About This Episode

In this thought-provoking episode, Patric Hellermann and Shub Bhattacharya engage in an unscripted discussion about the existential threats AI poses to the construction technology ecosystem and their venture capital business. The hosts explore how different levels of artificial intelligence might impact their portfolio companies and challenge fundamental business models in architecture, engineering, and construction.

In This Episode

Construction fundamentally involves moving and stacking atoms, which limits how AI can disrupt the physical aspects of the industry while still impacting information flows and decision-making.

Intermediaries in construction supply chains whose value is based on managing relationships and complexity may see their roles diminished as AI improves orchestration and automation.

The hosts challenge the Silicon Valley narrative that AI agents will replace SaaS companies, noting that established software platforms are incorporating AI rather than being displaced by it.

Early-stage venture capital's reliance on intuition, founder assessment, and non-consensus thinking provides some defense against AI disruption, unlike growth-stage investing which could be more easily automated.

Timestamps

(00:00 ) - Introduction

(01:23 ) - Discussing AI's impact on portfolio companies across construction tech

(04:07 ) - Construction's fundamental nature as "moving atoms" and AI limitations

(11:09 ) - How AI might affect intermediaries in construction supply chains

(17:29 ) - Examining if AI makes SaaS companies less valuable or more entrenched

(22:19 ) - Could AI disrupt venture capital itself?

(27:11 ) - The value of non-consensus thinking versus AI-driven investing

(35:19 ) - Differences between early-stage and growth investing in an AI world

(37:44 ) - How early-stage VCs can defend against AI disruption

Resources or Companies Mentioned

OpenAI: https://openai.com

Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com/eu/

Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com

SAP: https://www.sap.com

Procore: https://www.procore.com/

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Foundamental: ⁠⁠https://www.foundamental.com/⁠⁠

Patric Hellermann: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aecvc/⁠⁠

Shub Bhattacharya: ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shubhankar-bhattacharya-a1063a3/⁠⁠

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