Join us in our digital den and immerse yourself in the inspiration born from exploring the hidden narratives and inevitable plot twists that shape every compelling startup journey.
The Bearhug Experience Podcast
(#12) Maria Khokhlova: TraceAir, Construction Acceleration, Laser Physics to Moving Dirt on Construction Sites, Resilience, Flexibility, Merging Cultures, Joy Projects & The Power of Deep Empathy.
Maria Khokhlova is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at TraceAir, a sitework intelligence platform for Land Developers and Homebuilders. TraceAir is the #1 provider of construction site analysis and management solutions for sitework. TraceAir’s cutting-edge technology helps builders save time and money by improving efficiency, and introduces radical transparency into the process while reducing the risk of errors or delays. Before devoting her work to TraceAir, Maria did a Ph.D. in laser physics, while also running a custom development software studio. She’s now on a mission that goes far beyond empowering land development and construction teams; it’s about positively impacting society at large by providing developers with tools and data to build better infrastructure and communities faster.
(#6) Samantha Burns: 3D Imaging in Land Development & Residential Construction, Challenging the Status Quo, Battling Imposter Syndrome, Scrappiness & The Superpower of Translation.
Samantha Burns, a distinguished marketing leader with over 15 years of experience in the construction industry, and the Head of Marketing at TraceAir. TraceAir is a leading Construction Technology platform that specializes in providing rapid and precise 3D data to home builders and land developers, aiming to revolutionize residential construction workflows and processes. Samantha’s current focus is on driving growth, educating the market, and enhancing engagement for TraceAir's core audience. In addition to shaping the narrative of construction marketing and empowering others to thrive in this ever-evolving landscape, she is dedicated to establishing the company as the foremost technology operating system for home builders, empowering them to operate with more speed, accuracy, and efficiency.
(#5) Steve Dell’Orto: ConCntric, Transforming Pre-Construction Workflows, Seamlessly Integrating People, Data, and Processes, Leadership Superpowers & The Accelerating Impact of Domain Expertise.
Steve Dell’Orto is the founder and CEO of ConCntric. As a seasoned Construction Executive with 28 years of industry expertise, frustrated by the disjointed and inefficient pre-construction planning process, Steve embarked on a mission to revolutionize the construction landscape. He envisioned and developed a groundbreaking software platform that seamlessly integrates people, data, and processes, offering a unified, collaborative environment and single source of truth for managing diverse projects. This innovative solution empowers modern builders to accelerate project timelines, enhance predictability, and proactively mitigate risks. By facilitating early-stage interventions and informed decision-making, Steve's platform aids in averting costly mistakes, delays, and budget overruns. The result? Potential savings amounting to tens of millions for construction companies, fostering smoother, more sustainable project execution.
(#4) Nev Hyman: NOMOR, Solving Our Plastic Waste Problem, Building a Surfboard Empire, Setting 4 Guinness Book of World Records, Keeping Your Radar On & The Power of Silver Linings.
Nev Hyman is a serial entrepreneur who’s a legendary pioneer in the world of surfboard manufacturing, and went on to build a global surfboard empire under the NEV Futureshapes brand. He set 4 Guinness World Records, and more recently won Pitch@Palace, becoming the worldwide Entrepreneur of the Year, thanks to his recent endeavor with NevHouse/NoMor where he’s helping to solve the world’s plastic waste problem at its source, by converting waste into safe, affordable eco-friendly building materials to be used for constructing homes, schools, medical clinics and more in both developed and developing nations around the world.
(#2) Jennifer Gill Roberts: Grit Ventures, Deep Tech Investing, Insatiable Curiosity, Labs to Launch, Physical Infrastructure & The Power of Diverse Teams.
Jennifer Gill Roberts is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Grit Ventures. Jennifer, a technologist, repeat entrepreneur, and dedicated advocate for diversity, is also an early-stage venture capitalist. She specializes in sourcing and investing in groundbreaking sustainable technology innovations from the nation's top labs. These innovations tackle real-world challenges, from rebuilding our physical infrastructure to accelerating manufacturing and incorporating AI-powered robotic applications across industries like construction, agriculture, and logistics.
(#1) Jay Potter: ECOR Global, Environmental Technology, Circular Economy, Sustainable Building Products, Passionate Optimism & Breeching Into The Unknown.
Jay Potter is a brilliant entrepreneur who (so far) has personally raised more than 150 million dollars, taken 11 companies public (3 of his own creation), and has been a trailblazer in the environmental technology movement for decades. He and the teams he’s been central to are responsible for introducing numerous groundbreaking inventions to the world, such as developing the first high-volume electrolysis for hydrogen and non-toxic disinfectants, the world's first solar parking array, the first industrial pellet plant in the US, and today he serves as the CEO of ECOR Global, a company that is converting agricultural and urban waste into sustainable building materials providing a more sustainable and cleaner future for us all.