90% of Construction Firms Have ZERO Employees - The Reality of Residential Construction in America

Bricks And Bytes

How do you run a $2 trillion segment of the economy with just a book?

In today's episode of Bricks and Bytes, we had Dmitry Alexin from Handoff and we got to learn about how AI is transforming residential construction, why 90% of US construction firms are one-person operations struggling with back-office work, and how a former IMF economist ended up building technology that delivers cost estimates in 30 seconds... and many more!

Tune in to find out about:

✅ Why traditional construction cost data is stuck in the physical book era and how real-time APIs are changing the game

✅ How contractors can now delegate entire workflows to an AI agent through simple voice commands while driving between jobs

✅ Why selling to residential contractors requires throwing out the enterprise playbook and leading with instant product value

✅ The surprising shift of professionals from marketing and accounting backgrounds entering residential construction with a software-first mindset

Watch now to hear Dmitry's journey from GDP forecasting during the Ebola pandemic to revolutionizing how residential contractors run their businesses.

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

03:40 Introduction to Handoff and Its Purpose

06:41 Dmitry's Background and Transition to Construction

09:30 The Data Challenge in Construction

12:49 Building the First Real-Time API for Construction Prices

15:35 The Evolution of Handoff and Its Features

18:37 The Importance of Accurate Estimating

21:37 The Role of AI in Construction Estimating

24:40 Understanding Labor and Material Costs

27:32 Streamlining Procurement Processes

30:36 Product-Led Growth Strategy

33:35 Overcoming Skepticism in the Industry

37:55 Leading with Value: Product-Led Growth

38:42 Go-To-Market Strategies: Finding Your Audience

43:24 Targeting Residential Contractors: A Strategic Choice

46:54 The Role of AI Agents in Construction Tech

49:25 Learning from Failures: Experimentation in Startups

55:35 Future of Construction: Robotics and Material Science

58:60 Funding Insights: Building a Diverse Investor Base

01:05:05 Advice for Technical Founders: Embracing Humility

01:07:15 Join the Team: Opportunities at Handoff