"$65 billion worth of rework happened in the United States last year in construction. The expectation in the market is that construction projects run over budgets and timelines."

In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Twin Knowledge, an AI-powered platform that raised $3.7M to help construction and real estate stakeholders QA/QC building drawings before they hit the field.

We discovered how the company is tackling the massive $65B rework problem by creating AI assistants that help query unstructured data across different silos.

Also, we learned about the power of "white glove" implementation approaches in construction tech from JP Bowgen of Camber Creek.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why developers feel the most pain from drawing errors

✅ How Twin Knowledge can help teams do "4-5X the work with half the team"

✅ Why founder expertise matters more than ever in the AI boom

✅ The importance of catching errors upstream before they become costly rework

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Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe

-------------

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Twin Knowledge and AI in Construction

02:53 Understanding the Accuracy and Utility of AI in Building Drawings

06:14 The Impact of Rework in Construction and the Role of Twin Knowledge

08:47 Evaluating the Value of Twin Knowledge in Construction Projects

11:57 The Leadership Behind Twin Knowledge and Its Market Position

14:56 The White Glove Approach in Technology Implementation

17:57 The Future of Twin Knowledge and AI in Construction

28:10 The Vision Behind Twin Knowledge

30:01 Funding and Future Plans

32:02 Competitive Landscape and Unique Positioning

33:55 Understanding Cost Savings and Value Proposition

36:09 Rework Challenges in Construction

38:58 Incentives and Business Dynamics

43:59 Final Thoughts on AI and Future Prospects

"Germany's fiscal U-turn might be the drop that makes Europe's bucket overflow."

In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Camber Creek's unique investment approach with JP Bowgen - they raise funds from 300+ real estate companies to drive value for founders they back.

We discussed Germany's recent "fiscal bazooka" - a massive €500 billion infrastructure fund alongside unlimited military spending, potentially kickstarting a new era of European optimism.

Also, we learned about how building materials companies in Germany jumped 20% in share prices following this announcement, creating a flywheel effect for construction tech.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why JP predicts we'll see the first German construction tech unicorn in 4 years

✅ How infrastructure investment creates opportunities for material innovation

✅ The potential shift in global economic power dynamics

✅ Why successful US startups are increasingly looking to expand into Europe

Listen to the full conversation on Spotify.

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Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe

---------

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Camber Creek and JP Bowgen

06:09 Germany's Fiscal U-Turn and Historical Context

11:53 Implications of Germany's Infrastructure and Defense Spending

17:58 The Impact on Construction Tech and Startups

24:01 Future Prospects for Investment in Germany

28:59 Exploring On-Site Robotics and Supply Chain Solutions

31:12 The Importance of Energy Efficiency in Europe

33:28 Infrastructure Investment and Its Impact on Housing

36:32 The Future of Venture Capital in Europe

40:34 The Shift of Founders from the US to Europe

44:11 Economic Implications of US Isolationism

49:57 Cultural and Economic Power Dynamics

"In Europe, you need your buildings to consume less energy because we don't have a lot of prime energy." - Patric on why Reneo's business model works beyond regulations.

In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn about Reneo's massive €600M funding round (with €45M in equity) to transform energy-inefficient buildings into greener assets

We also explored Nodes and Links $12M Series B funding for their AI-powered scheduling management platform that enhances project delivery across construction and other industries

Plus, we gained valuable insight into how successful construction tech companies approach scheduling through three distinct models: full automation, analytics/visibility, and collaboration-focused solutions.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ How Reneo creates structural cost advantages through radical standardization

✅ Why co-CEOs can work well with the right dynamic, especially during adversity

✅ The critical difference between having a schedule versus the act of scheduling

✅ Why one investor got excited seeing Salil Deshpande (Uncorrelated) backing Nodes and Links

Listen to the full episode on Spotify to learn how these construction tech innovators are reshaping the industry.

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Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context

01:10 Overview of Reneo and Its Business Model

05:54 Reneo's Unique Approach to Real Estate Investment

11:49 Investment Rationale and Market Dynamics

17:52 Challenges and Opportunities in the Real Estate Sector

24:05 Conclusion and Future Outlook

25:40 Exploring Nodes and Links in Scheduling Technology

30:01 Models of Scheduling: Automation, Visibility, and Collaboration

36:02 The Future of Scheduling Software: Differentiation and Optimization

39:59 Investment Insights: Evaluating Funding and Market Dynamics

Building my own house made me realize how broken construction supply chains are - Saudi BRKZ founder's story sounds familiar?

In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we explored how Saudi BRKZ secured $17M Series A funding for their construction materials marketplace, bringing their total raise to $22.5M in just two years.

We discussed how emerging markets like Saudi Arabia present unique opportunities for construction tech marketplaces that wouldn't work in Western markets, due to their concentrated demand and fragmented supply.

We also got fascinating insights from Patric on why having 1,100 suppliers might not be the most efficient strategy for a construction materials marketplace, and why the "cloud manufacturer" model could be more effective.

Tune in to learn about:

✅ Why Saudi Arabia's construction tech scene is heating up

✅ The difference between managed marketplaces and cloud manufacturers

✅ How venture debt can be smartly used in profitable marketplace models

✅ Why expanding to 40 cities quickly might raise questions for investors

Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear our deep dive into construction tech marketplaces and emerging market opportunities.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Insights

01:55 Exploring Construction Tech Opportunities

05:01 Understanding Bricks and Its Business Model

09:56 Supply Chain Dynamics in Emerging Markets

15:08 Funding Strategies and Market Expansion

20:06 Debt Financing and Working Capital Management

23:51 The Role of Debt in Business Growth

24:18 Evaluating Investment Metrics

25:10 Understanding Unit Economics

26:31 Investment Opportunities in Saudi Arabia

28:11 Optimism in the Construction Industry

29:39 Navigating Customer Relationships in Startups

30:00 The Challenge of Custom Solutions

35:34 The Importance of Long-Term Relationships

36:18 Technology Integration in Construction

39:02 The Future of Construction Technology

----------------

Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe

---------------

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg

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—----------------------------------------------------------

 #podcast #construction #constructionindustry #bricksandbytes #startups  #architecture #design #civilengineering #engineering #constructiontechnology #engineer #architect #civilengineer #concrete #podcaster #podcasting #entrepreneur #podcasts #podcastlife #startups #entrepreneurship 

From calling suppliers to schedule deliveries to manually typing data into Excel - this German startup secures €12.5M to fix construction's paper problem.

In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we had Henric Meinhardt from comstruct walk us through how they're digitizing the material delivery and invoice reconciliation process between suppliers and contractors.

We got to learn about how they're using AI to process unstructured data from thousands of suppliers, replacing manual data entry with automated workflows.

And interestingly, we heard an investor's perspective on why focusing on financial processes can be the best entry point into construction companies, starting with the CFO rather than on-site teams.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ How comstruct automates invoice matching and material tracking

✅ Why large language models are making traditional EDI interfaces obsolete

✅ Their unique go-to-market strategy targeting CFOs first

✅ How they convinced World Cup winner Mario Götze to invest

Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear how comstruct is building the infrastructure for construction's digital future.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Constrakt and Funding Success

03:06 The Evolution of Construction Processes

06:07 Agentic AI and Its Impact on Construction

09:01 Future of Invoicing in Construction

12:11 Optimizing Procurement Processes

15:08 Supplier Engagement and Automation

17:48 Competition and Market Landscape

20:59 ESG Considerations in Construction

24:07 International Expansion and Future Plans

24:37 Technical Difficulties and Humor

25:09 Go-to-Market Strategy Insights

28:57 Understanding Customer Needs and ROI

29:59 Investment and Growth Plans

31:44 Navigating the Construction Tech Landscape

32:38 Pre-Construction Processes and Challenges

36:54 Prioritization in Business Strategy

39:14 Engaging Investors in Unique Niches

In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we learn about the story of an AEC start-up that raised $25M from a prestigious investor only to shut up shop shortly after announcing their round.

We got insights into late-stage funding challenges in construction tech, with a seasoned investor highlighting why businesses struggle to raise Series B rounds when earlier rounds were overvalued.

Also, we learned why Europe might offer better returns for construction tech investors than the US, despite the US potentially delivering bigger individual outcomes.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why listening to non-VC entrepreneurs is crucial for sustainable growth

✅ The mechanics of construction tech startup valuations across funding rounds

✅ How to navigate down rounds and recapitalization

✅ Why European construction tech startups have a 4-5x cost advantage

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Light Banter

01:49 Challenges in Construction Tech Funding

04:27 Strategies for Raising Capital

09:20 Profitability vs. Growth in Construction Tech

12:56 Late Stage Funding Trends

15:24 Avoiding Overvaluation in Funding Rounds

17:28 Valuation Mechanics in Funding Rounds

21:16 Equity Dynamics in Down Rounds

23:06 Anecdotes from the Industry

25:42 Reflections on Construction Tech Investing

29:25 Comparative Analysis: Europe vs. US in Construction Tech

33:00 Future of Point Solutions in Construction Tech

"300 billion dollars for AI infrastructure in the next few years - but who will design and build it all?" - A thought-provoking insight from our latest conversation about the massive construction needs for AI's future.

In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we learned about Stratus raising $32M Series B to revolutionize MEP contractors' digital workflows.

We explored how tech giants Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are planning to spend $300B on AI infrastructure construction, creating massive opportunities in the data center space.

Through Patric Hellermann's investor lens, we discovered why focusing on core infrastructure and authoring tools might be smarter than chasing AI-first solutions.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ How Stratus is transforming MEP contractor workflows from design to fabrication

✅ The emerging opportunities in data center construction and infrastructure

✅ Why owning authoring tools beats single-point AI features

✅ The strategic advantage of avoiding overcrowded AI-first solutions

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Stratus and AI in Construction

05:44 Understanding Stratus: MEP Workflows and Digital Solutions

11:21 The Role of AI in Design and Construction

17:00 The Future of Engineering: Human Touch vs. AI

24:01 Emerging Companies and Innovations in Construction Tech

24:35 Automation in Engineering Workflows

25:50 Massive Investments in AI Infrastructure

27:52 Emerging Startups in AI Data Centers

31:40 The Role of AI in Construction

35:00 Navigating the AI Gold Rush

37:33 The Inefficiency of Venture Capital Allocation

"20 years of experience or 1 year repeated 20 times?" - This profound question from Scott Wolfe (Levelset) captures why some founders achieve extraordinary success while others stay stagnant.

In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we explored how compound experience and non-linear career paths shape successful founders in construction tech.

Tune in to learn about: 

✅ How Scott Wolfe's diverse background (software, retail, law) led to Levelset's success

✅ Why non-linear experiences often lead to breakthrough innovations

✅ The truth about choosing the right capital structure for your business

✅ Why your customer should be your best source of capital

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Context Setting

01:08 Scott Wolf's Impactful Insights

02:15 The Concept of Compound Experience

04:17 Nonlinear vs. Linear Experiences

10:38 The Importance of Curiosity

12:20 Applying Compounded Knowledge

16:33 The Role of Blogging in Business Growth

25:50 Choosing the Right Capitalization Method

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Is 3D printing concrete homes worth the $450M investment?

In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we got to learn that despite being a $2B company, ICON's 3D printed homes only show a tiny 0.5% carbon advantage over regular timber construction.

We also explored why Q4 2024 was special for construction tech - it grabbed nearly 1% of all VC funding, the second-highest share ever. Even more impressive given that 2024 saw the lowest overall VC funding since 2014.

The most striking insight came from questioning the basics - why use concrete, a material best for large-scale projects, to print single-family homes?

Tune in to find out about:

✅ What's driving Asia-Pacific's growing lead in construction tech funding

✅ Why 3D printed concrete homes struggle in wet climates

✅ Which parts of construction tech are actually getting funded

✅ How early-stage funding stayed strong while growth rounds dropped

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Technical Glitches

01:03 Recent News: ICON's Layoffs and Valuation

02:49 Exploring 3D Concrete Printing Technology

05:49 Sustainability Concerns in Concrete Printing

08:59 Comparative Analysis: Concrete vs. Timber Homes

12:04 Challenges in 3D Concrete Printing

14:56 Automation and Efficiency in Home Construction

18:09 Future of 3D Concrete Printing Technology

21:54 Challenges in 3D Concrete Printing

22:56 Market Fit for 3D Concrete Homes

24:04 Impact of Staff Reductions on Valuation

25:47 Understanding Company Valuations and Experiments

27:07 Applications of 3D Printing in Housing

29:02 First Principles of Cost in Construction

30:58 Trends in AEC Tech Funding

39:10 Market Dynamics and Future Predictions

"Your margin is my opportunity... unless you're selling outcomes in construction tech!"

In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks and Bytes, we explored 1KOMMA5°'s impressive €150M pre-IPO round and their unique approach of acquiring 30+ companies since 2021 to scale their energy tech business.

We also learned about an intriguing debate around whether companies can call themselves "market leaders" in Germany, sparked by a court case between 1KOMMA5° and their competitor.

The most fascinating insight came from Patric's take on fixed vs. variable costs in construction tech: Companies that produce with fixed costs but sell outcomes (variable costs) have a unique opportunity to build generational businesses in construction - but this window might only last 10 years.

Tune in to learn about:

✅ Why 1KOMMA5°'s founder Philip Schröder's marketing genius is their secret sauce

✅ How selling outcomes beats traditional SaaS pricing in construction

✅ Why converting variable costs to fixed costs through automation is game-changing

✅ An innovative structural engineering firm reducing design time by 90%

Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe

-----

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:56 Diving into One Comma Five

06:01 Understanding the Solar PV Market

11:59 Investment Insights and Market Valuation

18:03 The Role of Technology in Energy Solutions

24:02 Marketing Strategies and Competitive Landscape

30:12 Future Challenges and Business Models

31:07 The Evolution of Energy Training

32:29 Understanding Fixed vs. Variable Costs

37:38 The Impact of SaaS on Construction

43:34 Exploring IPOs and Market Trends

49:45 Emerging Trends in Construction Technology Sales