"Insulation has a 3-4x better ROI than heat pumps and 10x better than solar systems. Most people get this wrong when retrofitting their homes."

In today's episode of the podcast, we had Chris from VARM, who shared his journey of building a VC-backed installation business aimed at becoming the European champion in the space.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ How VARM is building a "cloud installer network" - a franchise model on steroids

✅ Why Chris pivoted from longevity e-commerce to climate tech after successfully exiting his first business

✅ The surprising fundraising reality: "VCs and markets and investments are very often done based on FOMO"

✅ Their ambitious mission to insulate 1 million houses over 10 years

Listen to the full episode on Spotify to learn how VARM is revolutionizing the insulation industry with their innovative business model and scaling strategy.

"The future of building design is on the cloud. File-based design systems are becoming obsolete."

In today's episode of the Future of Design Series from the Bricks and Bytes podcast, we had Altaf from Snaptrude who shared fascinating insights about the evolution of design software in architecture and construction.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why cloud-based design tools are 10x faster than traditional file-based systems

✅ How data connectivity is transforming early-stage design workflows

✅ Why architects are wasting billable hours on rework and value engineering

✅ The coming inflection point for cloud-based design tools (predicted mid-to-late next year)

Altaf also revealed they're working on AI copilots that will revolutionize how architects make design decisions based on sustainability data. Don't miss this conversation about the tools that will shape our built environment.

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Download the Future of Design report here : https://bricks-bytes.com/downloads/

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00:00 Intro05:38 Introduction and Personal Updates08:42 The Future of Design and Construction11:45 SnapTrude: A Modern Approach to Design14:35 Collaboration and Interoperability in AEC17:32 Transitioning from Concept to Detailed Design20:38 Data Management and User Experience23:35 The Role of AI in Design Software26:46 Building Foundations for Future Growth29:47 Iterative Development and Customer Feedback32:44 Emerging Design Tools Landscape35:19 SnapTrude's Growth Strategy36:56 Focus on the US Market38:31 Investor Insights and Funding Journey40:41 Advice for Innovators in Design Tech42:37 Future of Design: Cloud and AI Integration45:23 Architects and New Tools Adoption48:36 Inflection Point for Cloud Adoption49:28 ROI and Productivity in Architecture51:18 Sustainability in Design54:06 Communication and Efficiency in Design

"We make money when our customers make money"

In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we had Mike Powers and Ben Lyddane from BuildVision who shared their journey of raising a $10M Series A led by Norwest Ventures.

Their platform helps contractors procure mechanical and electrical equipment more efficiently, saving 20-30% on costs while creating new revenue streams for general contractors.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ How BuildVision grew from processing $700M to over $1B in equipment transactions

✅ Their three-tiered pricing model that aligns with customer success

✅ How AI costs for processing documents dropped from thousands to just $1.40 monthly

✅ Why focusing on critical path items like chillers and generators (not commodity products) creates maximum value

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:05:35 Introduction and Series A Announcement

00:08:25 Build Vision Overview and Product Development

00:11:40 AI Integration in Procurement Solutions

00:14:41 Revenue Models and Customer Success

00:17:29 Growth and Future Projections

00:20:43 Challenges in the Construction Industry

00:23:35 Funding and Investor Relations

00:26:40 Technological Challenges and Solutions

00:29:28 Market Position and Competition

00:40:07 Navigating Risk in Construction

00:43:35 Building Strategic Partnerships

00:46:29 Outcomes Over Products

00:49:35 Challenges in the Buy-Sell Dynamic

00:51:25 Impact of Tariffs on Construction

00:55:30 Future of International Operations

00:56:25 The State of Construction Tech

01:06:21 Voice-Enabled Workflows and Future Prospects

01:08:41 Acquisition Strategies and Market Positioning