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In this episode, Patric and Shub delve into Foundamental's updated mission for the next five years by streaming the VC firm's new community letter, focusing on backing vertical singularities in the construction-tech sector. They discuss the tremendous potential for disruption and growth in these unique, sector-specific opportunities and how Foundamental aims to drive innovation within the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.

The construction-tech sector is experiencing a notable funding inflection, with its share of venture capital increasing from 0.1% to 0.45% in recent years. Despite this growth, the industry still holds massive potential for further expansion and investment. Patric and Shub explore how Foundamental's early recognition of this trend positions the firm to identify and support the most promising startups in the space.

Patric and Shub also discuss the key to success in construction-tech, which lies in founders who pursue unobvious opportunities that are apparent to industry insiders. They emphasize the importance of developing innovative solutions that address critical pain points and drive meaningful change within the sector.

The episode also covers Foundamental's recognition of outcome-as-a-service business models as particularly well-suited for the construction industry, despite the prevailing herd mentality among venture capitalists. They discuss how construction companies are accustomed to purchasing services, transactions, and outcomes rather than just tools or software, and how embracing outcome-as-a-service models can unlock significant value and drive adoption more effectively.

Lastly, Patric and Shub delve into Foundamental's investment philosophy in construction-tech, which is centered on seeking out category creators rather than backing category clones. They discuss how true innovation and disruption in the sector will come from startups that forge new paths and define entirely new categories, and how Foundamental's deep sector expertise and willingness to think outside the box enable them to spot the immense potential in these unconventional opportunities.

Chapters

(00:00 ) Fallacies in B2B Capital Allocation and Category Creation; what generic VC's are getting wrong (about AEC)

(35:56 ) Uncovering Vertical Singularities: The Core of Early-Stage Investing

(43:42 ) Earning Nuanced Knowledge and Strong Signals in Venture Capital

(01:04:00 ) The Future of Early-Stage Investing in Construction Tech