BuiltForward: The Future of Construction

2026년 11월 12일

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In this episode, I talk with Taylor Sandusky, founder of Punch, about what it takes to build AI software that contractors actually want to use.

Taylor spent the early part of his career in construction, working his way from sweeping houses to managing commercial projects, before moving into software startups. With Punch, he's combining those experiences to tackle one of construction's most persistent frustrations: paperwork.

We cover how he found his initial wedge in material purchasing, why daily reports became the breakthrough use case, and what he's learning about bringing AI into an industry where people are already stretched thin and skeptical of new technology.

One of my favorite parts of the conversation is Taylor's realization that the biggest ROI may not be the hours saved on documentation. It may be the expensive mistakes contractors can avoid when they have better information sooner.

We also get into pricing, implementation, privacy, integrations, build-versus-buy decisions, and what the next generation of construction software might look like.

Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Taylor Sandusky and Punch

02:45 – From construction project manager to software founder

04:15 – Finding the right problem to solve for subcontractors

05:15 – Why daily reports became Punch's breakthrough

07:00 – Why construction workers hate paperwork

09:00 – The disconnect between the field and the office

11:00 – Punch's early customers and expanding market

12:15 – Turning voice commands into construction documentation

15:00 – Giving every contractor a 24/7 AI assistant

16:30 – Two types of contractors adopting AI

18:00 – Why implementing AI still requires hands-on help

20:15 – AI-native startups versus construction software incumbents

22:15 – Selling technology to overwhelmed, skeptical contractors

25:00 – Why pricing construction software is so difficult

27:30 – The real ROI of AI: preventing mistakes, not just saving time

29:15 – How a broken paint nozzle led to $60,000 in excess costs

31:30 – Pilots, implementation, and getting started without integrations

34:30 – Data privacy and the risks of uncontrolled AI adoption

37:15 – Why AI can help contractors do bad work faster

39:30 – Who owns the data that AI collects?

43:00 – Why contractors should still use ChatGPT and Claude

44:00 – Will AI force construction software companies to open their data?

47:00 – How AI is changing software development

48:30 – When contractors become big enough to need better systems

50:00 – Growing revenue without growing headcount

51:00 – Should contractors build their own AI software or buy it?

53:30 – The future of construction software and systems of record

55:00 – Will AI startups disrupt the incumbents or get acquired?

56:00 – The role of AI consultants in construction

57:00 – Taylor's long-term vision for Punch

59:00 – What it will take to unlock AI adoption across the industry

About Taylor Sandusky

Taylor Sandusky is the founder of Punch, an AI-native software company helping construction contractors streamline documentation, automate workflows, and capture information from the field. Before founding Punch, Taylor worked in commercial construction project management and software startups.

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