ANNOUNCEMENT
New Podcast Formats

Wow. There has been a lot going on at Bricks & Bytes recently. And to add more to the mix, last week we released episode 001 of Groundbreakers.

More on this later.

But the re-structuring is in full flow. This is all part of our plan to better segment our content based on our audience’s interests.

With Bricks & Bytes, we found the breadth of content to be too large.

We struggled to produce consistently good content that appealed to our audience's vast array of personas.

So with that, Bricks & Bytes currently consists of the following podcast formats:

• Bricks & Bytes - A broad construction tech podcast 

• Bricks, Bucks & Bytes - Funding, Market and Investor News

• BitBuilders - Robotics In Construction and Space

• Groundbreakers - The Construction Tech Operators and Founders Podcast

And next week, we release series 01 of our Super Series format.

This is a paid-only form of content that goes DEEP (with a capital D) into the truly generational companies building in the AEC space.

What better way than to kick it off, with in our opinion (and we have spoke to many) the top investor in the space. Foundamental.

Watch the trailer here:

Groundbreakers - The Founders & Operators Podcast

As we’ve built Bricks & Bytes over the years we’ve grown an interesting network of people. And as the brand grows, as does the quality of expert we get access to.

With this, we thought dedicating a podcast to a highly curated list of Founders and Operators in AEC technology was the right way to go. 

The aim with Groundbreakers is to provide a stage for the very top Founders and Operators. 

How do we find and curate these people?

• Our expert network

• Introductions and recommendations from other top Founders and Operators

• Undisputed previous success

So watch this space; you will not be disappointed with the lineup.

September’s episodes:

• 002 - Dev Amratia - nPlan - 12th September

• 003 - Dustin DeVan - Ediphi - 26th September

Follow Groundbreakers here.

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
The Outsider Redesigning Architecture

Altaf’s story began with a seemingly routine project: reconstructing a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 3D. 

As Altaf collaborated with architects, he was struck by a startling realization. "Most of their tools or software stacks were built in the late 90s, maybe early 2000s," he recalls. "There's a lot of silos and inefficiencies in the entire process of executing a design."

This epiphany set Altaf on a path that would challenge his career aspirations and push him to the limits of his capabilities. As a hobby, he developed a plugin for SketchUp, a popular 3D modeling software. 

To his surprise, people started buying it. Suddenly, Altaf found himself at a crossroads: pursue his PhD dreams or dive into the world of entrepreneurship?

The decision wasn't made lightly. 

For a year and a half, Altaf wrestled with the choice, continuing to work on plugins and observing the market response. The turning point came from an unexpected source – rejection from Stanford's PhD program. This setback forced Altaf to reevaluate his path, leading to the birth of Snaptrude, a cloud-based platform aimed at revolutionizing architectural design.

But bringing innovation to an industry steeped in tradition proved to be a Herculean task. 

Altaf and his team ventured into uncharted territory, facing technical challenges that would have deterred many others. "Cloud is even harder," Altaf explains, "especially with the web browser as a client, because not a lot of fundamentals are available."

The team had to build everything from scratch, including the geometry kernel – the heart of CAD software. It was a monumental undertaking that required not just technical skill but also a clear vision of what the future of architectural design could look like.

As Snaptrude began to gain traction, Altaf faced another challenge: securing funding. 

His persistence in the face of rejection became legendary. Shubh, an early investor, recalls saying no to Altaf multiple times before finally investing. This tenacity in the face of adversity showcased Altaf's unwavering belief in his vision and his ability to turn setbacks into opportunities for growth.

Throughout the journey, Altaf's vision remained clear: to create a modern design tool as collaborative as Google Docs, but with the complexity needed for detailed construction design. This vision shaped Snaptrude's development, focusing on interoperability and adding value to existing workflows rather than trying to replace them entirely.

Altaf's approach to building his team reflected his innovative spirit. He sought out individuals with entrepreneurial experience, fostering a culture of ownership and innovation within Snaptrude. This "give a shit, no bullshit" culture became a driving force behind the company's growth and success.

As Snaptrude continues to evolve, Altaf's ambitions grow even grander.

He envisions a future where Snaptrude has transformed the urban landscape, enabling architects to create more sustainable, efficient, and livable cities. The company's recent $14 million Series A funding round is a testament to the potential that investors see in this vision.

Reflecting on his journey, Altaf offers valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

"It always takes way longer than you anticipate with everything," he advises. But perhaps more important than any specific piece of advice is the mindset that Altaf has cultivated – a commitment to continuous learning and self-improvement.

From an outsider with a hobby project to the founder of a company that's raised $21.8 million in funding, Altaf Ganihar's journey embodies the power of persistence, fresh perspectives, and the courage to challenge the status quo. 

In an industry resistant to change, Altaf and Snaptrude are proving that sometimes, it takes an outsider to see the possibilities that insiders have overlooked.

As Altaf puts it,

His story serves as an inspiration to innovators everywhere, demonstrating that with vision, persistence, and the right mindset, it's possible to disrupt even the most established industries.

Check out the full episode with Altaf👇👇👇

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