"I Liquidated My Entire Savings to Make Payroll" - Startup Survival Stories - Thiago & Clifton

Procore just wrote a 9-figure check. Autodesk just cut 1,300 people. And someone called the best salespeople "the laziest."In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Dustin, and Patric sit down with Mike Powers, Kevin Halter, and Anton Glance to dissect the most chaotic week in construction tech. A founder just landed his second major exit. A website launched with zero mention of "AI." And a former Autodesk exec didn't hold back on who's winning the platform war.We get into:The real reason Procore acquired DataGrid — and why they won't make another bet like this for yearsAutodesk's layoffs and the "buy, build, buy" cycle that keeps repeatingKevin Halter's unfiltered take on Procore vs AutodeskWhy Mike removed every mention of "AI" from BuildVision's websiteThe warning sign AI startups need to hear right nowAnton's vision for BuildDroid — the robot simulation platform backed by Tim DraperKey quote:"Autodesk historically has been buy buy buy. Okay, we bought a bunch. Now we're going to build, build, build. And then they realized we're not good at building. So then we go buy buy buy." — Dustin DevanWatch the full episode on Youtube and Spotify. Link in the comments!Our Sponsor:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:06 Industry Shifts and Acquisitions 03:53 Procore's Strategic Moves 07:06 Autodesk Layoffs and Market Reactions 09:54 Sales Strategies and Organizational Changes 12:50 AI's Impact on Construction Tech 15:51 Website Innovations in Construction Tech 18:53 Future of Startups in AEC Tech 21:56 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events 32:58 Introduction to Build Word AI 34:40 Customer Engagement and Project Execution 37:44 Monetization Strategies and Business Model 39:26 Founding Story and Team Dynamics 41:14 Timing and Market Readiness 43:46 Global Expansion and Market Validation 45:21 Investment Insights and Fundraising Journey 47:26 Industry Trends and Future Outlook 49:51 Sales Strategies and Market Dynamics

"The first time a customer said 'yeah, I just blue beamed it' - that was a moment."When your product becomes a verb, you know you've built something legendary.In today's episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, we had Don Jacob, Co-founder of Bluebeam, and we got to learn about the wild 24-year journey from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab to building one of the most iconic products in construction tech... and the future of AI-powered collaboration that's coming next.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why Don left the premier space agency in the world to "sell dog food online" (and how that decision led to Bluebeam)✅ The secret sauce behind Bluebeam's legendary status: "When the phone rang, we picked up" - accessibility over everything✅ How bootstrap funding became their competitive advantage and forced the discipline that built the company DNA✅ Why we're living through the 1999 internet moment all over again with AI - and how Bluebeam Max is positioning for itBonus: the story of how a random bar encounter in Boston made this whole interview happen (thanks Tanya from Nemetschek!)Don's been at this for 24 years and the energy hasn't dimmed. If anything, he's more fired up about what's ahead than ever before.Listen now on Spotify and Youtube 🎧 Link in the comments!Our Sponsor:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro01:40 Introduction and Serendipitous Connections 03:50 The Legacy of Bluebeam and Its Founding 11:09 From NASA to Bluebeam: A Journey Through Innovation 17:27 Democratizing Design Data: The Birth of Bluebeam 26:13 The Evolution of Bluebeam: From PDF to Collaboration 33:06 Simplicity in Software: The Key to Bluebeam's Success 36:41 The Core DNA of Bluebeam 38:32 Evolution of Bluebeam's Product Offerings 41:28 Collaboration and the Introduction of Studio 43:20 Acquisition by Nemechek: A Strategic Move 45:58 Lessons Learned from Building Great Products 50:09 Leadership and Team Dynamics 55:15 The Unbound Event and Future Innovations 56:32 Integrating AI into Bluebeam's Offerings

What happened to carbon accounting? (Spoiler: Nobody cares anymore)In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, Dustin, and Patric dive into the rise and fall of carbon accounting in construction, why Autodesk's big bet didn't pan out, and what it reveals about the gap between tech hype and real-world adoption.In this episode:The carbon accounting boom that went bust—and why the U.S. construction industry never really caredPatric's hilarious "Frankenstein scale" metaphor that perfectly captures the absurdity of pre-construction carbon trackingCIV Robotics founder Tom Yeshurun on why they killed their drone product and how they're now doing 5,000+ layout points per dayThe construction tech IPO everyone's watching (and what it means for the industry)BREAKING: PlanGrid founders Tracy Young and Ralph Gootee just got acquired again—Lennar Homes buys their new company Tiger EyeKey quote: "When I was at Autodesk, they were very big on carbon accounting and everything would be front and center of every project by now... At least in the U.S., they don't really care about it. It's just the fact." — Dustin DevanPlus: Why construction roles are "booming" (or are they?), what AI agent is helping build the next Siri, and an invite to Ediphi's Agent-a-thon in San Francisco on January 23rd.Our Sponsor: Archdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioAphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coChapters00:00 Intro00:53 Introduction to Carbon Accounting 03:36 Understanding Carbon Accounting and Its Importance 05:46 Challenges in Carbon Accounting for Construction 10:38 Investigative Insights on Carbon Credits 20:05 The Acquisition of Plan A by Diginex 26:19 Incentives and Exit Strategies 27:05 Apple's AI Strategy: A Cautious Approach 29:07 The Value of Waiting in Tech Development 31:05 The Role of Employee Retention in Tech Companies 36:58 OpenAI and Competitive Reactions 43:41 EquipmentShare's IPO and Business Model Insights 53:18 Understanding Financial Metrics for Tech Companies 54:40 The Challenges of Financial Forecasting 58:26 Innovations in Construction: Civ Robotics' Approach 01:08:01 Future Directions and Exit Strategies for Startups

"I checked the cash balance and the number came out negative. I had to call my wife and say we might need to liquidate our entire 401k to make payroll."In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Thiago Da Costa from DataGrid and Clifton Harness from TestFit and we got to learn about the raw truth of building construction tech startups - from pivoting at $1M ARR to nearly missing payroll.These founders didn't hold back. They shared the moments that almost broke them and the decisions that saved their companies.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why Thiago pivoted his entire company after raising a Series A (and how he told his board)✅ The morning Clifton woke up and realized he couldn't make payroll✅ Why most construction tech companies plateau at $3-5M ARR and never break through✅ How to know when you've actually found product-market fit versus when you're chasing a ghostWatch now to hear the full conversation about what it really takes to build in construction tech.Our SponsorAphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Introduction to Startup Journeys 05:47 Navigating the Pre-Seed Stage 12:47 The Importance of Pre-Sales and Pivoting 17:39 Understanding Product Market Fit 23:22 Defining Product Market Fit in Construction Tech 31:14 Facing Startup Challenges and Scary Moments 33:25 Navigating Financial Challenges 37:07 The Importance of Family in Business 39:00 Facing Fear of Failure and Pivots 40:32 Balancing Hype and Substance in Business 48:47 Endurance in Entrepreneurship 54:53 Optimizing for People in Startups

"It's compounding and becoming more of a crisis."That's how Susan Brattberg described the digital skills gap facing our industry right now.And honestly? She's not wrong.In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we sat down with Susan Brattberg, co-founder and Chief Customer Officer at Global eTraining, and what started as a conversation about an epic rooftop party at Autodesk University (300 people, live band, line dancing - yeah, these guys know how to do marketing) turned into a deep dive on something way more important.We talked about why training isn't just a nice-to-have anymore... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ Why the digital skills gap is now the #1 priority for CIOs across ALL industries globally✅ How technology is changing faster than ever - and why the old "train every couple years" approach is dead✅ The real ROI companies are seeing when their teams actually know how to use their tools (hint: projects run way smoother)✅ How AI is flipping the edu-tech space upside down - and why most companies have already dropped out of this nicheSusan's been doing this for 17 years (her company's campus history goes back even longer), and she's seen the evolution firsthand. From physical campuses to on-demand training to AI-powered rapid content development.If you're wondering why your projects feel chaotic or why new software rollouts never stick... this episode might have some answers.Watch the full episode out on Spotify and Youtube.AU Videos mentioned in the episode: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/global-etraining_au2025-au-autodeskuniversity-activity-7374516713171664896-yoyb?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAAJfYIoBfEM4rfr-mO14vIEG1k9e5LzxSeQhttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/global-etraining_au2025-autodeskuniversity-au-activity-7374516639838638081-fCS8?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAAJfYIoBfEM4rfr-mO14vIEG1k9e5LzxSeQOur Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro03:55 Introduction to the Journey 06:57 The Impact of Digital Skills Gap 09:50 Transitioning to Online Training 13:01 The Evolution of Training Methods 15:49 The Shift from Physical to Digital 18:50 Understanding Training Needs 21:44 Overcoming Initial Challenges 24:46 Current Trends in Training 27:45 The Role of AI in Training 30:45 Growth and Future Directions 35:00 Shifts in Business Post-COVID 37:45 Managing Growth and Team Dynamics 41:52 Sales Strategies and Customer Engagement 44:45 The Power of Branding and Events 52:32 Balancing Family and Business 54:22 The Competitive Landscape of E-Learning 56:31 Future Trends in E-Learning and AI

"Integration with Procore? Everyone warned us they'd copy our product. We did it anyway - and it became our best go-to-market decision."In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Or Lakritz, founder of StructShare (now Trimble Materials), and we got to learn about how a 21-person startup navigated acquisition conversations with multiple players, the critical importance of transparency during M&A, why integrating with Procore in 2021 was one of their best decisions... and many more!Tune in to find out about:✅ Why Trimble chose to buy instead of build - and how StructShare filled a strategic procurement gap✅ The real differences between being acquired by a platform giant vs. private equity (spoiler: it's all about narrative)✅ How Or managed team culture and morale through the acquisition process with full transparency✅ Why distribution matters more than product in construction tech - and what AI might change about thatThis one's packed with honest insights from someone who actually lived through it. Worth the listen.Our Sponsor:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters0:00 Intro4:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guests 4:59 The Acquisition Story of Structure 9:17 Navigating the Acquisition Process 16:18 Cultural Integration Post-Acquisition 18:15 Lessons Learned from Building Structure 31:46 The Evolution of the Procurement Space 33:04 The Evolution of Construction Tech 35:58 AI's Impact on Procurement Processes 39:20 Building the Future of Procurement 42:24 Navigating Go-to-Market Strategies 44:36 Acquisition Insights and Market Dynamics 57:35 Integrating with Industry Giants 1:01:02 Personal Growth and Impact in Business

The UFC arrives in AEC. And we’re live from the AEC Octagon.In the very first episode of our brand-new Bricks & Bytes Debates series, we are trading PR statements for sparring gloves. We’re putting two industry heavyweights head-to-head to battle out one of the hottest topics in construction: Has AI actually solved estimating?In this no-holds-barred contester series, our contenders took the gloves off to represent the extreme Bull and Bear cases for Artificial Intelligence:• In the Red Corner: Mike "Mighty" Powers (Co-Founder, BuildVision), arguing that LLMs have solved the extraction problem and the industry needs to embrace the "Waymo" era of automation.• In the Blue Corner: Luigi "The Stinger" La Corte (Co-Founder, Provision), arguing that estimating is more than just counting symbols - and that without 100% accuracy, AI is still just a student driver.Moderated by the referee of reason, Patric "Praying For Exits" Hellermann, this debate moves through three grueling rounds: - Round 1: The Tech. Can LLMs actually count and measure complex drawings, or are they just guessing? - Round 2: The Accuracy Gap. Is 80% accuracy "good enough" to change the industry, or is "trust but verify" just a nice way of saying "do it yourself"? - Round 3: The Liability. In a world of design-bid-build, who takes the fall when the AI misses a scope gap? Tune in to uncover:• The "Waymo" Strategy: Why waiting for perfect AI is a mistake, and how to leverage the "self-driving" mindset to reduce takeoff times by 90% today.• The Hidden Liability Loophole: Why architects and engineers could solve the estimating crisis instantly by sharing models—and the legal reason they never will.• Symbols vs. Language: Learn the fundamental technical limitation preventing LLMs from reading 2D drawings like a human, and when we can expect "Visual Language Models" to catch up.• The Subcontractor’s Dilemma: Why "Design Intent" matters more than counting linear feet, and why subs might actually be wasting time on granular takeoffs.• A "Bribe" for Better Data: One listener’s hilarious (but practical) suggestion for how to finally get the Revit model from the design team.Who will deliver the knockout punch? Tune in to decide for yourself.Chapters 00:00 Intro01:48 Introduction to Bricks and Bytes Debates 04:07 Opening Statements and Context Setting 06:51 Technical Feasibility of AI in Estimating 09:57 Practical Applications and Limitations of AI 12:59 Customer Expectations and Accuracy in AI Solutions 15:57 The Role of Human Oversight in AI Estimation 18:43 Future of AI in Construction Estimation 38:23 Navigating the Self-Driving Debate 41:19 The Evolution of AI in Estimating 43:32 Trust and Liability in Construction 46:13 The Role of Liability in AI Adoption 49:22 The Future of Estimators in AI 53:34 Rebuttals and Admissions: A Critical Discussion 59:39 The Current State of AI in Estimating

"I got employee of the year in 2016 for introducing Excel as a project management tool for the construction department in my company."That's the state of technology in the $300 billion store development industry.In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we sat down with Genevieve Davis and Alim Uderbekov from Surfaice. These two met on a beach in California (yes, really) and decided to tackle one of the most analog industries out there with AI agents.Here's what we covered:✅ Why companies building hundreds of stores aren't using Procore (hint: it's expensive and they're retailers, not developers)✅ The "McDonald's is a race car" analogy - why 40,000 cookie-cutter restaurants are actually the perfect use case for AI in construction✅ How code is becoming a commodity and why that changes everything about vertical software✅ Why AI won't take your job, but people who know how to use it willLink in comments - give it a listen if you're in retail, store development, or just want to hear how two people turned a beach conversation into a company.Our Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro03:46 Introduction to Surface and Founders' Backgrounds 06:48 The Vision Behind Surface and AI in Construction 09:41 The Meeting of Minds: Genevieve and Alim's Collaboration 12:45 Current Challenges in Store Development 15:30 AI's Role in Automating Construction Processes 18:32 Efficiency Gains and Time Savings with AI 21:44 The Future of Store Development and Human Touchpoints 24:30 Defensibility and Business Model of Surface 27:25 Funding and Future Plans for Surface 39:13 Investment Insights and Strategic Partnerships 41:31 Customer Engagement and Feedback 44:33 AI in Construction: Transforming Workflows 47:14 Navigating the Go-To-Market Strategy 54:20 Understanding Competition in the AI Space 59:25 Customization and Onboarding Process 01:03:07 Future of AI in Construction

"If we just listened to what our customers wanted, we would have had a faster horse."Everyone knows the Henry Ford quote, but Lee Mullin actually showed us what it means for construction tech.In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we sat down with Lee from BuildArc. He spent 18 years at Autodesk, and honestly, the conversation completely changed how we think about talking about products.Here's what stuck with us: we're all making ourselves the hero of the story. We love talking about our amazing AI tools, our productivity gains, our revolutionary features. But Lee said something that hit different - your customer needs to be Luke Skywalker. You're just Yoda, guiding them along.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why taking people from "9 to 20" beats incremental improvements from "9 to 10"✅ The framework Lee used to convince construction crews that iPads weren't "voodoo"✅ How to tell stories that actually connect (hint: it's about project managers lying awake at night, not your feature list)✅ Why the best customer stories need tension and conflict (even though corporate hates that)The reality is, there's so much noise in AEC tech right now. If you can't tell a story that makes people feel understood, you're just another vendor promising productivity.Watch the full episode now. Link in the comments!Our SponsorsAphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro03:48 The Importance of Storytelling in Business 13:32 Navigating the AEC Technology Landscape 21:44 Crafting Compelling Presentations 27:22 Building a Storytelling Framework 31:13 Transforming Customer Stories into Success 37:28 The Human Element in AI 42:11 Understanding Personas in Storytelling 44:26 Frameworks for Effective Storytelling 53:01 Building Conflict and Tension in Stories

"You can drop 30% of your project management labor right now."In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Darren Martin from AInvested and we got to learn about the harsh realities of digital transformation in AEC, how private equity firms value tech-enabled companies, and why most innovation initiatives fail to scale... and many more!Darren left his role as Chief Digital Officer at Atkins Realis to advise PE firms and help construction tech startups break through growth barriers. His perspective from both sides of the table reveals uncomfortable truths about how the industry approaches technology.Tune in to find out about:✅ Why most companies are "digitally dabbling" instead of transforming✅ How PE firms assess digital transformation value in billion-dollar acquisitions✅ The specific labor reductions possible with current AI tools (hint: it's 30% in project management)✅ Why small AEC firms can now compete with market leaders in ways that weren't possible beforeWatch now to hear how the game is changing for construction companies willing to move beyond pilot projects.Also, have a look at this article to know more: https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/aecom-jacobs-downgraded-uncertainty-over-180008836.htmlOur Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro03:30 Introduction and Background 08:13 Transitioning to Private Equity and Startups 13:35 The Role of Private Equity in AEC Companies 18:22 Digital Transformation and Value Creation 23:20 Market Trends and Company Sizes 28:20 Leveraging Technology for Business Value 33:07 Digital Accelerators and Human-Centric Approaches 35:22 Optimizing Construction Processes for Efficiency 37:51 Tying Technology to Corporate Success 41:42 Proving Value at the Project Level 43:55 The Balance of Show and Tell in Sales 49:09 Purposeful Change in the Construction Industry