Bricks And Bytes

The world's largest asset manager just wrote a $100M cheque to train electricians. Google put up $50M. Microsoft named electrical talent as the single biggest challenge to building data centres. The firms selling the AI dream just discovered they can't deliver it without construction workers.This week on the Executive Briefing:Why data centre companies are paying $150K starting salaries for skilled trades, and what that means for every contractor drawing from the same labour pool. The real numbers on construction robotics — $1.36B in venture funding, 125% up year on year — and the four workflows where robots are actually working, not just demoing.The Iran oil shock is a second front, not the first. US construction input prices were already running at 12.6% annualised before a single missile was launched. Aaron Anderson's analysis shows 130,000 fewer permits being filed. We break down which sectors are pulling back and which are ploughing ahead regardless.The AI question nobody is asking: the difference between deterministic and probabilistic, why every AI tool you're being sold is fundamentally a guess, and how to know which of your workflows can tolerate that and which ones can't. Plus Anna Berger from Trayd on why 99.7% accuracy still isn't good enough for construction payroll.Quick hits: NEOM's Line is effectively dead, the UK government is abolishing retention payments, and a US jury just ruled social media platforms were deliberately engineered to be addictive.Join the debate:

Your construction back office admin hasn't taken a vacation in ten years. And it's your software's fault.In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Patric, Martin, and Dustin break down what four AI CEOs said at NVIDIA GTC and what it means for construction. Then Anna Berger joins fresh off raising $10M in three weeks to expose the chaos inside every specialty contractor's back office.AI token costs collapsed 99% — here's what that unlocksThe data center boom is creating a trades crisis — electricians are now the hottest hire in AmericaWhy AI will never run construction payrollHow Anna closed $10M with 40+ investor meetings in her first week"I just took my first vacation in ten years — thank you." That's the kind of message Anna Berger is getting from her customers.Watch the full episode now!Our Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:00 Introduction to NVIDIA GTC and AI CEOs 03:38 The Impact of AI on Cost and Accessibility 05:34 Specialization vs. Commoditization in AI Models 07:44 The Role of AI in Engineering and Construction 10:33 Deterministic Outcomes and Governance in AI 13:32 The Future of AI in Enterprises and Job Market Dynamics 23:59 The Role of Accuracy in Construction Projects 28:06 AI vs Human Judgment in Project Estimation 30:52 Evaluating AI Accuracy in Professional Contexts 33:45 The Future of Skilled Trades and Workforce Training 40:24 Economic Predictions and Market Interests 44:59 Quarterly Recap: Trends and Insights in Construction Tech 47:01 Real-Life Lessons from the Industry 51:43 Celebrating Success: Anna's Fundraising Journey 53:53 Understanding Trade: A Deep Dive into Construction Back Office Solutions 56:46 Future Plans: Scaling and Product Development 1:00:46 The Importance of Compliance in Payroll Management 1:03:28 Y Combinator's Role in Construction Tech

The cost of intelligence is heading to zero. Construction still hasn't figured out what to do with that.In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Matt Gough and we got to learn about why AI adoption in construction is solving the wrong problem, what a genuine industry moonshot could actually look like, and why the contracting model itself is blocking real transformation... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ Why 50 senior AEC leaders are all bullish on AI - but almost none of them are using it to change how the industry actually works✅ The "virtual vertical integration" argument - and whether AI makes what Katerra attempted possible this time✅ How misaligned incentives across the construction supply chain kill innovation before it gets started✅ What the Empire State Building can still teach us about project delivery in an AI-enabled world🎧 Listen now on Spotify and YouTube.#aec #bricksandbytes #construction #constructiontech #aiOur Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro03:00 Introduction and context of AI in construction05:29 The current state of AI adoption08:10 Challenges in optimizing construction processes11:17 The role of AI in redefining construction value chains14:05 Identifying the moonshot for construction17:07 The importance of collaboration in achieving goals20:09 The future of AI and construction integration29:02 Navigating the rapid pace of change30:22 The moonshot vision for transformation31:36 Insights from AI in the AEC industry33:35 Embracing AI: the gym analogy34:41 Governance and innovation in AI tools37:22 Shifting from risk transfer to collaborative production42:50 Overcoming barriers to innovation47:49 Immediate actions for industry transformation47:57 Lessons from Neom: ambition and technology

"The number one cause of contractor bankruptcy is taking on work outside your niche."In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Matt Stevens Senior Lecturer at Western Sydney University and we got to learn about the financial patterns behind contractor failure, the metrics most firms never track, and why the construction industry is far more innovative than people give it credit for... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ The risk-reward sweet spot - where most contractors are positioned vs where they should be✅ Why 144 out of 150 contractors calculated their project ROI completely wrong✅ The five numbers every contracting business should be tracking (most track zero of them)✅ How top quartile contractors run 3 to 11 times more profitably than the restListen on Spotify and YouTube now. Link in the comments!#construction #bricksandbytes #aec #constructiontechOur Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro02:46 Introduction to Construction Firm Success04:37 Understanding Risk Reward Management06:07 The Importance of Speed in Construction12:49 Best Practices for Construction Efficiency22:53 Navigating the Risk Reward Curve26:54 Navigating Geopolitical Risks in Construction30:15 The Importance of Small Projects33:45 Understanding Contractor Bankruptcy Causes35:04 Key Metrics for Contracting Success42:52 Succession Planning and Knowledge Transfer48:59 Best Practices for Effective Meetings53:25 The Role of Accountability in Project Management55:59 Characteristics of High-Performing Contractors01:00:43 Niches of High-Profitability in Construction01:00:59 Innovation in the Construction Industry01:06:34 AI's Impact on Construction and Employee Evaluation

50 senior AEC leaders were interviewed about their AI strategies. Every one was bullish. Every one was optimising the same broken system. Not one was rethinking the operating model. That finding sat at the centre of everything that happened this week.This week on the Executive Briefing:Why "don't automate the past" is the most important phrase in construction AI right now, and why the Rule of Five might be the simplest AI policy you've never heard of.Why construction doesn't have a moonshot, why productivity isn't inspiring enough to rally the industry, and what that means for your AI strategy.The Great Split goes transatlantic. $25.2B in US data center starts in a single month. UK industrial construction up 19%. Residential still flat. The UK's largest AI data centre just got approved at £10B. Balfour Beatty hits 3.5% margin on nuclear and defence. And the government is fast-tracking data centres onto the same grid that's supposed to deliver 1.5 million homes.World models: a billion dollar bet on AI that understands physics. Who Yann LeCun is, what AMI Labs is building, and why construction should care even though you can't buy it yet.Three things to do this week. Several questions that are going to split the room. Best LinkedIn comment gets read out next week.Join the debate: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/construction-spending-billions-wrong-problem-owen-drury-02kbe

"Within six months, every company will call themselves a world model company just to raise money."That's the prediction coming out of AMI Labs — Yann LeCun's $1 billion AI research fund. We spoke about what world models actually are, why they matter for construction, and why the hype cycle is already loading.We also had Lena-Marie Pätzmann from Sitegeist on the show — a TU Munich spin-out building robots for concrete renovation. The use case: high pressure water lancing, deployed as a subcontractor, starting with parking garages. Their robot fits in a van. Their margins are strong. And the customers came to them.Tune in to find out about:✅ What world models are and why they're different from LLMs✅ How to evaluate construction software without getting burned by legacy tech stacks✅ Why Volkswagen just cut 50,000 jobs and what European energy costs have to do with it✅ How Sitegeist is building robotic concrete renovation from a university lab into a real construction business🎧 Watch now on Spotify & YouTube#aec #bricksbucksandbytes #constructiontech #ai #construction #bricksbytes #vc #roboticsOur Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:00 Introduction to World Models and AI Trends 02:03 Industry News: Funding Rounds in AI and Construction Tech 03:10 Personal Updates and Industry Challenges 05:07 The Complexity of CRM Implementation in Construction 07:13 The Role of Venture Capital in Software Development 09:54 Diving into World Models: What Are They? 13:00 Funding and Research in AI: Yann LeCun's Billion-Dollar Round 16:36 The Hype Around World Models and Their Promise 24:24 Understanding World Models: Beyond Chatbots 27:09 Implications of World Models for Construction Industry 44:10 Summary and Closing Remarks

"We built entire cities using PDFs and drawings. That's not a failure — that's a miracle. Now imagine what we build with the right tools."In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Alain Waha, CTO at BuroHappold Engineering, discussing AI transformation, the future of physical AI, and why 2026 already feels like three years have passed in nine weeks.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why construction being the least digitized industry is actually its biggest opportunity right now ✅ How AI is finally solving the Tower of Babel problem that's plagued AEC for decades ✅ Why firms need to choose — compete on cost or build a value brand — before it's too late ✅ Why foundational AI models for the physical world don't exist yet, and what it'll take to get thereCatch the full episode on Spotify and YouTube 🎙️#aec #bricksandbytes #construction #constructiontech #aiOur Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro02:10 Introduction and Context of Rapid Change 06:38 Industry Size and Structure 12:29 Historical Perspective on Technology in AEC 17:56 The Tower of Babel Problem in AEC 23:33 Navigating the Future of Work 28:12 Value Creation in a Changing Landscape 32:37 Enhancing the Built Environment with Technology 37:18 The Future of Construction: A Digital Transformation 43:02 Cultural Shifts in Engineering and Technology Adoption 51:46 Knowledge Transfer and the Future of AI in Construction

A war in Iran is threatening global supply chains. A CTO at a 3,500-person engineering firm says construction just accidentally solved its oldest problem. And the knowledge crisis is actually two problems, not one.This week on the Executive Briefing:Why Noble Francis is telling construction CEOs to stop optimising for cost and start optimising for security of supply, and why one of our co-hosts thinks that advice will price you out of the market.Alain Waha, CTO at Buro Happold, on why large language models are construction's Google Translate moment, why cost-plus pricing is about to get squeezed, and why AI is not GPS (and what that means for the next generation of engineers).The difference between firms whose institutional knowledge compounds and firms whose knowledge evaporates every time someone retires. Plus why capturing knowledge is only half the problem.Quick hits: Turner's $29.2B year, Tutor Perini's best year in 130 years, Autodesk AECO up 22%, and Palantir's construction page going straight to a 404.Three things you can do this week. One question that's going to split the room. Best LinkedIn comment gets read out next week.Join the debate: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-your-competitors-knowledge-compounding-while-yours-owen-drury-zeffe/⁠

Everyone's losing their mind over Palantir entering construction. There's just one problem they've been here for years, and nobody noticed.In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, and Dustin Devan cut through the LinkedIn noise, get into why global instability should be keeping construction CEOs up at night, and sit down with Tobias Klug founder of nuuEnergy who just raised €4.3M to rethink how heat pumps get installed across Germany.This week covers:Why Palantir's "arrival" in construction is more hype than reality and what it actually does (and doesn't do)The supply chain warning construction leaders keep ignoring until it's too lateHow Tobias and nuuEnergy are building local installation hubs that combine certified craft expertise with startup-speed technologyTurner Construction hits $29.2B revenue  a 40% jump in a single yearAutodesk's latest numbers and why their construction arm is growing faster than the rest of the businessQuote of the episode:"Palantir is SAP and Oracle 2.0  promises of everything under the umbrella, delivering unfathomable results.",  Dustin DevanWatch the full episode on Spotify and YouTube now. Our Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:15 Debunking Palantir's Construction Claims 11:16 Global Supply Chain Disruptions 21:22 The Impact of Wealth Tax Proposals 33:42 Meta Glasses and Privacy Concerns 41:14 Introduction to New Energy and Seed Funding 43:12 Heat Pump Technology and Market Positioning 49:40 Consumer Choices and Competitive Edge 50:32 Regulatory Challenges and Future of Heating Solutions51:48 Industry Insights and Company Performance

"Good contractors don't go out of business because of starvation. They go out of business because of indigestion."The construction economy has split in two. Data centers and infrastructure are booming. Residential, retail and office? Struggling. Globally.In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Kris Lengieza from Procore on the show and we got to learn about what their Market Intelligence data is really telling us about where the industry is heading right now.Tune in to find out about:✅ The bifurcation: US construction momentum up 21% but the architectural billing index is in contraction. More starts, fewer new designs. Wild. ✅ AI going from pilot to production. Turner and Skanska have deployed safety agents on real job sites. ✅ The vibe coding problem. Project engineers building apps over the weekend and CIOs losing sleep over where the data is going. ✅ 41% of the workforce retiring by 2031 and what that actually means for project delivery.Listen to the full episode on Spotify and YouTube 🎧👇#aec #bricksandbytes #construction #constructiontech #ai #procoreChapters00:00 Intro01:50 Introduction to Market Intelligence Webinar Series 05:28 AI's Role in Construction 10:42 Challenges in Project Completion 14:24 Emergence of User-Driven Software Solutions

This is the Bricks & Bytes Executive Weekly Briefing. ~20 minutes. Every week. The only construction briefing built from real conversations with the people making the decisions.This week we're breaking down the split that's reshaping construction right now: the strategic economy versus the consumer economy, and why the gap between the two is accelerating.We'll walk you through: What Procore's new market data actually says about the bifurcation, Why "you can't vibe code trust" might be the most important line in construction tech right now, The ChatGPT contract disaster every exec needs to hear about, What Morgan Sindall's record results tell us about who's winning and why,The Red Robin vs Chili's story that perfectly captures the choice every contractor is facing.Plus two things you can do this week to make sure you're on the right side of the separation.Featuring insights from Kris Lengieza (Procore), Josh Levy (Document Crunch), and Michael Vardaro (construction attorney).Join the debate: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/23rd-27th-febthe-great-separation-why-same-market-producing-drury-iawoe/?trackingId=D69wZi2yQzCQiUHjiUwZrg%3D%3D

A viral report claims 2028 is the year AI destroys the global economy. Are we sleepwalking into a crisis nobody can stop?In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Patric, Martin and Dustin rip apart a fictional financial report from Citrini Research that has taken the internet by storm. Chapter by chapter, they debate whether AI will trigger an unstoppable economic death spiral or whether the doomsayers are missing the bigger picture entirely. The conversation then shifts to what is actually happening right now in construction, with fresh market intelligence from Procore and a deep dive into Autodesk's massive $200 million bet on a company called World Labs.Topics discussed:The "Intelligence Displacement Spiral" and why every company doing the smart thing could collectively wreck the economyWhy Patric believes a robot tax is the only way to keep society stable in an AI-driven worldProcore's latest data showing construction is splitting into two completely different economiesThe 400,000 worker shortage and 41% of the US construction workforce heading for retirement by 2031What Dustin learned running a Sales Kickoff and why buying software based on features is a mistakeAutodesk's $200 million investment in World Labs and why Patrick calls the term "world model" offensiveWhether vibe coders could ever vibe code a vibe coder (and what the answer tells us about AI's real limits)"If you truly want to live with AI, you need to start shifting from salary tax to robot tax. Then you actually have an ability to redistribute income and keep society stable." — PatricWatch the full episode on Youtube & Spotify.Chapters00:00 Intro01:30 The AI Crisis of 2028 07:26 The Intelligence Displacement Spiral 13:28 The Future of Software Development 19:31 The Impact of AI on Consumer Behavior 26:36 Skepticism Towards AI-Driven Services 34:08 The Fragility of the Mortgage Market 41:06 AI in Construction: Use Cases and Challenges 48:25 The Importance of Vision in Sales Leadership 53:37 Trimble's Acquisition Strategy and Market Positioning

Someone used ChatGPT to redline a construction contract. The wording looked like it came straight from a lawyer. Only problem? It was arguing against their own position.In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Michael Vardaro, a construction attorney with 30 years of experience based in New York City, and we got to learn about how AI is reshaping construction law, why it's a powerful tool but a terrible replacement for professional judgment, and the groundbreaking new AAA AI arbitrator that could change how disputes get resolved... and much more.Tune in to find out about:✅ How AI tools like Firmus AI are catching scope conflicts and potential change orders before they turn into litigation✅ The real story behind the AAA's new AI arbitrator and what it actually means for construction disputes✅ Why the "AI will kill lawyer fees" headline is misleading, and what the CAD revolution taught us about technology and professional services✅ The hidden danger of AI meeting minutes in construction, and how they could actually make your legal position worse🎧 Watch now on Youtube and Spotify. Link in the comments#ConstructionTech #ConstructionLaw #AI #BricksAndBytes #AEC #ConTech #LegalTechOur Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:20 AI's Impact on Construction Law 08:27 Use Cases of AI in Construction 15:34 AI Tools for Contract Negotiation 20:55 The Role of AI in Legal Services 26:43 AI's Effect on Legal Business Models 31:10 Harnessing AI in Construction Litigation 36:11 The Role of AI in Arbitration 42:21 Communication Challenges in Construction 48:08 The Impact of AI on Meeting Minutes 54:19 Common Mistakes in Construction Contracts 56:56 Future of AI in Construction Law

A free contract review tool dropped. Then another one. And the construction tech industry started asking: has Document Crunch just been one-shotted?So we called Josh Levy, founder and CEO of Document Crunch, and asked him to respond.In this episode, Josh addresses the industry speculation head-on, explains why he believes you can't vibe code your way to trust in construction, reveals what Document Crunch has been building behind closed doors (including a major platform upgrade dropping this spring), and shares why companies that tried to DIY their own contract review tools are already coming back.Whether you're a construction tech founder, a contractor evaluating AI tools, or just following the vibe coding debate, this one's essential viewing.🔥 In this episode:00:00 — Intro00:46 — The question the industry's been asking01:59 — "We don't have any competitors"02:41 — The Man in the Arena quote05:08 — "You can't vibe code your way to trust"06:28 — Good luck earning the trust of legal departments09:35 — "You just recreated our product from six years ago"10:55 — How Document Crunch stays ahead of foundational models19:04 — The new Document Crunch platform reveal22:05 — Should the industry publish AI benchmarks?26:49 — The boomerang effect: companies coming back24:50 — Josh's closing message to founders and vibe coders🔗 Connect with Josh Levy:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshlevyesq/Document Crunch: https://www.documentcrunch.com/🔗 Connect with Bricks & Bytes:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/baboricksandbytes/Newsletter: https://www.bricksandbytes.co—Bricks & Bytes is the construction technology media company covering the people, companies, and ideas transforming the built world.#ConstructionTech #ConTech #AI #VibeCoding #DocumentCrunch #ContractReview #AEC #Construction #RiskManagement #StartupFounder #BricksAndBytes

This is the Bricks & Bytes Executive Weekly Briefing. ~20 minutes. Every week. The only construction briefing built from real conversations with the people making the decisions.A VP at a multi-billion-dollar US contractor told me this week that our industry is in its Blockbuster Video moment. Peak profitability, record volumes, and completely blind to what's coming. After everything I heard this week, I'm struggling to argue with him.In this briefing: UK construction activity collapses (starts down 31%, awards down 43%). Procore/Datagrid Q4 Earnings and bets the company on agentic AI. Autodesk drops $200M on spatial intelligence. A major UK contractor is designing bridges in 40 minutes instead of 4 months. 3D printed buildings hit an exponential curve. And Anthropic's AI safety chief quits to study poetry.Plus: three things you can do this week to start paddling before the wave breaks.Prefer to read? You can read the full thing at: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/16-20th-feb-blockbuster-moment-why-constructions-biggest-owen-drury-bxmce/?trackingId=h%2FThKac4QbeYZwobfKxHzg%3D%3D

Turner Construction was paying for specialist AI software. Then they ditched it for ChatGPT and it did 85% of the job. The founder they left behind says he's not even surprised.In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Patric, and Martin are joined by Luigi La Corte, CEO of Provision, for an unfiltered conversation about what AI is really doing to construction software  and who's about to get left behind. Plus, two founder call-ins you don't want to miss: Bertrand from Billdr reveals that 75% of SMB general contractors are still running their business on Excel in 2026, and Jodok walks us through how he secured a $1.2 billion debt facility to green Europe's homes.Here's what we get into:Why contract review software is being commoditized to zero — and which tools are nextTurner Construction ditching specialist AI software for OpenAI's "good enough" enterprise packageLuigi's bold claim that AGI is already here (and why he's running it from his couch via Telegram for $60/month)Patric's multi-lens take on AI: "excited as a consumer, terrified as a citizen"The Anthropic safety chief quitting to study poetry and why that should concern everyoneBilldr's pivot from a $40M marketplace to vertical SaaS, and the brute-force sales motion that's actually workingHow Jodok went from a $5M lending facility to $1.2 billion in under three years"The technological swell is here. Most leaders are just swimming, enjoying the sun, making money, business as usual. A few are paddling hard towards the swell. It feels like a lot of effort with no results, but when the wave breaks, the ones paddling will separate from everyone else at a pace no one else could catch."If you're in construction and not paying attention to AI right now, this episode will tell you exactly why you should be. Watch the full episode on YouTube. Link in the comments!Chapters00:00 Intro00:52 Introduction to Luigi La Corte and Industry Insights 03:30 AI in Construction: Scope Agent and Its Impact 06:27 Navigating Contract Review Tools in the AI Era 09:20 The Future of AI: Perspectives and Predictions 12:20 Diverse Sentiments on AI: Consumer vs. Societal Impact 14:37 AGI: Is It Already Here?  22:19 The Future of AI and Productivity 24:11 Concerns About AGI and Its Implications 25:26 The Impact of AI on Human Experience 26:37 Recursive Self-Improvement and Its Risks 27:48 Billdr's Journey and Market Positioning 37:55 The Demand for All-in-One Solutions in Construction Tech 40:01 The Evolution of General Contractors and Their Needs41:22 The Future of Administrative Tasks in Construction 42:35 Addressing the Missing Middle in Construction Companies 44:15 Financing the Energy Transition: ClueWorth's Approach 46:48 Scaling Operations in a Fragmented Market 54:06 Navigating Complexity in Energy Installations 58:04 Revenue Models and Future Growth Strategies

78% of trade contractors are already using AI.Yeah, you read that right. The industry everyone calls "slow to adopt tech" is actually out front leading the way.In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Colin Piper, CMO of BuildOps, and we got to learn about what it actually takes to market in construction tech, why no one was building software for the trades until now, and what 600 trade contractors revealed about AI adoption in their businesses... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ How BuildOps became a unicorn by solving a problem everyone else ignored building software specifically for MEP trade contractors✅ The real reason trade contractors aren't adopting AI faster (spoiler: it's not fear, it's training)✅ Why some trade contractors are now hiring data scientists and operating like mini software companies✅ The marketing playbook behind scaling a construction tech startup from brand awareness all the way through to closed dealsWhether you're in the trades, selling to the trades, or just trying to understand where construction tech is actually heading  this one's worth your time.🎧 Watch now on YouTube! Link in the comments!Our Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:36 Introduction to BuildOps and Colin's Background 04:49 Marketing Strategies in AEC Industry 07:31 Understanding Demand Generation 10:48 Account-Based Marketing Tactics 13:46 Overview of BuildOps and Its Market 16:35 Top of Funnel Awareness Strategies 19:37 Effective Channels for Targeting Trade Contractors 22:29 Influencer Marketing in B2B 34:41 Content Strategies for Trade Contractors 37:28 The Importance of Testing in Marketing 40:37 Campaign Development and Execution 43:32 The Role of Offline Marketing Channels 45:40 Structuring Marketing Teams for Success 47:32 Building an Effective Marketing Tech Stack 50:36 Insights from the BuildOps AI Report 56:39 Marketing Strategies for Trade Contractors 59:28 The Future of AI in Construction

"It took us seven seconds to know that acquiring Genda was the right move."That's what Aviv Leibovici, CPO of Buildots, told us about the moment the deal clicked.In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Aviv Leibovici from Buildots and Erez Dror, founder of Genda, and we got to learn about why Buildots acquired Genda, how combining visual progress data with workforce tracking creates what they call "productivity intelligence," why the best field data will be the new oil for AI in construction, and the hard truths about building products in this industry... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ Why knowing what was built is only half the picture and how workforce data completes the construction puzzle✅ How Genda got tens of thousands of construction workers to voluntarily use an app that tracks their location (the answer is genius)✅ The real reason projects delay  and why GCs blaming owner changes is only part of the story✅ Why studying your customers matters more than just listening to them  and how both founders approach product development differently than most🎧 Listen now on Spotify!#ConstructionTech #ConTech #RealityCapture #AI #BricksAndBytes #ProductivityIntelligence #Buildots #Genda #ConstructionOur Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:20 Introduction to BuildDots and Genda 04:16 Understanding Reality Capture and Productivity Intelligence 07:17 The Acquisition of Genda by BuildDots 09:60 The Vision Behind the Acquisition 13:16 Integration of BuildDots and Genda Products 15:50 The Future of Construction Technology 33:31 Understanding Productivity Through Data 40:02 The Reality Capture Landscape 44:30 Competitive Advantages in Construction Tech 51:15 Building Great Products in Construction 58:17 The Role of AI in Product Development

$300 billion wiped from software stocks in a single week. Is SaaS officially dead or is this the buying opportunity of a decade?In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Patric, Dustin, and Martin break down the so-called "SaaSpocalypse" rocking global markets, welcome back Bedrock CTO Kevin Peterson fresh off a massive $270M Series B that puts his autonomous excavator company into unicorn territory, and dissect the hilarious beef between Anthropic and OpenAI playing out on the Super Bowl stage.Topics discussed:The $300B+ SaaS valuation crash and whether it's a death sentence or a market correction back to normalWhy software engineers are now "juicing" with AI coding tools and what that means for the industryBedrock's journey from Series A to unicorn status, their autonomous excavators on real job sites, and why Google's Capital G is backing themWhere smart money is moving as investors flee software stocks (hint: Europe is winning)Anthropic's brilliant Super Bowl ad mocking OpenAI's plan to put ads in ChatGPT and Sam Altman's salty response38% of Stanford students claiming disability for perks and what it says about elite institutions💬 "LLMs are book smart. They've read every forum on Reddit, every book ever published. But when you get out in the field, it's not in the book." Kevin Peterson, CTO of BedrockWatch the full episode now on Youtube. Link in the comments!Our Sponsor:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:26 The SaaSpocalypse: A New Era for Software 04:51 Market Corrections: The Future of SaaS Valuations 07:21 AI's Role in Software Development 18:54 The Evolution of Software Engineering 24:05 Bedrock's Journey: From Startup to Unicorn 30:49 The Future of Autonomous Construction Vehicles 32:54 Customer Perspectives and Ideal Partnerships 34:59 Safety and Supervision in Automation 36:01 Building a Strong Team for Innovation 438:14 Design Considerations for Autonomous Machines 39:40 Investment Trends in Robotics and AI 42:06 The Role of User Interface in Automation 47:20 Investment Strategies in Competitive Spaces 48:24 The Future of Autonomy and AI in Industry 49:35 The Battle of AI Companies: OpenAI vs. Anthropic 56:02 Disability Claims and University Ethics 01:07:06 Super Bowl Predictions and Lighthearted Banter

Should construction companies sort out their data before using AI? Or can AI sort it out for them?We put two heavyweights in the ring to fight it out.In one corner: Dustin DeVan, one of the most decorated CEOs in construction tech. Exited Building Connected for $275M. Now running Ediphi. He's seen $400M liens and knows what happens when your data falls apart in litigation.In the other corner: KP Reddy, serial entrepreneur, founder, investor, and the man with 48 career experiences on LinkedIn (yes, we counted). He's backed by the biggest names in AEC and has been building stuff since he was a kid.Dustin says get your house in order first. He's been through a $400M lien. Messy records in court? Not fun.KP disagrees. Projects end, teams move on, data ends up everywhere. That's just how construction works. AI can make sense of the mess.One thing they agreed on — Excel isn't going anywhere.No punches pulled. No fluff.Who won? You decide.🎧 What's your take — do we need structured systems before AI, or can AI help us build structure from the chaos?Our Sponsors:Provision helps pre-construction teams find risks and scope gaps early so they can bid with confidence: https://www.provision.com/Presented by Track3D - The first reality capture intelligence platform for smarter construction: https://track3d.ai/HVAKR - Develop mechanical designs under budget and ahead of schedule: https://www.hvakr.com/ALICE Technologies - Automates 'what-if' scenario exploration with AI — enabling you to rapidly test options, mitigate risk, and optimize schedules: https://www.alicetechnologies.com/homeDatagrid - Agentic AI that reads your docs, connects your tools, and gets the job done: https://datagrid.com/00:00 Intro01:00 Introduction to the Debate 03:25 The System of Record: Centralized vs. Decentralized 06:17 The Role of Language Models in Construction 09:18 Understanding Systems of Record 12:14 The Importance of Data Structure 15:07 Ontology and Context in Construction 17:58 The Expiry Date of Data 21:10 Business Building and Venture Capital in AEC 24:05 Excel vs. Cloud Tools 26:54 The Value of Historical Data 30:08 Defensibility in Business Models 33:10 Conclusion and Final Thoughts