A venture capitalist walks into a bar.

"I'll have what everyone else is having."

Patrick told that joke about his own profession on this week's Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, and it set up the sharpest exchange of the episode: venture stopped backing hard problems and started buying momentum.

We're joined by Alain Waha, CTO of Buro Happold, and Richard Fifita, CEO of Veyor, fresh off a $7.5M Series A, alongside Dustin DeVan.

What we get into:

→ Autodesk's $3.6 billion all cash acquisition of MaintainX, and why Dustin, who watched this strategy take shape from inside Autodesk, says it all leads back to the digital twin

→ "Knowledge arbitrage": Alain's framework for what stays defensible when knowledge becomes computable

→ Why construction robotics needs systems integrators more than it needs humanoids

→ How Veyor went from backed up concrete trucks to managing deliveries at JFK, SFO and major data center projects

Full episode is live now on YouTube and Spotify.

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

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:30 Introduction and Technical Challenges

03:21 Live Streaming and Event Experiences

06:13 Autodesk's Acquisition of MaintainX

11:50 Data Ownership and Predictability in Construction

16:23 Knowledge Arbitrage in Engineering and Robotics

20:00 Exploring Knowledge Arbitrage in Robotics

22:06 The Role of Systems Integration in Construction Robotics

22:54 Challenges in Robotics for Construction Trades

24:16 Collaborative Robots: The Future of Construction

25:59 The Disconnect Between Innovation and AI in Construction

27:30 Testing Software vs. Materials in Construction

27:45 The Reluctance to Experiment in Construction Tech

29:52 Capital Efficiency and Technology Adoption in Construction

32:49 The Venture Capital Landscape and Its Challenges

36:33 The Future of Venture Capital in Technology

44:46 Innovative Event Planning in Construction Technology

47:26 Branding and Customer Perception in Construction

48:11 Disruption in Construction: Insights from Automotive Industry

51:09 Bouygues' Innovation Lab: A New Era for Construction

51:53 Introducing Richard: Veyor's Journey and Innovations

56:59 Streamlining Material Management in Construction

01:01:58 Challenges in Construction Scheduling and Delivery

01:05:36 The Aussie Tech Scene in Austin, Texas