"We acquired a robotics company that nobody knows about and robot costs just crashed from $100,000 to $15,000."

In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Matt Daly, CMO of DroneDeploy, and we got to learn about the hidden robotics revolution happening in construction, why most startups are choosing the wrong funding path, and how AI agents with "a million eyeballs" are about to transform job sites... and many more!

Tune in to find out about:

✅ How ground robots went from $100K to $15K and why this changes everything

✅ Why 60% of DroneDeploy's new customers come from word of mouth

✅ The biggest mistake early-stage construction tech founders make with funding

✅ How multimodal AI models are replacing human-powered data analysis

Listen now on Spotify to discover why Matt believes "this is such a phenomenal time to be building products in reality capture" and what's coming this fall that will deliver answers, not just mountains of photos.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

03:24 Introduction and Overview of DroneDeploy

06:20 The Role of Robotics and AI in Construction

09:17 Merging for Market Consolidation

12:07 The Future of Reality Capture Solutions

15:19 Vision for Automated Data Capture

18:18 Challenges in Robotics and Automation

21:02 Cost Dynamics in Ground Robotics

24:10 The Impact of Major Tech Companies

27:02 Understanding Customer Personas

30:00 Visibility and Data Sharing Among Stakeholders

33:07 Customization of Solutions for Different Trades

35:56 Lessons Learned in Business Growth

40:01 Mastering Talent Acquisition

47:07 Navigating Capital Acquisition

53:59 Effective Resource Allocation

01:00:18 Marketing Strategies and Customer Acquisition

01:03:26 The Evolution of Reality Capture with AI

01:06:17 Pricing Models in Construction Software

"Hardware is hard" is the biggest lie in tech.

Yet VCs keep repeating it while holding their iPhones - literally a piece of hardware that made Apple one of the world's biggest companies.

In today's episode of Bricks & bytes, we had Nathan Kirchner and we got to learn about why the "hardware is hard" myth is killing innovation in construction, how to break through corporate inertia, and the real barriers startups face when selling to billion-dollar companies... and many more!

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why 7 out of 10 biggest companies are actually hardware-dependent

✅ How to escape "pilot purgatory" and get real corporate deals

✅ The psychology behind why big companies resist innovation

✅ Why bringing domain experts into your team beats perfect tech every time

Listen now on Spotify and discover how construction startups can actually win against corporate giants.

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:30 Introduction to Hardware Startups

05:30 Challenges in Building Hardware Startups

08:20 The Role of Hardware in Major Companies

11:19 Nathan's Journey into Hardware and Robotics

14:12 Innovations in Construction and Robotics

17:03 Engaging with Large Corporations

20:15 The Consultant vs. Innovator Mindset

23:07 Incremental Innovation vs. Grand Solutions

26:00 Cultural Differences Between Startups and Corporates

28:54 Bridging the Gap Between Startups and Corporates

36:56 Breaking Barriers in Compliance

41:40 Navigating Commercialization in Robotics

49:15 The Pilot Process: A Necessary Evil?

57:44 The Future of Robotics: Visible vs. Invisible

62:15 Insights from the Venture Capital Perspective

"AI can create decent poetry way before it can deal with engineering work."

This blew my mind during our conversation with Francesco Iorio, CEO of Augmenta.

The construction industry is facing a massive problem. The gap between what technology can do and how we actually build is bigger than almost any other field.

Francesco shared how his team is tackling electrical design automation - one of the most complex problems in construction. They're not just speeding up workflows. They're completely rethinking how buildings get designed.

In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Francesco and we got to learn about why electrical design is so complicated, how AI misconceptions are holding back the industry, and why automation is the only path to sustainable building design... and many more!

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why recreating software like Revit costs over 500 million dollars

✅ How labor shortage is driving construction tech innovation ✅ Why error-free design is still years away but getting closer

✅ How automation will change construction contracts and insurance

Listen now on Spotify and join the conversation about the future of construction technology.

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:45 Introduction to Generative Design in AEC

07:51 Francesco Iorio's Background and Journey

12:33 Identifying the Need for Augmentor

17:31 The Evolution of Augmentor's Focus

22:41 Challenges in Electrical Design

27:39 Augmentor's Current Capabilities and Future Goals

33:02 Addressing Labor Shortages in Electrical Design

35:23 Funding Journey and Investor Conviction

39:05 Sustainability and Automation in Design

41:49 Integration Challenges in AEC Solutions

45:18 The Quest for Error-Free Design

50:33 AI's Role in Generative Design

54:46 Customer Engagement and Sales Strategies

59:13 Demographics of Early Adopters

01:02:49 Future Expansion Beyond Electrical Design

"We can do a few thousand iterations a millisecond. That gives people, you know, no loading screens, right? I want to generate and then edit, right?"

That's how Jack from TestFit described their AI-powered generative design that's completely changing how buildings get planned.

In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Laura Paciano and Jack from TestFit and we got to learn about how they're collapsing two months of pursuit costs into a single day, why big tech giants keep failing in construction, and how one customer won $750,000 more business in their first year... and many more!

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why innovation is never asked for and how to educate markets on solutions they don't know they need

✅ How TestFit collapses the traditional 2-month feasibility process into one day with live collaboration

✅ Why architects are the hardest to convince but quickest to adopt new technology once they decide

✅ The biggest myth about selling tech to the construction industry and why domain expertise beats big tech money

Watch now on Youtube and discover how TestFit is changing the game for developers, architects, and GCs across the construction industry.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:00 Introduction and Backgrounds

05:05 Understanding TestFit's Current Operations

08:06 Product Typologies and Market Focus

10:48 Category Creation and Market Education

14:00 Overcoming Resistance to Change

15:58 Real Estate Execution Plan Explained

18:47 Pricing Models and Value Proposition

21:58 Feasibility Studies and Zoning Considerations

25:51 Evaluating New Markets for Expansion

27:58 Go-to-Market Strategies and Pods

31:56 Key Performance Indicators for Pods

34:51 Navigating KPIs and Roadmaps

37:41 The Role of AI in TestFit

40:57 Building with Empathy: The Builder Mentality

41:32 Understanding Go-to-Market Strategies

44:42 Engaging with Municipalities and Permitting Challenges

50:46 Innovating the Real Estate Workflow

58:41 Debating BIM and the Future of Construction Tech

01:02:38 Myths in Selling and Building Tech for AEC

Every construction startup gets acquired for less than $100 million.

That's what Yves Frinault was told when he pitched Fieldwire back in 2013. They called it the "$100 million curse" that killed every construction tech company.

But Yves had a different plan.

In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Yves Frinault and we got to learn about how military training shaped his leadership style, why gaming experience was crucial for building construction software, and the near-death moment that almost killed Fieldwire... and many more!

Tune in to find out about:

✅ How paratrooper training taught him fairness in leadership

✅ Why he went from half salary to a successful Series A in months

✅ The product lessons he learned from video game design

✅ How Fieldwire broke the $100M curse with their Hilti acquisition

Listen now on Spotify and discover how one founder changed construction tech forever.

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:30 From Military to Tech: A Unique Journey

04:23 Lessons from Gaming: Insights for Construction Tech

07:24 The Birth of FieldWire: Inspiration and Initial Steps

13:24 Navigating Growth: Key Milestones and Customer Insights

19:04 Marketing Strategies: The Power of Ads and Product-Led Growth

25:13 Scaling Up: Targeting Different Customer Segments

30:56 Enterprise vs. SMB: Understanding Market Dynamics

40:35 Balancing Customization and Scalability

41:59 Testing Frameworks and Product Development

46:35 The Hilti Acquisition Journey

51:55 Cultural Integration Post-Acquisition

57:10 Negotiating Acquisition Deals

01:01:33 Pricing Strategies in Construction Tech

01:04:20 Go-to-Market Strategies in Construction Tech

01:07:20 The State of Exits in Construction Tech

01:10:19 Key Decisions that Shape Success

01:13:15 Future Aspirations and New Ventures

"We're building about 30 times more square footage this year than we did last year."

That's what Vikas Enti told me. And he's not talking about some massive construction company.

He's talking about a startup that's completely reimagining how homes get built.

In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Vikas Enti, CEO of Reframe Systems and former Amazon Robotics VP, and we got to learn about how he's applying mass customization principles from e-commerce to solve the housing crisis, why every home built today is essentially a prototype, and how his team can fix construction mistakes in 9 minutes while the industry takes weeks... and many more!

Vikas spent 11 years at Amazon Robotics deploying over half a million robots. Now he's using that same software-defined manufacturing approach to build climate-resilient homes faster and cheaper than traditional construction.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why the assembly line approach is killing modular construction

✅ How they're solving the skilled trades shortage with iPad instructions

✅ The real reason construction costs $350-450 per square foot in infill markets

✅ Why 40% of plumbers and electricians will retire in the next 10 years

Listen now on Spotify and discover how one team is turning construction into a software problem.

Chapters

03:00 Introduction and Recent Developments

06:03 Expansion into California and Fire Resilience

08:45 Vikas Enti's Background and Transition to Construction

12:11 The Need for Mass Customization in Construction

15:01 Software-Defined Manufacturing and Automation

17:55 Design Automation and User Interaction

20:55 Challenges in Hardware and Automation

24:08 The Future of Construction and Change Management

35:41 Navigating Change Management in Construction

37:30 The Shift to Developer-Centric Models

39:11 Embracing a Beginner's Mindset for Innovation

41:50 Scaling Microfactories and Business Models

44:48 Delivering Turnkey Solutions: The Role of Microfactories

48:31 Unit Economics and Competitive Positioning

52:24 Balancing Profitability and Affordability

54:29 Understanding Competition in the Construction Industry

59:32 The Information Problem in Construction

From clearing landmines to building the "Google Maps of what's beneath the ground" - sometimes the most unexpected backgrounds create the biggest breakthroughs.

Most people can't imagine that we don't actually know where underground utilities are buried. Yet there are 169,000 construction projects happening every single day in the US that need this critical information.

In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Itzik from 4M Analytics and we got to learn about turning military explosive detection expertise into construction tech, the tragic consequences when underground mapping fails, and how AI is revolutionizing subsurface data... and many more!

Tune in to find out about:

✅ How military landmine detection skills translate to finding buried utilities

✅ Why 8% of every construction budget goes to unknown underground risks

✅ The business model that maps once but sells the same data forever

✅ From 104 employees to mapping 22 US states in one year

Ready to discover how one founder is preventing construction disasters while building a unicorn? Listen now on Spotify.

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:00 From Military to Mapping: The Journey Begins

04:56 Building the Google Maps of the Subsurface

08:07 Navigating the Challenges of Investment

10:49 Understanding the Utility Coordination Landscape

13:57 The Pain Points in Construction and Excavation

17:01 The Value Proposition of 4M Analytics

19:56 The Role of Technology in Mapping Subsurface Utilities

23:13 AI and Its Impact on Data Accuracy

25:48 The Importance of Timing in Tech Solutions

28:56 Innovations in Data Collection and AI Integration

41:01 The Future of Construction and AI

42:17 Expansion and Focus on the US Market

45:36 Navigating Challenges and Learning from Mistakes

51:41 Adapting Go-to-Market Strategies

57:01 Achieving Product-Market Fit

01:02:21 The Role of a CEO in a Growing Company

01:10:14 Closing Thoughts and Future Initiatives

"Hiring young, cheap marketers is actually more expensive than hiring experienced ones."

That's just one of the eye-opening insights from Phil Carpenter, a fractional CMO who specializes in AEC tech startups.

In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, we had Phil Carpenter and we got to learn about why most AEC startups fail at marketing, the hidden costs of inexperienced hires, and how to actually reach construction professionals... and many more!

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why AEC customers are more skeptical than other industries and what they really want to see

✅ The "crossing the chasm" strategy that determines startup success or failure

✅ Why LinkedIn marketing doesn't work for most construction professionals

✅ How to build a cost-effective marketing team without breaking the bank

Phil's 30 years of experience in tech marketing reveals some uncomfortable truths about how startups waste money on the wrong strategies.

Ready to learn from his wins and failures? Listen to the full episode on Spotify now.

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:00 Introduction to Phil Carpenter

03:59 The AEC Industry and Marketing Needs

06:01 Crossing the Chasm in Technology Marketing

08:01 Identifying Target Segments

10:53 Customer Research and Validation

13:05 Content Marketing Strategies

15:10 The Role of Content Creators in Marketing

16:56 SEO and AI in Marketing

18:56 Testing Marketing Channels

21:52 Public Relations in AEC Marketing

24:58 Budgeting for Startups

36:13 Measuring Marketing Performance

39:59 Finding the Right Marketing Strategy

41:53 The Experimenter's Mindset in Marketing

42:56 Creative Marketing Stunts

44:14 The Importance of Customer Case Studies

47:08 Building the Right Marketing Tech Stack

49:59 Scaling Marketing Strategies as Startups Grow

53:18 Aligning Marketing and Sales for Success

55:24 Consultative Approach to Startup Marketing

59:58 Learning from Marketing Campaigns

01:03:13 The Fast Follower Strategy

01:05:07 Emerging Trends in AEC Technology Marketing