Bricks, Buck$ And Bytes
Industry leaders Patric Hellermann, Dustin Devan, Martin Piekarz & Owen Drury sit down each week to explore tech, news, and trends within the AEC sector. Each week we debate the macro economic issues within the industry and how they those working and building within AEC. Hot takes only.
Episodes
A $100,000+ Christmas party, strip clubs as corporate bonding, and a secret betting ring—this is how construction tech really celebrates.
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, hosts Owen, Martin, and Dustin close out 2025 with Santa hats, sick days, and the unfiltered truth about the AEC industry's wildest traditions.
In this festive year-end special, you'll hear about:
The two-week closed beta of their AEC predict...
Can You Really Bid a Construction Project in Minutes? One Founder Says Yes, a Contractor Says It's "Completely Inaccurate"
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Martin, Patric, and Dustin tear into the latest construction tech funding news, Oracle's jaw-dropping earnings, and set up what might be the most heated debate in AEC tech this year.
What's covered:
Bobyard's $35M Series A for AI-powered t...
Is the $390M AECOM-Consigli Deal Actually Worth It? (And Why Everyone Has an Opinion)
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, and Dustin dive into the construction tech industry's hottest acquisition while unpacking what it means for the future of AEC software.
Key topics discussed:
The AECOM acquisition of Norwegian AI startup Consigli for $390M and whether the valuation is justified
Engineering consultanci...
27% of contractors are using PERSONAL MONEY to keep their businesses alive—and it's worse than you think.
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Dustin, and Martin break down the biggest shakeups in construction tech, from the PlanGrid founders' surprise return to AI, to the shocking payment crisis threatening to sink contractors across the industry.
We’re joined by Will Mitchell from Rabbet, David from NxLite, a...
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, Patrick, and Dustin break down what happens when a fully remote startup brings everyone together IRL—plus two major construction tech deals that have everyone talking.
Dustin opens up about Ediphi's first all-hands offsite (spoiler: his team didn't win the escape room), before the crew dives into the chaos of government shutdowns and what they actually mean for cons...
nPlan Raises £11.9M Series B, AI Agents Lack Evals Crisis, WhatsApp Dominates 90% Site Communication
"Most AI Agents Will Die" - Why This CTO Is Terrified About What's Coming
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, hosts Owen Drury, Martin, and Patric Hellermann sit down with some of construction tech's boldest builders who aren't holding back. Fresh off massive funding rounds and hard-won lessons, they reveal what's really happening behind the hype.
What we cover:
- nPlan's £11.9M Series ...
Last week at Groundbreak, Procore launched Helix AI Agents claiming to make startups like Trunk Tools and Datagrid "obsolete overnight."
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, Dustin, and Patric dives into one of the most controversial questions in startup investing: Should founders ask VCs for business ideas?
In this episode:
Why asking investors for startup ideas means you're already losing
The ...
Buildots acquired workforce tracking company Genda – combining progress monitoring with real-time worker data in a way their competitors can't match.
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, Patric, and Dustin dig into the week's biggest stories in construction tech, from strategic acquisitions to what actually happened at Groundbreak.
Key topics discussed:
Why Buildots bought Genda and how tracking workforce al...
Is Saudi Arabia's $500B Dream Dead? Plus: The $5.4B Robotics Deal That Changes Everything
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, and Patric dive into the biggest construction and tech stories shaking up the industry right now.
What we cover:
NEOM's collapse - Why Saudi Arabia is pulling the plug on "The Line" and what it means for construction startups in the region (spoiler: 21,000 workers d...
"You give me money, and I tell you, 'I'm going to circle back in 18 months and let you know what I did with your money.' That's what a safe note is."
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Martin, Mike Powers, Dustin DeVan, and Patric Hellermann dive into the messy reality of construction tech funding, government policy shakeups, and the AI hype that's burning through millions.
Key topics discusse...
This female founder just broke a construction tech record that no one saw coming
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Dustin, Maria, Kevin, and Stjepan dive deep into the biggest moves shaking up construction tech right now.
Key topics discussed:
- Maria Davidson's historic $94M fundraise - the most ever raised by a female founder in construction tech
- Why mixing venture capital with strategic partnerships is the se...
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen reports live from Autodesk University in Nashville while Martin shares insights from ETH Zurich's startup conference and Patrick breaks down why popular AI bubble theories are dead wrong.
Key Topics Discussed:
Why European universities systematically crush entrepreneurial thinking
The truth behind construction tech's massive funding rounds (80-120M per quarter)
How to spot real mar...
Oracle's CEO Just Made $100 Billion in One Hour While Your Government Wastes Millions on AI That Doesn't Work
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Dustin, and Martin dive deep into the wild world of tech promises, government failures, and what's really happening behind the scenes in construction technology.
Key Topics:
Oracle's shocking $300 billion OpenAI deal and Larry Ellison's instant $100 bi...
Microsoft just bet $10M on construction AI - but industry insiders think it's a massive mistake.
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Patrick, and Dustin dive into the biggest tech moves shaking up construction while welcoming guests from two hot startups that just raised millions.
Key topics discussed:
Microsoft's massive $10M AI bet with Balfour Beatty - and why some think it's overpriced
Bluebeam acqui...
Why these ex-Waymo engineers decided to conquer construction with their new startup, Bedrock Robotics.
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen and Patrick dive deep into the robotics revolution hitting construction with two industry-changing guests.
Mo joins as co-host, bringing his Silicon Valley robotics expertise to unpack the biggest funding rounds and breakthroughs happening right now.
Key topics discussed:
- Why Dusty...
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, Dustin, and Patric dive deep into the biggest misconceptions shaking up construction and venture capital. Plus, we're joined by Victor Muchiri from Barton Malow (a $5 billion general contractor) who reveals what tech actually works in the field.
What we cover:
Why Dubai developers are bringing $19 billion worth of construction in-house (and whether this trend will hit th...
What happens when AI hype, billion-dollar bets, and the cold reality of hardware vs. software collide — plus, how to dominate LinkedIn without sounding like everyone else?
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes Owen, Martin, Patric, and Dustin are joined by LinkedIn strategist Derek Wong to unpack:
Which AI giant will actually have the best model by the end of August — and why public betting markets might be getting it wron...
Construction companies are posting "impossible" growth numbers while tech giants can't spend their billions. What's really happening?
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Dustin, and Patric dive deep into the shocking stories reshaping the construction industry, plus a special guest appearance from construction tech veteran Dex who just raised $3 million to solve the industry's biggest crisis.
Wha...
OpenAI is paying construction engineers $555K – but there's a catch that nobody's talking about.
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen, Martin, and Dustin expose the shocking reality behind AI salaries in construction, debunk viral industry charts, and reveal why your favorite building materials might be making a comeback.
What we cover:
Why OpenAI is paying engineers 5x more than top architecture firms
The tru...
Construction companies are claiming they're "software companies" now - but this dangerous trend could destroy the industry.
In this episode of Bricks, Bucks & Bytes, Owen and Patric dive deep with Alan Mosca (CTO of nPlan) about the AI revolution that's both exciting and terrifying the construction world. Plus, we hear from Todd Thomas of Woodchuck AI about turning construction waste into profit, and Forest fro...
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