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