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 construction.
Then things get spicy with the OpenAI x Turner deal that's got LinkedIn in a frenzy, and Jeevan from OpenSpace and Oli from Disperse join to talk about their recently announced acquisition.
Topics covered:
Why company offsites are worth every penny for remote teams
The real cost of government shutdowns on construction projects
Turner's $30M OpenAI deal and what it means for GCs
Inside the OpenSpace + Disperse acquisition
The uncomfortable truth about startup valuations and M&A
"You're not worth that much money when you raise at 30 million or 50 million. You're not truly worth that. It's buying a future." - Dustin DeVan
Plus: Owen debuts the new Bricks & Bytes merch, Dustin reveals his founder health transformation (no Ozempic involved), and the team debates whether construction tech is ripe for consolidation.
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
Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.co
Chapters
00:00 Intro
01:43 Introduction to Company Offsites
07:46 The Importance of Company Offsites
11:42 Government Shutdown in the U.S.
21:00 Turner Construction's Deal with OpenAI
24:20 Exploring OpenAI's Impact on Construction
27:18 The Challenges of Implementing AI in Estimation
29:53 Creative Commercial Deals and Revenue Sharing
31:19 The Role of AI in Streamlining Workflows
34:38 Standardizing Processes for Effective AI Integration
38:58 The Future of Legal Services in the Age of AI
42:21 The Human Element in Legal and Engineering Services
49:34 The Acquisition Journey: From Partnership to Integration
53:03 Leadership Changes and Strategic Growth
57:09 Product Roadmap and Customer Experience
1:00:05 Navigating Competition in Construction Tech
1:01:55 Future of Acquisitions in Construction Tech