The Story Behind Joist: Building AI Tools for Construction Proposals

Is the future of architectural design in the cloud? 🤔 In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, Stan from Rayon talks about revolutionizing 2D drafting for architects and interior designers. He shares how cloud-based software is changing the game, making design tools more accessible and collaborative. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why 90% of buildings are still designed in 2D ✅ How cloud-based tools are disrupting traditional CAD software ✅ The power of product-led growth in design tech ✅ Why focusing on "fresh starters" is key to adoption Listen to the full episode on Spotify to learn how Rayon is shaping the future of architectural design software. ----- BuildVision is a procurement network for the $5T commercial construction market. We are transforming the commercial construction supply chain by bringing contractors, manufacturers, and project stakeholders onto a single software platform—revolutionizing how every component is sourced, purchased, and financed.  ----- Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:08 Stan's Journey from Architecture to Tech 13:28 Introducing Rayon: A New Tool for Architects 24:41 Targeting the Interior Design Market 30:53 Go-to-Market Strategy and Community Engagement 51:19 Fundraising Journey and VC Partnerships 01:00:58 The Future of Design and Technology

"Follow the money to grow, follow your passion to build. While US construction tech startups have raised $30B, India's $1B investment is yielding better returns." In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we did our November Monthly Review where we reflected on an action-packed month of content creation and exciting future plans. We even explored fascinating market dynamics, founder insights, and geographic opportunities in construction tech. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Our successful launch of the AI in Construction Report and first steps into monetization ✅ Highlights from our Boston trip interviewing startups at Suffolk's boost cohort ✅ Behind the scenes of the upcoming Ediphi super series releasing in January ✅ Plans for New York and San Francisco tour in 2025, plus a potential India expansion Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear Owen, Martin, and Patric discuss their key takeaways from November, upcoming content plans, and Patric’s take on why founders often over-obsess with product and under-obsess with distribution. ----------- Chapters 00:00 End of Year Reflections 03:01 Cultural Differences in Business Mindset 05:50 The Impact of Travel on Business 08:47 Exploring AI in Construction 12:11 The Role of Community in Innovation 14:55 Challenges in Design and Construction Software 17:52 The Disconnect Between Traditional and Startup Worlds 21:00 The Influence of Trust in Business Relationships 24:07 Venture Capitalists in Government 26:59 The Future of Governance and Innovation 32:48 Understanding Argentina's Political Landscape 35:09 The Importance of Product Distribution 40:40 Marketing Challenges in Construction Tech 43:47 Trends in AEC Technology 44:29 Talent Acquisition in the AEC Sector 46:03 Investment Trends in Construction Tech 50:34 Cultural Insights: Christmas Traditions 57:33 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

Note: This is a Re-Release of an episode that was originally released on BitBuilders. Are small nuclear reactors the key to solving our energy challenges? 🤔 In today's episode of BitBuilders, we had Michelle, VP of Strategy at Last Energy, sharing insights on micro modular nuclear power plants and their potential impact on clean energy. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why nuclear power is crucial for baseload energy and decarbonization ✅ How Last Energy is tackling cost and construction challenges ✅ The importance of modular design and standardization in nuclear projects ✅ Why Europe is a prime market for small nuclear reactors Curious to learn more about the future of nuclear energy and its role in construction? Listen to the full episode on Spotify! Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe 00:02:07 Introduction to Last Energy and Michelle's Background 00:08:07 Challenges in Nuclear Energy Deployment 00:14:11 Market Dynamics and Customer Demand 00:19:54 Regulatory Environment and Project Development 00:25:58 Supply Chain Considerations in Nuclear Energy 00:38:09 Regulatory Framework and Supply Chain Benefits 00:45:23 Safety and Lifecycle Management in Nuclear 00:55:32 The Role of National Laboratories in Nuclear Development 01:02:33 Talent and Skills Development in Nuclear Energy

"Microsoft's secret weapon in construction tech? It's not what you think." In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Ajoy Bhattacharya from Microsoft, and we got to learn about the tech giant's unexpected approach to innovation in construction, the power of digital identity on job sites, and why AI isn't just about generating content. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why Microsoft hired a construction industry veteran ✅ The surprising focus of Microsoft's construction tech strategy ✅ How a simple login solution boosted efficiency on job sites ✅ Microsoft's vision for AI in the AEC industry Listen now on Spotify to discover how Microsoft is quietly revolutionizing construction technology, one login at a time. ----- BuildVision is a procurement network for the $5T commercial construction market. We are transforming the commercial construction supply chain by bringing contractors, manufacturers, and project stakeholders onto a single software platform—revolutionizing how every component is sourced, purchased, and financed.  ---- Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe ---- Chapters: 00:00 Intro 04:12 Introduction to Ajoy Bhattacharya and Microsoft 07:21 Innovation in Construction: A Personal Journey 10:15 Defining Innovation in the Construction Industry 13:12 Transitioning from Suffolk to Microsoft 16:25 Leveraging Microsoft's Ecosystem for Construction 19:22 The Role of AI in Construction 22:20 Microsoft's Strategy in the AEC Industry 25:02 Case Studies: Efficiency through Technology 28:26 The Importance of User Adoption 31:18 Future Trends: AI and Voice Enablement 34:13 Microsoft Copilot: Enhancing Productivity 37:05 The Role of Startups in Construction Tech 40:11 Key Messages from Recent Talks 43:19 Closing Thoughts and Future Outlook

Note: This is a Re-Release of an episode that was originally released on Groundbreakers. Unicorn? Nearly. But who cares In today's episode of Groundbreakers from Bricks and Bytes, we had Jeevan from OpenSpace, and we got to learn about building a successful construction tech startup, the importance of product simplicity, and how to scale effectively in a complex industry. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why focusing on mid-market clients can be more valuable than chasing big names ✅ The power of a simple, user-friendly product in driving adoption ✅ How OpenSpace's technology is reducing insurance claims in construction ✅ The importance of demonstrating quick time-to-value for customers Listen to the full episode on Spotify to gain insights from one of construction tech's most innovative leaders. -------- Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe --------  #podcast #construction #constructionindustry #bricksandbytes #startups  #architecture #design #civilengineering #engineering #constructiontechnology #engineer #architect #civilengineer #concrete #podcaster #podcasting #entrepreneur #podcasts #podcastlife #startups #entrepreneurship 

"We're making contracting safe for our industry across the entire project lifecycle." - Josh Levy, Co-founder & CEO of Document Crunch In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Josh Levy & Trent Miskelly from Document Crunch. We learned about their journey in building a document intelligence platform for the construction industry, the five best practices for contract compliance, and how they're automating critical processes to reduce risk on construction projects. Tune in to find out about: ✅ How Document Crunch is solving the $13 trillion industry's contract compliance challenges ✅ The evolution from document intelligence to workflow automation in construction ✅ Why understanding contracts is crucial for preventing claims and project overruns ✅ How Document Crunch is pricing their services based on "jobs to be done" Listen to the full episode on Spotify to hear how Document Crunch is revolutionizing contract management in construction and helping companies achieve best practices across the project lifecycle. --------------- Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ -------------- Chapters 04:41 Introduction and Background of Document Crunch 11:26 What is Document Crunch and the Problem it Solves 17:59 Customer Onboarding and ROI of Document Crunch 21:52 Pricing Model of Document Crunch 32:50 Evolution of Document Crunch's Product and Features 37:16 Automating Compliance with Generative AI 45:17 Becoming the Category Leader in Compliance Automation 50:53 Continuous Improvement with AI Advancements 52:49 Customers Pulling More Product Out of Document Crunch

Note: This is a Re-Release of an episode that was originally released on BitBuilders. "We were embarrassed by our first product, and that's exactly how it should be." In today's episode of BitBuilders, we had Kevin Albert, co-founder and CEO of Canvas, and we got to learn about the challenges of bringing robotics to construction, the importance of focusing on customer pain points, and the journey from government grants to commercial success. Tune in to find out about: ✅ Why being embarrassed by your first product is a good sign ✅ The importance of reducing lead times in hardware development ✅ How to find and nurture customer champions for your product ✅ The value of data-driven insights in improving customer experience Listen now on Spotify to hear Kevin's insights on building a successful construction robotics company and the future of automation in the industry. --------------------- Sign up to the #1 Newsletter In Construction Tech. Join over 1,000 like-minded Founders, Investors and Techies disrupting the way we build. Forever : https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/subscribe ----------------------- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bricks-bytes/ X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bricksbytespod Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmNbunUTIIQDzbJgGJt9_Zg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bricksbytes/ #podcast #construction #constructionindustry #bricksandbytes #startups  #architecture #design #civilengineering #engineering #constructiontechnology #engineer #architect #civilengineer #concrete #podcaster #podcasting #entrepreneur #podcasts #podcastlife #startups #entrepreneurship

"We're not trying to replace expert opinion about what is a risk. We're trying to make sure you're aware of everything that could go wrong." In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Luigi and Brendan from Provision AI. We learned about their journey in creating a risk identification tool for construction projects, the challenges they faced, and how they're revolutionizing project risk management. Tune in to find out about: ✅ How Provision AI helps contractors identify and manage project risks ✅ The evolution of their product from initial concept to current iteration ✅ Their approach to achieving product-market fit in different segments ✅ The importance of partnerships in growing awareness and improving their product Listen now on Spotify to hear how Provision AI is changing the game in construction risk management!

"I had my first startup when I was five years old and I stole my parents' Polaroid camera and went to the local fair and sold people on Polaroids." In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Dr. Sarah Buchner, founder of Trunk Tools, and we got to learn about her journey from carpenter to tech entrepreneur, the challenges of unstructured data in construction, and how AI is revolutionizing the industry. Tune in to find out about: ✅ How Trunk Tools is building the "brain behind construction" ✅ The staggering amount of documentation in a typical construction project ✅ Why most construction tech fails to gain adoption ✅ How AI agents are automating bureaucratic tasks in construction Listen now on Spotify to hear Dr. Buchner's insights on the future of construction technology and how Trunk Tools is empowering builders to focus on what they do best.

Note: This is a Re-Release of an episode that was originally released on Bricks, Bucks & Bytes. In this episode, we had Moritz, co-founder of Enscape, and we got to learn about his journey from a university project to a game-ZZZ 3D rendering software... and many more! Tune in to find out about: ✅ How Enscape evolved from a VR treadmill idea to revolutionizing architectural visualization ✅ Why focusing on customer happiness trumps optimizing for investor metrics ✅ The power of community-driven marketing in the AEC industry ✅ The future of AI in rendering and its impact on existing tools Listen now on Spotify to hear Moritz's insights on building a successful startup, navigating acquisitions, and the future of design technology.