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 acquires Firmus AI in a surprising exit story
Autodesk's crushing $1.7B earnings that made investors very happy
Why Figma's stock crashed despite good earnings
OneCrew raises $7.5M to modernize paving contractors
BuildFactory's $3.3M raise for prefab marketplace (plus an epic stealth mode fail)
OpenAI's ironic $400K job posting for a content strategist
"Those are amazing companies, but both those pieces of software need to be shot behind the tool shed. Like they are so old." - Dustin DeVan on legacy construction software
From billion-dollar acquisitions to startup war stories, this episode reveals what's really happening behind the scenes in construction tech - including how one founder got exposed by a LinkedIn web scraper and why some think Microsoft is charging contractors way too much for basic AI tools.
Our Sponsor:
Archdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com
BuildVision - streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.io
4M Analytics - Instant, reliable utility data you can trust and verify - https://www.4manalytics.com/
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:26 Introduction and Martin's Travels
03:11 Microsoft's Investment in AI for Construction
15:48 Acquisition of Firmus AI by Bluebeam
23:50 Autodesk's Latest Earnings Report
29:22 Earnings Insights and Market Reactions
32:20 Autodesk's Strategic Shifts and Growth Potential
34:24 Figma's Earnings and Market Positioning
37:11 Figma's AI Initiatives and Future Directions
51:05 OneCrew's Innovative Approach to Paving Software
01:01:00 AI in Construction: The Future of Scheduling and Management
01:04:37 Navigating the Challenges of Selling to Government Agencies
01:05:42 Britton Langdon's Journey: From Stealth to Startup
01:07:40 The Prefabrication Marketplace: Bridging Supply and Demand
01:14:22 Quality Control in Prefabrication: Ensuring Standards
01:20:12 Defining Prefab: Strategies for Cost and Efficiency
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