Last Week in ConTech - 4 May 2026
Deep Insight: Who will acquire Bricks & Bytes?
Deep Insight: Who will acquire Bricks & Bytes?
This week, Owen mentioned that Bricks & Bytes, a new media platform for AEC, had their biggest month ever, hitting 180k views across their platform.
It’s an incredibly impressive milestone for the team and it reflects a growing reality in the construction creator ecosystem: there are now real sponsorship budgets available to fund media growth.
When Owen started 4 years ago and I around 3, we’d be approached by sponsors offering between $100 to $400 for a placement. Neither of us resonated with the onerous demands they made for control or frankly, the price.
It’s changed now.
There’s a number of later stage startups, usually late Series A to Series B that have the advertising budget and nowhere to spend it. Traditional channels such as Construction Dive and ENR have high cost and often misaligned with the audience they actually want to reach.
In response, many have tried to build their own media channels, take Aphex with The Off Site Podcast, DroneDeploy with Built Different or Procore teaming up with Construction Dive to launch The Power of Construction Podcast. It’s because they want to engage their ideal customer persona (ICP), meeting them natively in a format they already consume.
But the reality is that it is incredibly difficult.
Most audiences don’t trust content that comes directly from startups. It is often perceived as company-led narrative rather than unbiased insight. As a result, these companies are increasingly turning to sponsorship of independent creators with established, trusted audiences.
If you review the Bricks & Bytes media kit or speak to creators in the space, sponsorships now start in the thousands. But the key is that they are selective. They only work with companies they personally stand behind.
That matters.
Because when their audience is making a purchasing decision, they are already familiar with the solution and have been introduced to it in a credible way.
And when enterprise contracts range from $60,000 to $100,000, the ROI can justify the spend quickly
So my belief is that if you’re a startup, you should start sponsoring Bricks & Bytes (or similar) to understand the ROI and audience alignment. And if it works over time, you should be thinking about acquisition.
It’s a strategy that’s already playing out in B2B software when Hubspot acquired The Hustle to deliver business and tech content directly to their ICP in a format they preferred.
Closer to home, we’ve seen SitePartners, an industrials and construction focused marketing agency, start SiteNews. 4 years later, they’ve set up a media group, SiteMedia, growing through acquisition to 7 publications, 25 events, and over 300k executive readers.
When one of those 300k readers needs a marketing agency, the decision is already shaped.
And on the Last Week in ConTech front, we’ve seen the same.
Using the AEC Tech Hub banner, we operate 5 newsletter mastheads across three models:
Full Ownership
We own 100% of the newsletter in an industry we have expertise in.Ownership with Pre-Sold Sponsorship
We co-build newsletters around a startup’s ICP and pre-sell sponsorship for 6 to 12 months, creating a low-risk way to test engagement.Built for you
We build a newsletter for a startup where they control the IP and own the masthead.
So far, it’s been an effective model as there is a dearth of hyperniche and focused content in the construction industry. We are so fragmented and roles are so varied, most content rarely meets people where they are meaning startups can operate in a content blue ocean.
It holds to a principle Owen states:
“At Bricks & Bytes, our core focus is quality of audience - we’d rather have 5 high value views than 500 low value views.”
Would you rather have 5 executives read your content or 10,000 students?
The answer depends on your goal and key decision makers. For us, our top hyperniche newsletter has a 74%+ open rate and a 14% click through rate. We haven’t focused on growth, only engagement for a very tight subsector.
And driving this success, we’ve been expanding, launching our 6th newsletter in May and number 7 is planned for July on an AI in AEC related topic using our pre-sold method (if you’re curious, happy to chat!).
For me, this has allowed Last Week in ConTech to operate unsponsored and impartial on the core newsletter. But overall, I’ve been learning just how valuable media properties can be, not in the traditional sense, but when aligned with the right parent company.
So when I see what Owen and Martin are building with Bricks & Bytes, if I was a startup or construction tech giant, I’d put some thought into acquisition.
Because when you buy them you don’t just get their media assets, you acquiring:
a trusted distribution channel
a direct line to decision-makers
and a team that understands how to build and scale media in this industry
If you’re looking for creators / niche media properties that may align with your audience, happy to chat. I spent some time mapping it for my own curiosity and happy to share my learnings.
In this issue there are:
15 Startup Fundings
16 Policy and Regulatory Changes
7 New National Infrastructure Projects & Priorities
1 New investment funds
0 Acquisitions
7 News articles
68 new jobs posted - view here
Reading time: 12 mins
Jerome Revy is a friend who is running Contech Connect, the second edition of a construction tech event in Paris on May 28th, 2026. There’s over a 1,000 attendees and I highly recommend checking it out, the speaker list looks great and I’ve heard great things from those who attended last year.
If you’re interested in going, he gave me this free access code LASTWEEKINCONTECH which industry folk can use. Check it out here.
Note: This is not sponsored.
Startup Funding
AI
Cloneable, a North Carolina startup, raised $4.6m in Seed funding. They have built an AI automation solution for field to office workflows for heavy industries such as utilities and telecoms which captures knowledge, workflows and decision making logic from experts while they use desktop and web software and deploys specialized AI agents to replicate it and distribute it across the organization. More here.
Searchdoc, a Korean startup, raised ~$2.1m in funding. They are developing AI that is able to analyze large amounts of documents and blueprints across industries including construction as well as agent based workflow automation. More here.
Avoca, a New York startup, raised Series B funding stating they’ve now raised a total of $125m. They are building an AI front office for home services companies like plumbers and electricians that answers every call, books and schedules jobs, nurtures existing leads with drip campaigns and provides real time visibility on customer history as they call. More here.
Notes:
Avoca shared their thesis on where AI value actually accrues.
They argue frontier labs like OpenAI and Anthropic have already captured much of the application layer in data-rich domains like coding, where training data is abundant and workflows are well documented in open-source repositories.
In contrast, workflows in the trades are far harder to automate as data is scarce, and processes rely heavily on tribal knowledge and operator instinct.
By embedding themselves at the center of contractor workflows, companies can start to learn what actually drives outcomes.
This creates durable product lock-in as competitors lack access to the same proprietary workflow data, making it difficult to replicate or train comparable systems.
Over time, customers build a system-level understanding of performance across their own operations, further increasing switching costs.
Green Materials
Carbonyx, a Canadian startup, raised CAD$1.2m in Pre-Seed funding. They take waste rock from mining, construction and manufacturing and transform it into carbon negative building materials, silica and minerals for industry. More here.
TimberHP, a Maine startup, received investment. They manufacture high-performance wood fiber insulation products. More here.
Robotics
All3, a Swiss startup, raised $25m in Seed funding. They are developing a robotic platform for construction which combines autonomous robots for on-site assembly, AI powered design software and robotic off-site fabrication alongside tools to enable the production of custom components. More here.
Labor
Kovon, an Indian startup, raised $250k in Pre-Seed funding. They are building a cross-border workforce mobility platform that connects India’s blue and grey-collar workforce to overseas job opportunities across sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, construction, and logistics. More here.
Procurement
BALLAS, a Japanese startup, raised ¥2.4 billion (~USD $15.3m) in Series B funding. They are building a construction procurement platform for materials, handling everything from design standardization to material manufacturing and delivery, primarily focusing on custom-made construction materials. More here.
BRKZ, a Saudi Arabian startup, received investment (undisclosed). They simplify the process of procuring building materials by operating a marketplace for contractors to receive quotes and have materials delivered on site. More here.
Design
FORMAS AI, a Singaporean startup, raised $3.98m in Pre-Seed funding. They are an AI-powered design platform for architects and designers that features a live canvas for exploring geometries and a 3D model studio to create architectural visualizations with real time collaboration. More here.
Synaps, an Austrian startup, raised $3.6m in extended Pre-Seed funding. They are building an AI platform for architectural design which allows users to design, visualize, collaborate and present, all in one platform. More here.
Monitoring
Ubiqedge, an Indian startup, raised Rs 10 crore (~USD$1m) in funding. They are building an AI and IoT based operating system that enables real-time monitoring, control, and optimization of critical infrastructure including a smart transit based concrete monitoring solution which provides insights and control over concrete quality, transit conditions and delivery performance. More here.
Quality
Sonibel Instruments, a Canadian startup, raised $1.6m in Pre-Seed funding. They are developing acoustic sensors that use AI to identify welding defects by sound and alerting operators via a display screen to fix errors instantly. More here.
Home Services
Casa, a San Francisco startup, raised $20m in Series A funding. They are building a subscription service that schedules and manages home maintenance and repairs, initially recording homes and furnishings using lidar scanners and cataloguing projects to be completed using the 1.5 hours of handyman time provided each month. More here.
Drones
Skyfire AI, an Alabama startup, raised $11m in Seed funding. They are building a software foundation for autonomous drone orchestration which supports the full lifecycle of operations, including mission planning, deployment, coordination, and real-time oversight and is used across industries including AEC for tasks such as progress management, earthwork, and BIM projects. More here.
Policy and Regulatory Changes
US
Maine’s governor vetoes data center moratorium
The Maine Governor has vetoed a bill that would have temporarily brought to a halt permits for new data centers.
If it had become law, LD 307 would have imposed the country’s first statewide moratorium on new data centers.
The bill also called for the creation of a 13-person council to study and make recommendations on data center construction.
New Jersey Admits Defeat on Offshore Wind (at Least for Now)
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities canceled the agreement it reached with PJM Interconnection in 2021 to develop wires and substations.
This was necessary to send electricity generated by offshore wind across the state.
The board terminated this agreement because much of New Jersey’s expected offshore wind capacity has either been canceled by developers or indefinitely stalled by Trump.
Champaign County passes year-long moratorium on data center construction
The moratorium, which will take effect immediately, will put a temporary halt on any data center proposals for the next 12 months.
This aims to give the county sufficient time to draft and implement new regulations.
US plant cleared for extended operation in record time
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed the operating licence for HB Robinson Steam Electric Plant Unit 2 for 20 years.
This is the first licence renewal to be completed by the NRC under new federal timelines aimed at accelerating nuclear energy decisions.
Trump established a 12-month timeframe for the review process, cutting six months from the regulator’s previous 18-month review schedule.
The White House formally designated power transformers, substations, switchgear, and their upstream supply chains as essential to national defense.
It authorizes the Department of Energy to bypass normal procedural requirements and immediately deploy federal capital to expand domestic grid manufacturing capacity.
Notes:
The U.S. imports roughly 80% of its large power transformers and 50% of its distribution transformers.
For extra-high-voltage units rated at 345 kV and above, foreign dependence climbs past 85%.
More than half of U.S. distribution transformers, roughly 40 million units, have already exceeded their expected service life.
NRC proposed rule aims for speedier microreactor licensing
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission rolled out a proposed rule that aims to streamline licensing for microreactors.
The proposed rule could allow the agency to issue an operator license within six months to a year after accepting an application.
It establishes a regulatory framework specifically tailored to rapid licensing of first-of-a-kind microreactors and other reactors with comparable risk profiles.
BLM takes steps to accelerate geothermal energy development
The Bureau of Land Management has approved a categorical exclusion to make it easier and faster to explore for geothermal energy on public lands.
This action allows small-scale exploration projects, disturbing up to 10 acres of land, to move forward with less red tape.
Notes:
Categorical exclusions are categories of actions that have been determined to not typically have significant environmental impacts, eliminating the need to do a full environmental review.
House Republicans introduce bill to extend renewables tax credits
Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives are trying to restore clean tax credits for wind, solar and other clean energy technologies.
The American Energy Dominance Act would remove the accelerated deadlines placed on the renewable energy 45Y production tax credit and 48E investment tax credit.
Notes:
Estimates suggest that $34.8 billion in clean energy investments were canceled in 2025, outnumbering new investments three to one.
Bill would allow Delaware Electric Cooperative to reject data centers
The State Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 276, which frees the Delaware Electric Cooperative from a requirement to serve “large loads”.
The legislation would protect existing customers from price spikes if a national surge in the construction of data centers spreads to southern Delaware.
Under current law, the utility would have to provide those facilities with power, even if it caused rates to go up.
Feds sue North Jersey town for ‘radical left’ ban on oil, natural gas
The federal government has targeted an ordinance passed by a North Jersey town that bans natural gas, propane gas and fuel oil infrastructure and appliances in certain new construction.
The ordinance, passed in 2022 applies only to newly constructed apartment complexes or apartment-style housing with 12 or more dwelling units.
The Justice Department has already successfully sued two California cities, Morgan Hill and Petaluma, over similar “progressive” natural gas bans.
Related:
DeSantis signs bill on Earth Day reversing local climate change action
The Florida Governor has signed a new law on Earth Day that blocks local governments from enacting policies to track how their emissions contribute to climate change.
Tracking “net-zero emissions” has been one way for local governments to measure whether the amount of pollution released into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount removed.
The new law prevents local governments from passing any “resolution, ordinance, rule, code or policy” that promotes net-zero goals.
It also prohibits requiring assessments, fees or penalties tied to those goals.
Housing energy efficiency requirements rescinded by HUD, USDA
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Agriculture announced a rollback of energy efficiency standards.
This is for certain single-family and multifamily housing construction projects.
Energy mandates under the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code added an estimated $20,000 to the cost of a new home and blocked projects that did not meet the standard from federal loans.
The Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office (H2O) today announced it will soon resume negotiations to issue nearly $430 million in payments.
This funding will support 293 projects at 212 facilities.
India
BMC mandates tracking of construction waste real-time
The governing civic body of Mumbai, BMC, has issued a standard operating procedure (SOP) to regulate construction and demolition (C&D) waste management.
The circular mandates that all developers, contractors, infrastructure agencies and govt bodies segregate waste at source into two categories: excavation material and construction debris.
To strengthen compliance, BMC has made it compulsory for all transporters handling C&D waste to install vehicle tracking and monitoring systems (VTMS).
The SOP also requires all projects to submit a detailed waste management plan (WMP), outlining the quantities of excavation, demolition and construction waste.
Punjab withdraws 2025 building rules, reverts to old system
The Punjab Government on Monday withdrew the much-debated Punjab Unified Building Rules, 2025.
At the core of the 2025 policy was an attempt to streamline approvals and boost real estate growth.
Among its most contentious provisions were relaxations allowing higher vertical expansion, including stilt-plus-four-floor constructions, higher ground coverage and increased floor area ratio.
UK
Developer to fight £48mn government fire safety bill on human rights grounds
The government in 2020 set up the taxpayer-backed Building Safety Fund, spending about £2bn to fix fire safety problems following the Grenfell disaster.
About £48mn was spent on seven Urban Splash developments in Manchester.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is seeking to use powers under the Building Safety Act 2022.
This is to force the company to reimburse the public purse through a so-called Remediation Contribution Order (RCO).
National Infrastructure Projects & Priorities
Global
Global Wind Installations Rise Record 40% as Industry Charts Way Out of Energy Crisis
The global wind industry installed a record-breaking 165 Gigawatts (GW) of new wind capacity last year, up 40% on the previous year.
Global wind capacity reached 1,299 GW by the end of 2025, with 138 countries now powering their economies with wind power.
China alone added more than 120 GW, while India almost doubled annual installations to build a record 6.3 GW of new capacity in 2025.
US
2 more offshore wind projects scrapped under Trump administration pressure
Two U.S. offshore wind projects totaling up to 4.4 GW of planned capacity will not move forward.
This is after the developers entered into an agreement with the U.S. Interior Department in which the government said it will cancel the leases and “reimburse” the companies.
But first they have to make equal investments in American liquified natural gas, oil and energy infrastructure.
AI Power-Gear Spending in US Surging Up to $65 Billion
US spending on power-generation equipment for data centers may reach $65 billion by 2030.
US data center capacity may reach 110 gigawatts by 2030, and total US spending on power-plant equipment may climb to $215 billion.
India
Govt misses FY26 highway construction target due to delay in land acquisition
National highway construction in the last fiscal year reached 9,380 km, falling short of the 10,000 km target.
This marks the slowest pace since 2017-18.
Delays in land acquisition and securing clearances contributed to the shortfall and the pace of awarding new highway projects also saw a significant decline.
Amaravati capital city works halted as diesel shortage disrupts construction activity
Infrastructure works in the capital city of Amaravati have taken a serious hit due to an acute shortage of diesel.
Nearly 60% of machinery remained non-operational since Saturday (April 25, 2026) due to fuel shortages.
Sweden
Sweden’s €33 billion transport investment
The country’s government has announced a €33 billion National Plan for Infrastructure that will run until 2037.
Transportation development will play a major role.
Morocco
Morocco Firm Plans First Fundraise for $25 Billion Gas Pipeline
Morocco’s state-controlled natural resources company plans to start raising part of the $25 billion needed to build a pipeline.
The pipeline will link gas fields in West Africa to the Mediterranean coastline, comprising onshore and offshore components.
It will link deposits in Nigeria, Senegal and Mauritania to neighboring African countries.
Investment funds
Kompas VC, which operates out of offices in Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Barcelona, has raised a new €160 million fund. They back startups in physical industries that enable technologies that operates across manufacturing, energy, logistics, infrastructure, and the built environment. More here.
News
The Demand Side of the Trades Crisis (Dynamo Ventures)
Thumbtack, Claude launch contractor hiring integration
Consumers using AI company Anthropic’s popular chat tool, Claude, can now hire home service contractors without leaving the platform.
Thumbtack counts more than 300,000 service businesses in its network including HVAC, plumbing, and electrical contractors across the U.S.
In just a few years, artificial intelligence has transformed the way design firms do business.
Meta Seeks to Power Data Centers With Energy Beamed From Space
Will America Finally Let Itself Build Nuclear Plants?
Data centers are expensive, unpopular — and could be a tipping point in the midterms
Parking Reform Is Reshaping Housing Policy
If I missed anything this week, please reply and let me know! I’ll make sure to include it next week.
Fascinating.