Bricks And Bytes

EXCLUSIVE: ProcurePro just closed an $11M round and we got the founder on the mic first.

"Control your risks, control your margins."

That's the line Alastair Blenkin, CEO of ProcurePro, kept coming back to on the latest Bricks & Bytes — and it's the bet behind their fresh raise.

Procurement is the most underinvested workflow in construction tech. By the time you're on site, you're just managing the risk you already locked in at buyout. ProcurePro has spent five years building the platform to fix that — and now has $130B+ of construction spend and one of the largest pricing data sets in the world flowing through it.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why procurement, not site management, is the real commercial lever on a project

✅ How ProcurePro went from a COVID pivot to Series B in five years

✅ What investors actually wanted to see between Series A and B

✅ AI bid leveling, live copilots, and flipping the model on subcontractor pricing

Watch now on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.

#aec #construction #constructiontech #bricksandbytes #bricksbytes #ai #vc

The UK's official construction forecast for 2026 was just slashed from plus 1.7 per cent growth to a 2.5 per cent decline. Same week, Caterpillar reported 63 billion dollars worth of equipment already on order, up 79 per cent in twelve months.

In this week's Executive Weekly Briefing, Owen walks through what the macro really says about your business, what the latest results from Caterpillar, Trimble, Bentley and Procore actually mean once you strip the jargon out, and the question every contractor needs to answer this week: where are you sitting on the line between the half of the industry that is shrinking and the half that is booming?

Plus five fast takes from this week on Bricks and Bytes, including why banks are adopting AI faster than construction, what Nemetschek's 2.4 billion dollar HCSS deal really signals, and Palantir's quiet push into the construction industry.

And for Construction Safety Week, the three numbers every executive needs to hear, the news that Turner Construction has just made its AI safety tool free to the entire industry, and a tease of the Bricks and Bytes Safety Tech Report dropping shortly.

Episodes referenced this week

• Yves Padrines, CEO Nemetschek + Usman Shuja, CEO Bluebeam: the HCSS acquisition
• Chase Gilbert, CEO + Chris DeVito, Built Technologies: the AI documentation bottleneck
• Mallory Brodie, CEO Bridgit: the workforce benchmark report
• Brett Adams + Dan Julien, Forgesight: Palantir Foundry in construction (Coming soon)

Key resources

• CPA Spring 2026 Forecast
• RICS UK Construction Monitor, Q1 2026
• Q1 2026 earnings releases: Caterpillar, Trimble, Bentley, Procore
• Turner Construction SafeT Coach announcement
• BLS 2024 construction fatality data

"41% of the construction workforce is retiring in 5 years. Half the people on the biggest jobsites have less than a year of experience. Nobody has a plan."

That stat from Mallorie Brodie at Bridgit is the one we keep coming back to.

This week on Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, We sat down with Mallorie to unpack the 2026 Construction Workforce Benchmark Report, then brought on Chase Gilbert and Chris DeVito from Built Technologies to talk agentic AI, payments, and what's actually slowing projects down right now.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ The "rookie ratio" — and why it's already at 50% on the biggest jobs

✅ Why banks are buying AI faster than GCs

✅ How Built is collapsing draw cycles from days to minutes

✅ The new bottleneck no one's talking about — power

Listen on Spotify and YouTube.

#aec #bricksandbytes #bricksbytes #construction #bricksbucksandbytes #constructiontech #vc #ai

Our Sponsors:

BreadCrumb- 50,000+ projects globally. All running safer, faster, with Breadcrumb. - breadcrumb.co

Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.co

Archdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:38 Introduction and Overview 

07:08 Interview with Mallory Brodie 

24:39 Insights on Workforce Planning and Industry Trends 

26:16 Introduction to Roles in Construction Management 

27:40 Navigating the AI Era in Construction 

29:58 AI Adoption in Banking vs. Construction 

32:51 Impact of AI on General Contractors 

36:15 Building Trust with Financial Institutions 

40:58 Current Market Conditions in Construction 

47:15 Transforming Construction Processes with Technology 

55:04 The Future of Construction Financing 

"Even if AI doesn't work, it's allowing us to reinvent construction."

That's Alain Waha on why the data center build-out is the most important thing happening in our industry right now, even if you don't care about AI.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ What the Document Crunch, Speckle and A16Z deals actually signal

✅ Why physical AI and world models matter for AEC, and when they don't

✅ How composable robotics quietly solved the hardware problem

✅ Why knowledge capital is the only durable bet your firm can make

Watch the full episode on YouTube and Spotify!

#bricksandbytes #bricksbytes #bricksbucksandbytes #aec #construction #constructiontech #ai #vc

Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:22 Introduction and Context of Change

02:28 The Role of AI in Construction

05:15 World Models and Physical AI

07:44 Cybersecurity Concerns in AI

09:54 Investment Trends in the Built World

12:43 The Demand for Data Centers

15:50 Robotics and Automation in Construction

18:55 Knowledge Transfer and Capital

23:56 Future Predictions and Closing Thoughts

"Owners want buildings, not software."

That one line from Andrew Zukoski (CEO, JOIN) reframes the entire AEC tech market.

In B&B Fight Night 3, Andrew goes head to head with Clifton Harness (CEO, TestFit) on AI, architects, venture capital, and what the next five years look like.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why only 3 AEC companies have IPO'd in 15 years and what that means for founders raising VC

✅ Whether builders or architects come out on top in an AI-driven AEC industry

✅ The real test for separating AEC AI products from rappers

✅ Why the next big AEC IPO might be a services firm, not a SaaS company

Watch now on YouTube and Spotify!

#bricksandbytes #bricksbytes #bricksbucksandbytes #aec #construction #constructiontech #ai #vc

Our Sponsors:

BreadCrumb- 50,000+ projects globally. All running safer, faster, with Breadcrumb. - breadcrumb.co

Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.co

Archdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com

Chapters

00:00 Teaser

00:58 Introduction to the AEC Octagon and Fight Night

02:42 Debating AI: Industry-Specific vs. Foundational Models

05:13 Evaluating AI Tools for Architecture and Construction

08:23 The Future Role of Architects in the AEC Industry

11:27 Architects as Civic Arbiters of the Built Environment

14:15 The Impact of AI on Construction and Design

16:33 Sponsors

19:34 The Evolution of Architect Roles and Responsibilities

22:01 The Future of Architecture in an AI-Driven World

34:30 Evaluating Code Quality and Architectural Efficiency

35:33 The Role of Venture Capital in Business Growth

39:10 Navigating the Risks of Venture Funding

43:30 AI's Impact on the AEC Industry

48:42 Bootstrapping vs. Venture Funding: A Personal Perspective

50:27 Predictions for the Future of Construction

57:29 AI's Role in Accelerating Business Success

"HCSS fills the missing middle where plans become production."

That's how Usman described the $2.4B Nemetschek + HCSS deal on this week's Bricks & Bytes.

We sat down with Yves (CEO, Nemetschek Group) and Usman (Build Segment) to unpack the strategy behind one of the biggest construction tech deals of the year.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why Nemetschek structured this as a partnership with Thoma Bravo (28% rolled stake) instead of a clean buyout

✅ How HCSS slots in alongside Bluebeam, GoCanvas, SiteDocs and Nevaris

✅ The real prize — 40 years of proprietary heavy civil lifecycle data and what it means for vertical AI

✅ Usman's blunt advice to founders right now (hint: not "PowerPoint or vibe-coded apps")

🎧 Watch the full episode live on YouTube and Spotify!

#bricksandbytes #bricksbytes #bricksbucksandbytes #aec #construction #constructiontech #ai #vc

Two AI-backed private equity firms just confirmed the same thesis in the same week. They're not buying construction software. They're buying the firms that use it.

This week: I sit down with the team behind Zero RFI (General Catalyst-backed) and a partner at E3 Tech (the Andreessen Horowitz JV) to unpack the rollup playbook coming for owner's reps and trade contractors.

I cover the UK tier one that just put a humanoid robot on a live construction site for the price of a small van, and what the methodology behind that deployment actually teaches you.

Plus a recap of April and a look at what's coming next week, including our episode with the CEO of Nemetschek on the HCSS deal.

Three things you can action this week. No fluff.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Bricks & Bytes Supply Chain & Procurement Report - https://bricks-bytes.com/downloads/procurement-report/
2. Zacua Ventures Construction Robotics Report 2026 - https://zacuaventures.com/construction-robotics-report-2026/
3. AEC Magazine on agentic BIM data wall - https://aecmag.com/ai/agentic-bims-missing-infrastructure/https://aecmag.com/ai/agentic-bims-missing-infrastructure/
4. All3 / Mantis $25M raise - https://bricks-bytes.com/funding-ma/all3-25m-seed-construction-robotics/
5. NABTU + Microsoft AI training partnership - https://news.microsoft.com/source/2026/04/21/nabtu-and-microsoft-expand-nationwide-initiative-to-strengthen-ai-training-and-career-pathways-across-the-skilled-trades/
6. Daily Blueprint editions covered (27-30 April 2026) - https://bricks-bytes.com/daily-blueprint/
7. Our newsletter - https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/
8. LinkedIn post for this episode (for comments/engagement) - [link coming

"AI is about to create the biggest divide humanity has ever seen."

That's the warning Chinn, founder of dConstruct, dropped on Bricks & Bytes.

He sold his startup to Autodesk. Built Singapore's Smart Nation. Now he's putting AI robots on construction sites that see every flaw in millimetres.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why perfect site data is bankrupting construction projects

✅ The new AI currency that will split the industry in two

✅ Why 90% of construction robots are a lie

✅ The data move every construction leader has 10 years to make

Watch now on Spotify and YouTube 🎧

#aec #construction #constructiontech #bricksandbytes #bricksbytes #bricksbucksandbytes #ai #vc

Our Sponsors:

BreadCrumb- 50,000+ projects globally. All running safer, faster, with Breadcrumb. - breadcrumb.co

Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.co

Archdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:54 Quickfire Questions

04:51 Chinn's Career Journey

07:26 Sponsors

10:49 Insights from Working with Autodesk

13:52 Building Smart Nation Solutions in Singapore

16:51 Lessons from Government Work

19:53 The Role of Technology in Construction

22:57 dConstruct: Addressing Labor Shortages with Robotics

24:46 Challenges and Opportunities in Robotics for Construction

28:45 AI's Impact on Society and the Future

32:01 Final Thoughts and Future Directions

Nemetschek just dropped $2.4B on a software company nobody's heard of. 

This week on Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Patric and Martin dug into the biggest AEC deal of the year, plus two robotics founders changing how we build. 

Tune in to find out about: 

✅ Why HCSS is the smartest AEC acquisition of 2026

✅ Why Kawazu ditched construction for oil and gas

✅ Mesh Robotics on solving rebar, the ugliest problem in construction

✅ Martin Fisher's rule: 80% data, 20% AI 

#aec #construction #constructiontech #bricksbucksandbytes #bricksandbytes #ai #vc

Our Sponsors:

BreadCrumb- 50,000+ projects globally. All running safer, faster, with Breadcrumb. - breadcrumb.co

Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.co

Archdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com

Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:56 Celebrating Milestones and Future Aspirations

03:25 Insights from the Martin Fisher Event

06:33 The HCSS Acquisition by Nemetschek

12:09 Strategic Implications of Acquisitions in Construction Tech

30:04 The Genius of Brad Jacobs

30:40 Meditation and Success

31:49 Exploring AI Tools and Credits

35:44 The Future of Urban Mobility: Glideways

45:01 Innovations in Nuclear Power

50:14 Understanding Labor and Scaffold Costs

52:36 The Evolution of Robotics in Construction

54:29 Data-Driven Insights in Material Flow

56:44 The Role of Transparency in Construction

57:58 Scaling Robotics Solutions in Construction

1:01:09 The Intersection of Robotics and Rebar

1:05:31 Bridging the Gap from Lab to Market

1:11:46 The Future of Assembly in Robotics

Most of you are spending the wrong 80% of your AI budget right now. And the man who said it has been at Stanford for 40 years.

This week: we unpack Professor Martin Fischer's uncomfortable 80/20 reallocation and why building digital feedback loops has to come before the AI layer.

We sit down with Suffolk Construction's CTO Jit Kee Chin and Speckle founder Dimitri Stefanescu on what happens when the most data-mature general contractor in the US decides the next bet isn't another point solution.

We break down why Andreessen Horowitz — the firm behind Facebook, Airbnb and GitHub — has just publicly planted a flag in construction.

And we cover our third Fight Night, where TestFit's Clifton Harness and Join's Andrew Zukoski disagree on whether AI compresses or fragments the industry.

Three things you can action this week. No fluff.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Martin Fischer & Bricks & Bytes - COMING SOON
2. Suffolk Technologies' investment in Speckle - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcPDoOwU_pk&t=78s
3. Andreessen Horowitz's public construction thesis - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzaqa52ccng&t
4. Bricks & Bytes Fight Night 3 — Clifton Harness vs Andrew Zukoski (full episode) - COMING SOON
5. Bricks & Bytes Fight Night — Mike vs Luigi on AI estimating - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9eVyABO2AQ
6. Bricks & Bytes Fight Night — KP vs Dustin on the future of construction software - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If0jJnX7tZY
7. Tilbury Douglas becomes first UK contractor to deploy a humanoid on site - https://www.tilburydouglas.co.uk/tilbury-douglas-becomes-first-contractor-to-launch-a-humanoid-robot-on-construction-site/
8. Breadcrumb — digital safety, orientations and permits synced into Procore - https://breadcrumb.co
9. Our newsletter — Beehiiv subscription page - https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/
10. LinkedIn post for this episode (for comments/engagement) https://www.linkedin.com/posts/owen-drury_a-wild-week-at-bricks-bytes-highlights-ugcPost-7454535708599332864-N61m?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAABXSR7cBUIyREyKntJC_BA6bnfeuPWgNUtA