"Owners want buildings, not software."

That one line from Andrew Zukoski (CEO, JOIN) reframes the entire AEC tech market.

In B&B Fight Night 3, Andrew goes head to head with Clifton Harness (CEO, TestFit) on AI, architects, venture capital, and what the next five years look like.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why only 3 AEC companies have IPO'd in 15 years and what that means for founders raising VC

✅ Whether builders or architects come out on top in an AI-driven AEC industry

✅ The real test for separating AEC AI products from rappers

✅ Why the next big AEC IPO might be a services firm, not a SaaS company

Watch now on YouTube and Spotify!

#bricksandbytes #bricksbytes #bricksbucksandbytes #aec #construction #constructiontech #ai #vc

Our Sponsors:

BreadCrumb- 50,000+ projects globally. All running safer, faster, with Breadcrumb. - breadcrumb.co

Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.co

Archdesk - “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.com

Chapters

00:00 Teaser

00:58 Introduction to the AEC Octagon and Fight Night

02:42 Debating AI: Industry-Specific vs. Foundational Models

05:13 Evaluating AI Tools for Architecture and Construction

08:23 The Future Role of Architects in the AEC Industry

11:27 Architects as Civic Arbiters of the Built Environment

14:15 The Impact of AI on Construction and Design

16:33 Sponsors

19:34 The Evolution of Architect Roles and Responsibilities

22:01 The Future of Architecture in an AI-Driven World

34:30 Evaluating Code Quality and Architectural Efficiency

35:33 The Role of Venture Capital in Business Growth

39:10 Navigating the Risks of Venture Funding

43:30 AI's Impact on the AEC Industry

48:42 Bootstrapping vs. Venture Funding: A Personal Perspective

50:27 Predictions for the Future of Construction

57:29 AI's Role in Accelerating Business Success

"HCSS fills the missing middle where plans become production."

That's how Usman described the $2.4B Nemetschek + HCSS deal on this week's Bricks & Bytes.

We sat down with Yves (CEO, Nemetschek Group) and Usman (Build Segment) to unpack the strategy behind one of the biggest construction tech deals of the year.

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why Nemetschek structured this as a partnership with Thoma Bravo (28% rolled stake) instead of a clean buyout

✅ How HCSS slots in alongside Bluebeam, GoCanvas, SiteDocs and Nevaris

✅ The real prize — 40 years of proprietary heavy civil lifecycle data and what it means for vertical AI

✅ Usman's blunt advice to founders right now (hint: not "PowerPoint or vibe-coded apps")

🎧 Watch the full episode live on YouTube and Spotify!

#bricksandbytes #bricksbytes #bricksbucksandbytes #aec #construction #constructiontech #ai #vc

Two AI-backed private equity firms just confirmed the same thesis in the same week. They're not buying construction software. They're buying the firms that use it.

This week: I sit down with the team behind Zero RFI (General Catalyst-backed) and a partner at E3 Tech (the Andreessen Horowitz JV) to unpack the rollup playbook coming for owner's reps and trade contractors.

I cover the UK tier one that just put a humanoid robot on a live construction site for the price of a small van, and what the methodology behind that deployment actually teaches you.

Plus a recap of April and a look at what's coming next week, including our episode with the CEO of Nemetschek on the HCSS deal.

Three things you can action this week. No fluff.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Bricks & Bytes Supply Chain & Procurement Report - https://bricks-bytes.com/downloads/procurement-report/
2. Zacua Ventures Construction Robotics Report 2026 - https://zacuaventures.com/construction-robotics-report-2026/
3. AEC Magazine on agentic BIM data wall - https://aecmag.com/ai/agentic-bims-missing-infrastructure/https://aecmag.com/ai/agentic-bims-missing-infrastructure/
4. All3 / Mantis $25M raise - https://bricks-bytes.com/funding-ma/all3-25m-seed-construction-robotics/
5. NABTU + Microsoft AI training partnership - https://news.microsoft.com/source/2026/04/21/nabtu-and-microsoft-expand-nationwide-initiative-to-strengthen-ai-training-and-career-pathways-across-the-skilled-trades/
6. Daily Blueprint editions covered (27-30 April 2026) - https://bricks-bytes.com/daily-blueprint/
7. Our newsletter - https://bricks-bytes.beehiiv.com/
8. LinkedIn post for this episode (for comments/engagement) - [link coming