Episode - Page 17 of 37 - Bricks and Bytes

Hilti Ventures’ Strategic Bets in Construction Innovation – Antonia Soler

Owen Drury / February 27, 2025

“Only 2% of venture funding goes to women founders in construction tech. That’s not just a statistic—it’s a missed opportunity.” In today’s episode of Corporate Innovations from the Bricks & Bytes Podcast, we had Antonia Soler, Head of Hilti Ventures, sharing invaluable insights from her 12 years of experience and her passion for transforming the construction industry. Tune in to find out about: ✅ The surge in AI and robotics investments in construction tech ✅ How Hilti evaluates startups based on strategic fit and investability ✅ Why construction tech is thriving despite economic slowdowns ✅ The story behind Women in Construction Tech initiative and its impact Construction tech got to the party later than other sectors, but it’s catching up fast. As Antonia says, “The labor shortage continues to be real. We still need more solutions.” Listen to the full conversation on Spotify and discover how Hilti is shaping 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/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ Chapters 00:00 Intro 04:02 Introduction to Hilti Ventures and Antonia Soler 06:58 The Exciting Landscape of AEC Venture Investing 09:52 Strategic Investment Focus and Decision-Making Process 12:51 Hilti’s Innovation Process and Collaboration with Startups 16:02 Investment Trends: US vs. EU Startups 18:59 Successful Startups: Case Study of Outbuild 22:11 Collaboration in Construction Tech: The Role of Competitions 24:59 Defining Startup Success in Construction Tech 27:51 A Day in the Life of a Venture Investor 30:53 Impact of Geopolitical Factors on Construction Tech Investments 33:58 Women in Construction Tech: Building a Supportive Community 36:59 Encouragement for Women in Construction 40:01 Closing Thoughts and Future Initiatives

Why Scandinavians Build Better – Secrets Of Modular Construction Excellence

Owen Drury / February 26, 2025

“In Scandinavia, 90% of single-family homes are manufactured in factories. It’s nothing special – it’s the norm.” In today’s episode of BitBuilders, we had Helena Lidelow, a Swedish modular construction expert with 12+ years at Lindbacks and now with Volumetric Building Companies. She broke down why modular construction dominates in Scandinavia and what the US industry can learn. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why labor costs and climate drive modular innovation in Scandinavia ✅ The critical difference between volumetric and panelized construction approaches ✅ How to measure factory efficiency (hint: man-hours per module is key) ✅ Why venture capital’s quick-return expectations clash with modular construction’s long-term needs —— Chapters 00:00 Intro 05:50 Introduction to Modular Building in Scandinavia 08:51 The Evolution of Modular Construction in Sweden 11:47 Lindbaks: A Legacy in Modular Building 14:55 Transition to Volumetric Building Companies 17:35 Understanding Volumetric vs. Panelized Modular 20:52 Factory Operations and Throughput Metrics 40:50 Understanding Man Hours in Modular Construction 44:57 The Future of Modular Manufacturing 45:54 Technological Innovations in Construction 53:48 Attracting Young Talent to the Industry 59:47 Navigating Financial Strategies for Modular Construction 01:07:00 Advice for Young Engineers in Construction —— 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/

AI Agents Are Changing The Game – The Future Of Construction Workflows

Owen Drury / February 25, 2025

“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 companies James 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!

Built’s Path to Transforming Construction Lending

Owen Drury / February 21, 2025

Note : This episode is a re-release of an episode that was initially released at Groundbreakers. “It turns out in construction and real estate, there’s a lot of big problems. There’s an abundance of them.” – This candid observation from Built Technologies’ CEO perfectly captures why construction tech is ripe for disruption. In our latest conversation with Chase Gilbert, he reveals Built’s journey from working with three community banks to becoming a construction tech unicorn that processes over $200 billion in annual construction spend. He breaks down the strategic decision to start with lenders and how it became their path to industry-wide transformation. Tune in to discover: ✅ Why “following the money” upstream was the key to market penetration ✅ How they turned an 11-person process into a 2-person operation ✅ The strategy behind reducing loan processing from 5 days to same-day ✅ Why being “long-term greedy” is crucial for sustainable growth Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear Chase’s complete breakdown of building a construction tech unicorn. ————- Chapters 00:00 Intro02:28 Building a Unicorn in Construction Tech05:04 Identifying and Solving Industry Problems06:40 The Genesis of Built Technologies18:16 Revenue Generation and Business Model26:56 The Importance of Following the Money30:52 Efficiency Metrics and Impact on Lenders38:05 The Landscape of Construction Loans40:42 Navigating the Banking Ecosystem44:19 Go-to-Market Strategy for Financial Institutions49:23 Value-Based Pricing Models50:06 Key Lessons in Scaling a Startup53:28 Building and Maintaining Company Culture59:37 Understanding Unicorn Valuation01:11:01 The IPO Journey and Long-Term Vision

Building Materials Marketplace vs Cloud Manufacturing: What Works Where?

Owen Drury / February 21, 2025

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 investors Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear our deep dive into construction tech marketplaces and emerging market opportunities. —————- Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Insights 01:55 Exploring Construction Tech Opportunities 05:01 Understanding Bricks and Its Business Model 09:56 Supply Chain Dynamics in Emerging Markets 15:08 Funding Strategies and Market Expansion 20:06 Debt Financing and Working Capital Management 23:51 The Role of Debt in Business Growth 24:18 Evaluating Investment Metrics 25:10 Understanding Unit Economics 26:31 Investment Opportunities in Saudi Arabia 28:11 Optimism in the Construction Industry 29:39 Navigating Customer Relationships in Startups 30:00 The Challenge of Custom Solutions 35:34 The Importance of Long-Term Relationships 36:18 Technology Integration in Construction 39:02 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/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: 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

Why Top Construction Companies Are Abandoning Traditional Sales Methods – Building Radar

Owen Drury / February 20, 2025

“Did you know that the oldest construction project database started with a guy riding around Manhattan on his bike in 1890, noting down upcoming projects?” In today’s episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Paul Indinger from Building Radar sharing insights about transforming construction sales. From bootstrapping to raising 6.5M euros, Paul breaks down how they’re helping construction companies win better projects. Tune in to discover: ✅ Why most construction companies are missing the top half of their sales funnel ✅ The stark difference between US and European construction sales culture ✅ How they turned a student job researching construction projects into a tech company ✅ Why the best elevator pitch might be about saving 10 square meters per floor But here’s what really caught our attention – Paul’s candid take on their early mistakes: “We did like the startup playground for the first two or three years… if we had known about blockchain back then, we would have found a way to integrate it.” —- Chapters00:00 Intro 05:05 Introduction to Building Radar07:57 Understanding Building Radar’s Services11:06 The Complexity of Project Sales14:14 Sales Process Structuring in Construction17:04 Evolution of Building Radar’s Product20:02 The Future of Construction Sales23:09 Comparing Data Providers in Construction26:03 Sales Inefficiencies in Building Material Suppliers28:59 Spec Making vs. Spec Breaking32:05 Cultural Differences in Sales Approaches35:00 Implementing Building Radar38:15 Proof of Concept and Data Insights39:26 Revenue Models and Success Metrics41:47 Tracking ROI and Customer Success44:06 Profitability and Investment Strategies45:25 Sales Strategies and Outbound Marketing49:06 Target Customers and Market Strategies51:45 Funding Journey and Investor Relations57:25 Expansion Plans and Market Entry61:12 Lessons Learned and Mistakes Made —– 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/ ————————————————————– 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. ——————————— #podcast #construction #constructionindustry #bricksandbytes #startups #architecture #design #civilengineering #engineering #constructiontechnology #engineer #architect #civilengineer #concrete #podcaster #podcasting #entrepreneur #podcasts #podcastlife #startups #entrepreneurship

Procore’s AI Strategy & Implementation – AI’s Role in Modern Construction

Owen Drury / February 18, 2025

“AI agents could eliminate 20% of time spent searching for information on construction projects” In today’s episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Rajitha Chaparala, VP of Product Data and AI at Procore, share fascinating insights about the future of construction technology and AI implementation. Tune in to discover: ✅ How AI agents are transforming daily construction workflows – from submittal reviews to schedule updates ✅ Why the construction industry is finally embracing AI after years of hesitation ✅ The three-pillar approach Procore is taking with AI: Co-pilot, Automation, and Insights ✅ How reality capture technology combined with AI is revolutionizing progress tracking Want to learn more about how AI is reshaping construction? Listen to the full episode here: ——- 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 Intro05:07 Introduction to AI in Construction10:15 The Impact of LLMs on Construction15:23 Understanding AI Agents21:22 The Future of AI Agents in Construction27:13 Data Infrastructure Challenges in Construction37:29 Leveraging AI for Data Capture39:07 Enhancing Accuracy through Human-AI Collaboration41:13 The Role of RealityCapture in Construction43:12 Navigating the Rapidly Changing AI Landscape47:15 Defining AI’s Role in Construction Tech50:12 Flexibility in AI Model Utilization53:04 Procore’s AI Strategy and Team Dynamics57:18 Leveraging Data for Construction Insights59:19 The Optimistic Future of AI in Construction1:03:07 Understanding Customer Needs in Construction Tech —— #podcast #construction #constructionindustry #bricksandbytes #startups #architecture #design #civilengineering #engineering #constructiontechnology #engineer #architect #civilengineer #concrete #podcaster #podcasting #entrepreneur #podcasts #podcastlife #startups #entrepreneurship

Formant’s Advanced Industrial Robot Management System – Jeff Lenell

Owen Drury / February 14, 2025

From design studios to Hollywood robots to Google – this founder’s journey shows why staying tenacious in deep tech pays off. In today’s episode of BitBuilders, we had Jeff Linnell, CEO of Formant, share his fascinating path from running an animation studio to leading a company that’s revolutionizing how humans interact with robot fleets. Tune in to discover: ✅ How Jeff went from art school to controlling Hollywood cameras with industrial robots ✅ Why Google acquired his company and the lessons learned as an acquired founder ✅ The untold challenges of making robot fleets work together (and why full autonomy isn’t the answer) ✅ Why the future of robotics lies in data infrastructure and human-robot collaboration Want to hear Jeff’s insights on building deep tech companies and navigating the entrepreneurial journey from creative industries to frontier tech? Listen to the full episode on Spotify.

Invoice reconciliation, AI automation, Material data infrastructure & CFO-driven adoption

Owen Drury / February 14, 2025

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 invest Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear how comstruct is building the infrastructure for construction’s digital future.

Windover’s Industry Leading Innovation Process

Owen Drury / February 13, 2025

“Innovation isn’t about having the latest tech – it’s about solving real problems on construction sites.” In today’s episode of Corporate Innovation from Bricks and Bytes, we had Amr Raafat, Chief Innovation Officer at Windover Construction, share how they’re revolutionizing construction through practical innovation. From transforming historic facades with 3D printing to automating building permit reviews in the UAE, Amr revealed how Windover tackles complex challenges by combining different technologies. Tune in to discover: ✅ Why the best innovations start with field teams’ actual problems ✅ How they achieved 50% cost reduction in historic facade restoration using 3D printing ✅ Their approach to implementing new tech: “Stop testing, start building” ✅ Why finding passionate talent willing to learn new skills every 6 months is construction’s biggest challenge —————————— 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/ —————————– 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 Intro04:00 Introduction to Windover Construction and Its Model06:57 Amr Raafat’s Journey to Chief Innovation Officer09:58 Innovation in Construction: A Focus on Technology12:50 The Role of Teamwork in Delivering Projects15:57 Adopting a Mindset of Innovation18:50 Collaboration and Learning in Innovation22:13 Unique Challenges in Construction Projects24:52 The Future of Construction: Robotics and Automation28:00 The IDEA Platform: Innovations for Design, Engineering, and Automation36:44 Implementation of Digital Twins43:12 The Acceleration of Innovation46:04 Challenges in Talent Acquisition49:47 Measuring Innovation: Case Studies and Metrics56:54 Collaboration with Startups and Established Companies59:25 Open Mindedness Towards New Technologies

The Truth Behind DeepSeek’s Impact on AEC | Alan Mosca on AI & Construction Tech

Owen Drury / February 11, 2025

“Training an AI model’s final run for $6M does not mean the entire model costs $6M” In today’s episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Alan Mosca, CTO and co-founder of nPlan, who shared fascinating insights about AI developments, construction tech, and the future of project planning. Tune in to find out about: ✅ The truth behind DeepSeek’s training costs and why media reporting missed the mark ✅ How nPlan’s Barry agent helps construction teams make better decisions through meeting notes, WhatsApp integration, and email connectivity ✅ Why the future of software isn’t SaaS – it’s buying outcomes through agents that perform specific tasks ✅ nPlan’s game-changing “Schedule Studio” that can generate detailed project schedules in 45 minutes Listen to the full episode to learn how AI is reshaping construction planning and why transparency, not blame, is key to better project outcomes.

Why European Construction Tech Could Outperform US Startups: A 5X Cost Advantage Revealed

Owen Drury / February 7, 2025

“25 million raised and gone in 3 months – the harsh reality of overvalued construction tech startups.” In today’s episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we learned about an AI architectural design startup that raised $25M from a Sand Hill Road investor and shut down just 3 months after announcing the 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 Listen to the full episode on Spotify: