50% Tarrifs are about to break construction - And That's Only The Beginning

In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, our hosts dive deep into the chaos reshaping the construction industry and startup world. 

What we cover:

• The shocking 50% steel and aluminum tariffs that just doubled construction costs overnight

• Why rebar prices have exploded 26% and added $14,000 to every home

• How 68% of builders are now facing project delays due to supplier chaos

• The brutal truth about why VCs pushing "996" work culture are dead wrong

• ChatGPT's bombshell announcement that just killed $250M worth of AI startups

• Why construction tech companies are becoming consultancies (and if that's good or bad)

• The real reason behind tariffs that nobody talks about

• Forward deployed engineers - the new trend taking over AEC tech

• Why some founders are burning out while others thrive

"VCs pushing 9 to 6 are idiots. Most founders have no liquid capital and are actually struggling to make ends meet. You need to do whatever makes you most effective because it's not about hours you work, it's about output." - Dustin

From supply chain disasters to startup strategies, this episode unpacks the macro forces reshaping how we build - and who survives the chaos.

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Sponsors:

BuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.io

4M Analytics - Instant, reliable utility data you can trust and verify - https://www.4manalytics.com/

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Chpaters

00:00 Introduction and Current Events

04:45 Impact of New Tariffs on Construction

07:48 Economic Implications of Tariffs

10:55 Labor Market Dynamics in Construction

13:52 Challenges in Project Management

16:57 Future of Construction Projects

19:52 Immigration and Labor Supply

22:51 Market Reactions and Predictions

25:47 Conclusion and Future Outlook

31:58 Infrastructure Investment and Economic Resilience

33:43 Restoration Business Dynamics

34:53 Market Optimism and Economic Trends

39:48 Technology in AEC: Forward Deployed Engineering

52:11 Software Stack Consolidation and Customization

58:09 Partnerships in Technology Solutions

01:05:24 The 996 Work Culture Debate

01:08:10 Personal Work Routines and Mental Health

01:11:01 Decision-Making in Business

01:16:24 The Role of Bias in Decision-Making

01:21:02 Expertise and Learning in Business

01:26:01 Hiring and Team Dynamics

01:31:27 The Future of AI Note-Taking