Episode - Page 8 of 37 - Bricks and Bytes

PlanGrid Founders Return to Construction, 27% of GCs Using Personal Funds, $9.2M Nextlight Raise, AI Go-To-Market Race, with Will Mitchell from Rabbit

Owen Drury / November 14, 2025

27% of contractors are using PERSONAL MONEY to keep their businesses alive—and it’s worse than you think. In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Dustin, and Martin break down the biggest shakeups in construction tech, from the PlanGrid founders’ surprise return to AI, to the shocking payment crisis threatening to sink contractors across the industry. We’re joined by Will Mitchell from Rabbet, David from NxLite, and Vardhan Mehta from Acelab to unpack what’s really happening in construction payments, energy efficiency, and materials management. Key Topics: Tiger Eye’s big pivot: Why Tracy Young and Ralph Gootee are bringing AI back to construction after PlanGrid The AI arms race: Will there be one winner or will construction tech fragment like consumer markets? Rabbet’s 2025 Construction Payments Report: 44% of firms are getting paid late and 20% hit negative cash flow The personal finance nightmare: Why nearly 1 in 3 GCs are dipping into their own pockets to cover payroll NxLite’s $9.2M Series A: How smart window coatings can slash building energy costs by 25% Acelab’s $13.5M raise: The two-sided marketplace that’s won over half the top 100 AEC firms “None of these companies are building their own foundational models. They’re using other people’s models. So I think it’s going to be a go-to-market race.” — Dustin DeVan Sponsors: BuildVision – streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform – http://www.buildvision.io Archdesk – “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies – Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.co Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:30 Introduction to New AI Player in Construction 04:16 Trimble Dimensions: Key Takeaways 07:10 The Future of AI in Construction 10:11 Trimble’s Innovations and Market Position 12:56 Challenges in Construction Payments 15:50 Insights from the 2025 Construction Payments Report 38:35 The Challenges of Payment Processes in Construction 41:46 Incentives for Faster Payments 42:44 The Impact of Payment Delays on Project Costs 45:26 Innovations in Payment Solutions 48:26 Advancements in Energy Control Coatings 51:22 The Future of Coating Technologies 57:17 The Role of Patents in Tangible vs. Software Businesses 59:10 Building a Robust Materials Management System 01:09:06 Funding and Growth Strategies for Startups

How Our High School Band Led To HVAC Software – Building HVAKR

Owen Drury / November 13, 2025

From indie rock band to HVAC software startup—how’s that for a pivot? In today’s episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Davis Muxlow and Andrew Krippner from HVAKR and we got to learn about building construction tech from the ground up, the innovator’s dilemma killing legacy software companies, and why making products faster might actually hurt your revenue… and many more! Tune in to find out about: ✅ How a church worship team “audition” turned into a college band and eventually a software company ✅ Why legacy HVAC programs are making engineers slower despite new updates ✅ The double-edged sword of efficiency: one engineer now doing the work of three ✅ How AI is forcing SaaS companies to rethink their entire pricing model These guys went from mechanical engineering students with a Slack channel full of startup ideas to building a product that’s actually making their customers more productive. The kicker? Their product works so well that customers need fewer seats. That’s the kind of problem you want to have. Our Sponsor: Archdesk – “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies – Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com BuildVision – streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform – http://www.buildvision.io Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.co Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:19 The Musical Beginnings 05:20 From Bandmates to Entrepreneurs 09:13 The Path to HVACR 15:07 Building the Foundation of HVACR 19:02 The Accelerator Journey 25:10 The Product Unveiled 31:15 The Importance of Design in HVACR 35:18 Streamlining HVAC Design Processes 40:43 Design as a Differentiator 41:38 Innovative Pricing Models 44:35 Streamlining Sales Processes 48:12 Effective Trial Management 54:40 Customer-Centric Product Development 57:10 Building a Personal Brand 1:03:02 The Value of Transparency 1:04:13 Avoiding Common Mistakes in Product Design 1:09:25 Metrics of Success in Software Usage

LIVE at SpeckleCon 2025 – Bricks & Bytes – Full Stream

Owen Drury / November 11, 2025

In this special episode, we’re broadcasting live from SpeckleCon 2025 in London, where the future of construction technology is being written in real-time. We sat down with some of the biggest names in AEC tech to talk about the one thing everyone’s finally paying attention to: data. We hear from Suffolk Construction and Pomerlau on turning BIM chaos into usable data, MultiConsult’s Morten on giving engineers superpowers with Python, Martin Day’s warning that we’re all horses before the industrial revolution, Oliver Thomas on why small firms will beat the giants in the AI race, and Speckle’s Dimitrie and Virginia on their push to become the data platform that finally fixes this broken industry. Key Takeaways: Data accessibility is the new battleground – visibility matters more than authoring tools General contractors are leading the charge on data infrastructure• Off-the-shelf LLMs don’t work well for AEC without fine-tuning The visualization industry is getting disrupted by AI right now• Open source doesn’t mean free, but it does mean you own your exit strategy Outcome-based pricing is coming for construction software The market for design seats might be 50% smaller than we think once AI hits

OpenAI Turner Mega Deal, OpenSpace Buys Disperse, Government Shutdown Impact on Construction & Startup Valuation Truth Bombs

Owen Drury / November 7, 2025

In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, Patrick, and Dustin break down what happens when a fully remote startup brings everyone together IRL—plus two major construction tech deals that have everyone talking. Dustin opens up about Ediphi’s first all-hands offsite (spoiler: his team didn’t win the escape room), before the crew dives into the chaos of government shutdowns and what they actually mean for construction. Then things get spicy with the OpenAI x Turner deal that’s got LinkedIn in a frenzy, and Jeevan from OpenSpace and Oli from Disperse join to talk about their recently announced acquisition. Topics covered: Why company offsites are worth every penny for remote teams The real cost of government shutdowns on construction projects Turner’s $30M OpenAI deal and what it means for GCs Inside the OpenSpace + Disperse acquisition The uncomfortable truth about startup valuations and M&A “You’re not worth that much money when you raise at 30 million or 50 million. You’re not truly worth that. It’s buying a future.” – Dustin DeVan Plus: Owen debuts the new Bricks & Bytes merch, Dustin reveals his founder health transformation (no Ozempic involved), and the team debates whether construction tech is ripe for consolidation. Our Sponsor: Archdesk – “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies – Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com BuildVision – streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform – http://www.buildvision.io Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.co Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:43 Introduction to Company Offsites 07:46 The Importance of Company Offsites 11:42 Government Shutdown in the U.S. 21:00 Turner Construction’s Deal with OpenAI 24:20 Exploring OpenAI’s Impact on Construction 27:18 The Challenges of Implementing AI in Estimation 29:53 Creative Commercial Deals and Revenue Sharing 31:19 The Role of AI in Streamlining Workflows 34:38 Standardizing Processes for Effective AI Integration 38:58 The Future of Legal Services in the Age of AI 42:21 The Human Element in Legal and Engineering Services 49:34 The Acquisition Journey: From Partnership to Integration 53:03 Leadership Changes and Strategic Growth 57:09 Product Roadmap and Customer Experience 1:00:05 Navigating Competition in Construction Tech 1:01:55 Future of Acquisitions in Construction Tech

You Can’t Build Buildings With AI – Why Skilled Trades Matter More Than Ever

Owen Drury / November 4, 2025

“Universities Are 15 Years Behind, We Don’t Need More Degrees” In today’s episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Gary Cowan, the head of digital construction at Kane Group and we got to learn about how MEP contractors are becoming technology companies, why the traditional education system is failing construction workers, and the real challenges behind construction automation that nobody talks about. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why breaking down buildings into modular components and prefabricating in factories is changing project delivery across the UK and Ireland ✅ The massive shift from siloed Excel files to cloud-based real-time data systems and what it takes to make that transformation work ✅ Why universities teaching 15-year-old methods are creating a skills gap and why we need more tradespeople who understand technology ✅ The hidden problems with construction robots that sound great in theory but struggle with real-world challenges like consistent finishes and quality control Watch now to hear Gary break down how traditional contractors are evolving into digital-first service providers. Our Sponsor: Archdesk – “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies – Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com BuildVision – streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform – http://www.buildvision.io Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.co Chapters 00:00 Intro & Sponsors 04:26 Introduction to Digital Construction 07:21 Understanding the Role of Head of Digital Construction 10:12 Challenges in Existing Structures and Digital Verification 13:19 The Importance of Collaboration in Construction 16:13 The Evolution of Technology in Construction 19:25 Prefabrication and Its Integration in Design 22:20 The Digital Tool Tech Stack 25:05 Virtual Reality in Construction 28:19 Augmented Reality and Reality Capture Solutions 33:55 The Rise of XR Technology 34:11 AI: Hype vs. Reality 35:54 Navigating AI Adoption 38:15 The Challenge of Authenticity in Tech 39:44 The Importance of Expertise 43:08 Evaluating Tech Solutions 45:17 Frustrations with Vendor Solutions 47:19 Rolling Out New Technologies 50:07 Aligning Data Across the Business 52:26 Pain Points in Real-Time Data 56:12 Robotics in MEP 1:00:07 Expanding Digital Construction Services 1:02:05 The Future of Digital Construction

nPlan Raises £11.9M Series B, AI Agents Lack Evals Crisis, WhatsApp Dominates 90% Site Communication

Owen Drury / October 31, 2025

“Most AI Agents Will Die” – Why This CTO Is Terrified About What’s Coming In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, hosts Owen Drury, Martin, and Patric Hellermann sit down with some of construction tech’s boldest builders who aren’t holding back. Fresh off massive funding rounds and hard-won lessons, they reveal what’s really happening behind the hype. What we cover: – nPlan’s £11.9M Series B – Alan Mosca (CTO) explains why they accidentally solved molecule generation while building scheduling AI – Factors’ $56M raise – How they’re financing $250-300M of construction work annually (and the “trick” banks don’t want you to know) – The AI agent apocalypse – Why lack of evaluation frameworks will “kill off most agents” – WhatsApp is eating construction tech – 90% of site communication happens here, and smart founders are finally paying attention – Smart glasses revolution – Why this could be as transformative as mobile phones on construction sites – AI consultancies without humans – The controversial future of PM firms charging on outcomes, not hours – Why one founder stopped fundraising – “Customer money is the best capital” and why raising is a “massive distraction” – 5 accelerators, 5 lessons – Prakash Senghani (Navatech) on contradictory advice and what actually works in the Middle East – Regional pricing secrets – Why per-user pricing fails in the UAE and what to do instead Key Quote: “I think we’re getting to a stage where AI is going to become like the internet, right? You don’t tell people that my app runs on the internet. That’s obvious. You’re going to get to a stage where your app has AI. Yeah, that’s obvious, right? What are you doing with it? What’s the outcome?” – Prakash Senghani Featuring: Alan Mosca (nPlan CTO), Nitin Bhandari (Planera), and Prakash Senghani (Navatech) 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3P7JkiN9X3N4Kh6jlDsOgi?si=91JP5nxvQbKStkp8AQdAOg 📩 Subscribe to the Bricks & Bytes Newsletter: https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/ 🌐 Visit our website: http://bricks-bytes.com/ 📲 Follow us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/ Twitter: https://x.com/bricksbytespod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ Sponsors: BuildVision – streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform – http://www.buildvision.io Archdesk – “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies – Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com Enjoying the insights? Hit that Subscribe button to stay ahead in construction tech, AI, and the future of how we build. Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:12 Introduction and Guest Introduction 04:61 Funding News and Company Growth 08:03 Technological Innovations in Scheduling 10:40 Generative Models and Unexpected Discoveries 13:31 Developing Custom Models for Specific Tasks 16:24 The Importance of Data and Research 19:08 Convergence of Machine Learning Techniques 22:13 AI Skepticism and Misuse 24:52 The Future of AI in Construction Tech 28:08 Collaborative Scheduling and User Experience 30:57 Evaluating AI Performance 33:36 Insights from Nitin on Data Center Construction 36:32 Planera’s Unique Approach to Scheduling 39:28 The Role of AI in Scheduling 42:20 Lessons from Past Collaborative Tools 45:18 The Future of Scheduling Technology 46:33 Introduction and Context Setting 47:25 Navigating Growing Pains in Business 48:17 The Role of AI in Business Operations 49:44 Understanding the Product and Its Impact 51:14 Practical Applications of AI in Safety 54:45 Target Customers and Market Strategy 55:48 Shifting Gears: The Future of Construction Tech 1:00:17 The Evolution of Software and Company Structures 1:04:09 Current Business Climate in the Region 1:06:13 The Rise of Construction Tech Startups 1:10:05 Experiences with Accelerators 1:15:39 Pricing Strategies for Startups 1:18:41 Conclusion and Future Outlook

“Why Your Construction Tech Stack Looks Like a Mess” – Construction Tech Stack Management Complexities

Owen Drury / October 30, 2025

“Often it results in an almost Frankenstein technology stack where you may have different things for different reasons.” This is the reality of construction tech adoption today. In today’s episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Josh Weyand from Trunk Tools and we got to learn about navigating the messy world of construction technology, why some solutions stay point solutions while others scale enterprise-wide, and the critical mistake vendors make when trying to sell to large contractors… and many more! Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why building trust and credibility matters more than your product features when selling to contractors ✅ The real reasons technologies don’t scale (hint: it’s not always about the product) ✅ How to align your solution to business initiatives instead of hitting friction at every step ✅ What makes construction-specific tools win over generic software solutions Watch now to hear Josh’s insights from his time as Director of Emerging Technologies at Suffolk and his current role helping builders solve real problems. Our Sponsor: Archdesk – “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies – Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com BuildVision – streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform – http://www.buildvision.io 📩 Subscribe to the Bricks & Bytes Newsletter: https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/ 🌐 Visit our website: http://bricks-bytes.com/ 📲 Follow us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/ Twitter: https://x.com/bricksbytespod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ Enjoying the insights? Hit that Subscribe button to stay ahead in construction tech, AI, and the future of how we build. Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:45 Navigating Construction Technology: Insights from the Field 14:36 The Challenges of Scaling Tech Solutions 25:37 Peer Groups and Shared Success in Construction Tech 30:14 Overcoming Frustrations with Tech Vendors 31:47 From Pilot to Scale: Best Practices for Adoption 36:46 The Value of Piloting Technology 40:38 Understanding Innovation Theater 44:56 Buying Technology in Construction 48:18 Core Technologies for General Contractors 51:57 Transitioning to Trunk Tools 56:16 The Role of an Enterprise Solutions Engineer 01:00:40 Winning the Market with Construction Specificity

From Seed to Series B – What Actually Worked Along the Way

Owen Drury / October 28, 2025

“If I could do some things over, I would have hired marketing leadership earlier, even before sales.” That’s what Document Crunch CEO Josh Levy told his VP of Marketing, Lori Peters. In today’s episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Lori Peters from Document Crunch and we got to learn about why construction tech marketing is fundamentally different from other SaaS industries, how to scale from seed to Series B, and what’s actually working in 2025. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why conferences are their biggest lead generation channel (while other SaaS companies avoid them) ✅ How they expanded nationally by going where their customers were, not just selling remotely ✅ The shift from marketing-led pipeline to fully integrated go-to-market teams ✅ Why LinkedIn still dominates and how AI is changing organic search forever Watch now to hear how a 10-year construction tech marketing veteran built a winning strategy from the ground up. Our Sponsor: Archdesk – “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies – Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com BuildVision – streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform – http://www.buildvision.io Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:26 Introduction to Document Crunch and Construction Tech 06:28 Evolution of Marketing in Construction Tech 09:23 Marketing Strategies Through Funding Stages 12:23 Challenges in Scaling Marketing Operations 15:11 Effective In-Person Marketing Channels 18:29 Community Initiatives: Built by Builders and Crunch Community 21:28 Targeting Customers and Tailoring Messages 30:03 The Costly Disruptions in Construction 30:58 Understanding Disputes and Their Impact 32:28 The Role of Customer Advisory Boards 34:43 Navigating the AI Landscape in Construction 37:39 Building Trust in AI Solutions 38:59 Leveraging Investor Relationships 40:17 Partnerships and Trust in Marketing 42:23 AI in Marketing Strategies 47:30 Marketing Nuances in the Construction Industry 49:19 The Importance of Thought Leadership 52:12 Structuring a Growing Marketing Team 53:49 Technology in the Marketing Stack 54:57 Future Predictions for Marketing in AEC

Procore’s AI Bomb, Should VCs Pick Ideas, Revolutionary Site Layout Tool

Owen Drury / October 24, 2025

Last week at Groundbreak, Procore launched Helix AI Agents claiming to make startups like Trunk Tools and Datagrid “obsolete overnight.” In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, we invited Datagrid’s CEO Tiago to respond (spoiler: he ghosted us… draw your own conclusions 👀) Owen, Martin, Dustin, and Patric also dives into one of the most controversial questions in startup investing: Should founders ask VCs for business ideas? In this episode: Why asking investors for startup ideas means you’re already losing The real reason big corporations can never innovate from within Where the truth about building outlier businesses actually lies Why construction tech is heating up right now (and nobody knows what’s coming) The Procore AI agent announcement that’s shaking up the industry How to find insights that actually matter (hint: it’s not from VCs) The Brutal Reality: “If a VC had such a unique insight on that business, it would almost be a compelling enough reason to leave their job to pursue it because those things are so special and so rare” The construction tech arena is heating up. Big announcements. Bold claims. But who’s actually solving real problems? If you’re building in construction tech, this episode reveals the playbook no one’s talking about. Watch the full breakdown before everyone else figures it out. Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:32 Introduction to Business Ideas and AI Agents 04:21 The Role of Investors in Business Ideation 07:26 The Nature of Outlier Businesses 10:05 The Limitations of VC Insights 13:01 The Impact of New Browsers on Market Dynamics 15:54 Procore’s AI Agent Announcement and Industry Reactions 18:51 Comparing Procore with Competitors 28:01 Procore’s Evolving Submittal Process 29:04 Market Dominance and Industry Assumptions 29:45 AI’s Role in Construction Tech 30:59 Data Activation Challenges 32:10 The Importance of Data Connectivity 33:54 Market Power and Vendor Lock-in 34:23 Assumptions in the Construction Tech Landscape 35:34 Tracy’s Insights on Startup Strategies 36:44 Defensibility in Construction Tech 38:28 Collaboration and Network Effects 39:20 Introduction to Mechasys 40:07 Innovative Layout Solutions 42:29 As-Built Documentation and Modifications 44:29 Comparing Layout Solutions 46:15 Hardware Development and Manufacturing 49:20 Accuracy and Cost Competitiveness 51:39 Understanding BOM Costs in Manufacturing 54:32 Product Versatility and Customer Needs 55:23 Innovations in Construction Management Software 01:00:06 Challenges Faced by Residential Contractors 01:04:21 The Importance of Estimating in Construction 01:08:04 Navigating the Competitive Landscape of Construction Tech

“We Tripled Our Profits In 3 Years With Automation” – Marc Barone – COO – Buro Happold

Owen Drury / October 21, 2025

“We’ve nearly tripled our profits in three years – and it wasn’t one big change, it was a million small ones.” In today’s episode of the Bricks & Bytes, we had Marc Barone, COO of Buro Happold, and we got to learn about how they scaled from strong to exceptional, the real impact of AI on engineering productivity, and why listening matters more than action in your first 90 days as a leader… and many more! Tune in to find out about: ✅ How Buro Happold grew 75% in three years while tripling profitability ✅ Why understanding what to say no to is as important as knowing what to say yes to ✅ The truth about measuring AI productivity gains and what actually works ✅ Why your first 90 days as COO should be about listening, not changing everything Watch now on YouTube! Link in the comments! —————— Our Sponsor: Archdesk – “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies – Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com BuildVision – streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform – http://www.buildvision.io ———— Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:35 Introduction and Background 05:36 Overview of Bureau Hapold 06:47 Technical vs Commercial Risk Management 08:59 Growth and Profitability Strategies 12:45 Path to COO Role 16:01 Leadership and Team Dynamics 19:45 Culture and Employee Engagement 25:39 Digital Transformation and AI Integration 33:38 Innovation and Technology Solutions 38:04 The Gradual Rollout of AI Tools 42:19 Balancing Automation and Human Resources 47:19 The Importance of Local Expertise 52:26 Evaluating AI Tools for Business 57:11 The Future of AI and Market Dynamics 01:04:17 Measuring Productivity Gains from Technology 01:09:08 First Steps for a New COO

Buildots Acquisition, Procore Groundbreak’s Awkward Week, Pre-Con Is On Fire

Owen Drury / October 17, 2025

Buildots acquired workforce tracking company Genda – combining progress monitoring with real-time worker data in a way their competitors can’t match. In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, Patric, and Dustin dig into the week’s biggest stories in construction tech, from strategic acquisitions to what actually happened at Groundbreak. Key topics discussed: Why Buildots bought Genda and how tracking workforce alongside progress creates a competitive edge (especially for catching inflated change orders) Dustin’s firsthand account of Procore’s Groundbreak keynote – an hour about AI agents, but almost nothing about solving real construction problems The awkward moment when Tooey handed over CEO duties, and why the transition felt rushed and unprepared Luigi La Corte from Provision explains how skimping on branding early hurt their credibility with customers (even while being capital efficient) A proper argument about 2D takeoffs: Dustin thinks they’ll be commoditized, Luigi defends why 99% accuracy matters Candid Intelligence’s claim they can compress years of pre-construction work into hours (and what that actually means) The reality that contractors will never blindly trust AI quantities – and for good reason “If you don’t do your own branding early, someone else will do your branding for you.” – Luigi La Corte, Provision Dustin also teases some Groundbreak gossip he can’t share yet. You’ll have to wait until next week. Sponsors: Archdesk – “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies – Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com BuildVision – streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform – http://www.buildvision.io Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:30 Introduction to BuildDots and Recent Acquisition 04:32 The Importance of Workforce Tracking in Construction 07:23 Challenges in Merging Progress and Workforce Tracking 10:21 Insights on Acquisition Strategies and Market Dynamics 13:30 Evaluating the Impact of Acquisitions on Competitive Landscape 16:25 Procore and Autodesk: A Shift Towards AI 19:12 Leadership Transition and Strategic Vision at Procore 29:01 Introduction and Recent Developments 30:49 Debate on Commoditization of Construction Tech 33:58 The Importance of Data Sets in Estimation 37:03 Challenges in Achieving Accuracy in Construction Estimates 40:56 The Role of AI in Construction Management 43:49 The Future of AI and Human Collaboration 48:01 Capital Efficiency and Branding in Construction Tech 51:53 Marketing Strategies and Customer Engagement 53:19 Trust in Quantification Tools 55:34 Transitioning Leadership in Tech Companies 57:15 Innovations in Pre-Construction Processes 01:01:34 Challenges in Construction Technology Adoption 01:08:39 Building a Startup in Construction Tech 01:11:29 Investor Relations and Business Growth Strategies

71% Still Use Spreadsheets in 2025 – Smart Staffing Solution from Top 20 GCs

Owen Drury / October 14, 2025

71% of construction companies are still using Excel to manage thousands of employees—and it’s costing them millions in lost projects. In this episode of Bricks & Bytes, Owen and Martin sit down with Lauren Lake, co-founder of Bridgit, and Kevin Ferguson from AECO Product Marketing to uncover how two college students disrupted the construction workforce planning industry—and built a company that now serves half of the top 20 general contractors in North America. In this episode: Why 42% of contractors are turning down projects despite high demand (hint: it’s not what you think) The “crane hunting” strategy that led to a Harvard Business School case study How Bridget went from $0 to $4M ARR in just 2 years by solving one simple problem Why construction companies are now budgeting $100K+ for workforce planning software The shocking reason employees are leaving construction jobs (and it’s not the pay) What happens when executives ask “where are our people?” and nobody knows the answer The hidden cost of breaking up winning project teams after every job How AI and experience tracking are revolutionizing team composition decisions Why there’s been ZERO research data on project team success since 1999 The global expansion playbook that worked across North America, Australia, and the UK “Our goal was simple: we just need to replace Excel. And that’s actually a really challenging goal.” — Lauren Lake Whether you’re a contractor struggling with resource allocation, a tech founder looking for validation strategies, or simply curious about how construction’s labor shortage is reshaping the industry—this episode reveals why workforce planning has become the most critical investment in construction technology. Our Sponsor: Archdesk – “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies – Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com BuildVision – streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform – http://www.buildvision.io 🎧 Listen to the Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0xSpdQpmgf0xJvAsGAQRX5?si=QgmckXGVRnO46vOZKa0I1Q 📩 Subscribe to the Bricks & Bytes Newsletter: https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/ 🌐 Visit our website: http://bricks-bytes.com/ 📲 Follow us: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/ Twitter: https://x.com/bricksbytespod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ Enjoying the insights? Hit that Subscribe button to stay ahead in construction tech, AI, and the future of how we build. —————– Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:40 Introduction to Bridget and Its Founders 03:38 The Secret to Success in Workforce Planning 05:17 Identifying Pain Points in Workforce Planning 08:15 The Harvard Business School Case Study 12:08 Validating the Product with Early Customers 14:16 The Evolution of the Product 16:55 Challenges of Replacing Excel 18:12 The Importance of Visibility in Workforce Management 19:27 The State of Workforce Planning Report 20:39 Granular vs. Executive Workforce Management 22:35 Transforming Workforce Planning Meetings 24:41 Creating a New Category in Workforce Planning 26:56 Rapid Growth and Market Penetration 28:15 ROI in Workforce Planning Solutions 30:46 What Makes a Good Workforce Planning Software? 32:53 The Role of AI in Workforce Planning 34:39 Educating the Market on Workforce Planning 52:57 Insights from the 2025 Workforce Planning Report 57:08 Investment Trends in Workforce Planning 58:19 The Ongoing Reliance on Excel 1:02:04 Pricing Model for Bridget 1:04:53 Building a Strong Company Culture 1:07:44 Managing Contractors and Subcontractors 1:08:52 Closing Remarks and Future Engagements