Bricks And Bytes

How do you run a $2 trillion segment of the economy with just a book?

In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Dmitry Alexin from Handoff and we got to learn about how AI is transforming residential construction, why 90% of US construction firms are one-person operations struggling with back-office work, and how a former IMF economist ended up building technology that delivers cost estimates in 30 seconds... and many more!

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why traditional construction cost data is stuck in the physical book era and how real-time APIs are changing the game

✅ How contractors can now delegate entire workflows to an AI agent through simple voice commands while driving between jobs

✅ Why selling to residential contractors requires throwing out the enterprise playbook and leading with instant product value

✅ The surprising shift of professionals from marketing and accounting backgrounds entering residential construction with a software-first mindset

Watch now to hear Dmitry's journey from GDP forecasting during the Ebola pandemic to revolutionizing how residential contractors run their businesses.

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 - 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

03:40 Introduction to Handoff and Its Purpose

06:41 Dmitry's Background and Transition to Construction

09:30 The Data Challenge in Construction

12:49 Building the First Real-Time API for Construction Prices

15:35 The Evolution of Handoff and Its Features

18:37 The Importance of Accurate Estimating

21:37 The Role of AI in Construction Estimating

24:40 Understanding Labor and Material Costs

27:32 Streamlining Procurement Processes

30:36 Product-Led Growth Strategy

33:35 Overcoming Skepticism in the Industry

37:55 Leading with Value: Product-Led Growth

38:42 Go-To-Market Strategies: Finding Your Audience

43:24 Targeting Residential Contractors: A Strategic Choice

46:54 The Role of AI Agents in Construction Tech

49:25 Learning from Failures: Experimentation in Startups

55:35 Future of Construction: Robotics and Material Science

58:60 Funding Insights: Building a Diverse Investor Base

01:05:05 Advice for Technical Founders: Embracing Humility

01:07:15 Join the Team: Opportunities at Handoff

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 - 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

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

"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 - 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

"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 - 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

"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 - 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

"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!

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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 - www.buildvision.io

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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

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 - 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

"If you can't get to $5M in recurring revenue in 18 months, you're probably not venture fundable right now."

KP Reddy just called out the entire construction tech ecosystem—and he's not holding back.

In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had KP Reddy and we got to learn about why most construction tech startups are chasing the wrong business model, how AI is fundamentally changing the value of human work, and why he's now buying contractors instead of selling them software... and many more!

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why construction attracts risk-averse founders (and why that's killing innovation)

✅ The real reason CEOs want everyone back in the office (hint: it's about ego, not productivity)

✅ How token-based pricing will replace hourly billing in the next 5 years

✅ Why KP is teaching CEOs to vibe code—and firing consultants who say "it can't be done"

This conversation will change how you think about building, investing, and working in construction tech.

Watch now on YouTube. Link in the comments!

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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 - www.buildvision.io

Chapters

00:00 Intro

03:00 Introduction and Competitive Spirit

06:05 The Shift in Venture Capital Dynamics

08:42 Capital Light vs. Capital Heavy Startups

11:45 Vibe Coding: The New Era of Prototyping

14:45 The Role of AI in Construction and Tech

17:44 The Future of CRM and Personalization in Business

20:42 The Impact of AI on Job Identity and Purpose

23:29 Navigating the Future of Work in AEC

26:17 The Evolution of Business Models in Construction

29:06 Conclusion: Embracing Change and Purpose

35:56 Finding Fulfillment in Venture Capital

39:38 The Role of AI in Pricing Models

45:33 Ego and Status in Business Decisions

49:33 Brackish Waters: The Intersection of VC and PE

57:49 Transformative Tech and Market Dynamics

62:39 The Nonsense of Change Management

"Digital twins are still solving problems we haven't even imagined yet."

In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, we had James Mize from CRB and we got to learn about why pharmaceutical and biotech construction is pushing the boundaries of what's possible with digital twins, the real reason most companies stick with their tech partners, and why information management is construction's biggest unsolved problem... and many more!

Tune in to find out about:

✅ How predictive maintenance using digital twins is saving pharmaceutical companies millions in downtime costs

✅ Why design innovation is racing ahead while construction remains stubbornly manual

✅ The partnership model that actually works when choosing construction technology vendors

✅ Why document control might disappear completely as AI learns where every file should live

Listen now on Spotify and join the conversation about the future of construction technology.

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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 - www.buildvision.io

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

03:05 Exploring Digital Twins in Construction

09:10 The Role of CRB in Biotech and Pharmaceutical Construction

14:54 Innovation in Design vs. Construction

20:50 Evaluating Technology Vendors and Solutions

26:43 Navigating Pricing Models for Tech Solutions

36:31 Exploring Software Innovations in Construction

38:34 Identifying Pain Points in Information Management

43:04 Researching Solutions: Inbound vs Outbound

47:18 Evaluating Information Management Tools

51:42 Lessons from Technology Failures

54:11 The Role of Venture Backing in Technology Solutions

55:09 Importance of Construction Experience in Founders

56:39 Contrarian Views on External Validation

57:41 Gathering Feedback from the Field

01:00:04 Maximizing ROI from Technology Investments

01:02:00 Current Initiatives and Hiring Opportunities