Future Trends in Data Orchestration and AI

160+ Acquitions – Hexagon’s Strategy Behind $32B Valuation Success

Owen Drury / March 4, 2025

“We’ve done over 160 acquisitions since 2002. Some small, some billion-dollar companies.” – Alex Brihac, VP of Strategy at Hexagon In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Alex Brihac from Hexagon, a $6 billion company that most in construction tech haven’t heard of! We learned about their acquisition strategy, how they evaluate companies, and their vision for construction tech’s future. Tune in to find out about: ✅ How Hexagon decides between building vs buying technology (they spend $800-900M annually on R&D!) ✅ Their four-pillar framework for evaluating acquisition targets ✅ Why they sometimes acquire service businesses, not just technology companies ✅ How founders should approach acquisition conversations with strategic buyers Listen now on Spotify to hear insights from a company that’s been quietly reshaping the construction tech landscape through strategic acquisitions for decades. 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ —————————— Listen here: https://promocards.byspotify.com/api/share/06eaf3ba-0771-40ca-8483-b8c305ebd794 ————————————————————– 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. 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. Visit: https://maketheshft.digital ——————————— #podcast #construction #constructionindustry #bricksandbytes #startups #architecture #design #civilengineering #engineering #constructiontechnology #engineer #architect #civilengineer #concrete #podcaster #podcasting #entrepreneur #podcasts #podcastlife #startups #entrepreneurship

Reneo’s €600M to Transform Real Estate, Nodes and Links $12m Scheduling Raise

Owen Drury / February 28, 2025

“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 assets We also explored Nodes and Links $12M Series B funding for their AI-powered scheduling management platform that enhances project delivery across construction and other industries Plus, 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 Links Listen 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/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ —————————— Listen here: https://promocards.byspotify.com/api/share/06eaf3ba-0771-40ca-8483-b8c305ebd794 ————————————————————– 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. 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. Visit: https://maketheshft.digital ——————————— #podcast #construction #constructionindustry #bricksandbytes #startups #architecture #design #civilengineering #engineering #constructiontechnology #engineer #architect #civilengineer #concrete #podcaster #podcasting #entrepreneur #podcasts #podcastlife #startups #entrepreneurship