Practical Nerds

By Patric Hellermann

The latest in venture and technology in the real world, from construction-tech to design-tech. Two early-stage investors shooting the breeze about startups, founders and venture funding. We talk about... more

· Technology

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FAQs about Practical Nerds:

How many episodes does Practical Nerds have?

The podcast currently has 69 episodes available.

Practical Nerds episodes:

August 05, 2023009⎢Profitability in Constru-Tech⎢Unfortunate fundraising mistakes⎢What buy-side M&A professionals hate in Constru-Tech acquisition processes
This week:
Why profitability matters (again) in Con-Tech specifically (aka old-school venture)

Unfortunate fundraising mistakes Con-Tech founders can commit currently

Buy-side M&A: Preliminary findings of a bunch of interviews what acquirers hate about the construction-tech M&A process (good insights for founders)
...more
42min
July 29, 2023008⎢InsurTech x Constru-Tech⎢AI for Africa⎢How India influences the African venture ecosystem⎢with Yvonne Bajela, Partner @ Localglobe
This week with Yvonne Bajela @ Localglobe:
What is the tech in Insur-Techs, and how does it apply to Construction-Tech

The African venture ecosystem

When artificial intelligence (AI) is going to have an impact in Africa, and what venture models capture value in Africa before AI

How venture in emerging economies can learn from each other, specifically why the African venture ecosystem resembles India so closely
...more
46min
July 15, 2023007⎢The truck driver shortage opportunity⎢Freight rates⎢Bricklaying robotics and what can be learnt from it for construction robotics
This week:
Truck driver shortage in Europe and US, and what opportunity the nerds would love to back with a great founder team

Freight rates dropped 80-85% since peak 2022, and what it means for logistics and ops-heavy founder teams in construction and the built world

Bricklaying, shortage of skilled blue-collar bricklayers, and how robotics is about to solve it in Europe and some US markets

Why construction (and ConTech) is NOT a cyclical asset class, while PropTech actually is cyclical

Secondary-buying strategies of some top-tier multi-stage funds, and why it signals that we're at the bottom of the venture market correction
...more
59min
July 08, 2023006⎢Surety bonds in construction (and especially India)⎢Cross-border manufacturing⎢Pay-to-play
In this episode Patric and Shub chat completely unprepared about:
Why are surety bonds insurtech's a thing for construction in APAC

What is the cross-border manufacturing space and what makes it such a great fit for construction

What is happening in recapitalization of startups, and what do the nerds think of pay-to-play among investors

Why founders might want to fact-check a lot of random claims (solo) VC's make on social media
...more
1h 11min
July 01, 2023005⎢Nuqlea is pioneering a new procurement model⎢Club vs. marketplace⎢with Gaston Remy, Co-founder @ Nuqlea
This week, Gaston Remy joins Patric and Shub to chat about nothing at all:
what makes Nuqlea a first-of-its-kind procurement model ?

why is Nuqlea more a "club" than a marketplace ?

how does it work to have every construction stakeholder - from producers, wholesalers, financiers and contractors - be part of a procurement platform ?

what is the unfair advantage in Nuqlea's team ?

and of course, how was it in Argentina when they became World Champions in Qatar 2022 ?
...more
58min
June 27, 2023004⎢Vertical search for building materials⎢Cross-border materials sourcing between USA and Latin America⎢USA Constru-Tech vs. Europe⎢with Adam Zobler, General Partner @ Foundamental
This week, Adam Zobler visits Patric and Shub to speak about nothing at all in US Construction-Tech:
is vertical search for building materials in the US a thing ?

what about cross-border sourcing for construction between US and LatAm ?

is it fair to say US economy is more innovative than Europe ?

and of course what about generative-AI for construction ?
...more
44min
June 17, 2023003⎢The cool thing about heat pumps⎢Software for heat pump installers⎢The thermal renovation market⎢with Martin Collignon, Founder @ Lun.Energy
This week, Patric and Shub speak about nothing at all when it comes to heat pumps for Europe, and climate-tech:
what's the latest on the European heat pump craze ?

what are heat pumps anyway, how do they work ?

why software will free up a lot of installer capacity and skilled-labor hours, and make the installer life easier ?

why thermal renovation of building stock is skyrocketing, and regulation is accelerating it towards 2050 ?

how to make money with climate-tech ?
...more
1h 2min
June 03, 2023002 ⎢Snaptrude⎢Why architects make great founders⎢The revolution in BIM and CAD software⎢with Altaf Ganihar, Founder @ Snaptrude
As always, Patric and Shub speak about nothing - this week about nothing in BIM and design for architects and construction:
what does Snaptrude's BIM and CAD software do differently ?

do architects make great product people and founders ?

should ConstructionTech founders stay away from "best-of" lists and "market maps" created by VCs and pundits ?

which tech are the nerds looking forward to in architectural design in the next 5-10 years ?

what was the craziest thing the nerds saw last week ?
...more
48min
May 27, 2023001⎢Practical Nerds: The Pilot Show
As always, Patric and Shub speak about nothing at all in the venture built world:
will AI make vertical software obsolete ?

is funding for Construction-Tech ventures finally thawing ?

are venture market maps nonsense or even dangerous for founders ?

what was the craziest business they saw last week ?
...more
46min

FAQs about Practical Nerds:

How many episodes does Practical Nerds have?

The podcast currently has 69 episodes available.