KP Unpacked, the #1 number podcast in AEC breaks down how early-stage teams actually win attention and revenue in 2025. 

KP and Nick go deep on founder-led distribution, “signature marketing” vs checklist B2B tactics, and why authenticity beats AI-generated slop. You’ll hear concrete examples from guerrilla stunts at conferences, product-led marketing, event strategy (sponsor vs booth), and running tight experiments you can pivot from fast. 

We also cover brand risk, mission-first messaging, and hyper-legibility: publishing the “exhaust” of your work at a useful cadence. If you build, sell, or invest in AEC or construction tech, this is your field guide to differentiation in the AI era. 

From Shadow’s portfolio lessons to classics like “1,000 True Fans,” this episode gives you practical moves you can ship this week.

The #1 podcast in AEC. KP and Nick. No fluff. Real tactics you can use.

Key topics for search

• AEC marketing, construction technology marketing, B2B growth
• Founder-led go-to-market, distribution, demand gen, ABM
• “AI slop” vs human creativity, signature marketing, guerrilla marketing
• Product-led marketing, brand risk, mission-driven storytelling
• Event strategy: sponsorship vs booths, trade show timelines
• Experiments, attribution limits, small-batch campaigns, “1,000 True Fans”

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In this episode of KP Unpacked, KP and Nick break down one of the toughest choices for hardware and robotics founders in AEC:
Should you sell the equipment, offer it as a service, or self-perform the work?

We cover how to size distribution and reduce friction, when CapEx vs OpEx tilts the deal, what risk transfer really costs, and why your choice is not static. We also get into channel pitfalls like exclusivity and rights of first refusal, and share field lessons from companies building real robots for construction.

What you’ll learn

• A simple way to map distribution size vs friction before you pick a model
• When RaaS wins due to OpEx and risk transfer
• When to sell equipment because the interface is mature and buyers have CapEx
• When to go Prime/self-perform for fast payback and control
• How maintenance, spares, and uptime reshape your margins
• Why channel exclusivity and ROFR can box you in
• How to use customer conversations to validate the model early

Examples referenced

• Lumina: electric construction equipment and why self-perform can align incentives
• Okibo: drywall finishing robots and why RaaS speeds product learning

Timestamps

• 00:00 Intro and warm-up
• 03:05 Why cheerful, constructive podcasts work
• 04:45 Founders Podcast and dense learning
• 07:06 The big question: sell, service, or prime
• 09:20 Framework start: distribution size vs friction
• 14:35 Leasing, risk transfer, and unfamiliar tech
• 17:20 RaaS realities: maintenance, spares, support
• 22:35 Heuristics for RaaS, sell, and prime
• 25:20 Incentives when you operate your own machines
• 28:36 Okibo case: production scale and feedback loops
• 33:26 CapEx vs OpEx and incentive alignment on projects
• 39:44 Channels, exclusivity math, and distribution maturity
• 40:39 The ROFR trap and how it kills deals
• 42:19 Ask customers early and often
• 47:39 Wrap

 If you’re building in AEC and wrestling with go-to-market, send us your scenario. We’ll pressure-test it on a future episode.

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Welcome back to KP Unpacked, the #1 podcast in AEC!

In this episode, KP Reddy sat down with Ahmad Omar, founder of Slate, also our Mastermind member, to discuss the new wave of entrepreneurship sweeping through the AEC industry. Ahmad shares his journey of leaving a large firm to start his own, highlighting how today's technology, including AI, has shattered traditional barriers to entry for new companies.

This conversation delves into why the rigid, slow-moving systems of the past are no longer a fit for today's innovators. Ahmad explains how Slate differentiates itself through speed and personal relationships, challenging the conventional wisdom of large firms. They also explore the future of the industry, from the potential for AI to be a "great equalizer" to the end of archaic practices like timesheets and multi-phased project billing.

Follow KPR Co on LinkedIn to stay updated on our latest insights and groundbreaking projects.

Ready to get hands-on with the future of AEC? Join us for our upcoming events!

• Vibe-a-thon - October 28th
• AEC Summit - October 29th

See you there!

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Welcome to KP Unpacked of the #1 podcast in AEC.

In this conversation, KP Reddy and Nick Durham cut through the noise and challenge the stories AEC leaders keep telling themselves. From LinkedIn posts that sparked heated debates to hard truths the industry avoids, this episode doesn’t play safe. It pushes you to rethink how innovation, scarcity, and leadership actually work in the built world.

We revisit KP’s most discussed LinkedIn posts, including:

• Why paradox is a moat.
• The real reason startups fail in AEC.
• What leaders get wrong about exclusivity.
• Wrappers vs. Builders: the value equation no one wants to face.
• Why “safe” advice will kill your vision faster than risk ever will.

💡 Episode Highlights:

• “Innovation in AEC isn’t optional. It’s survival.”
• “Scarcity creates power. Abundance creates noise.”
• “Wrappers aren’t builders. Services aren’t IP.”
• “Safe advice is the fastest way to kill a big idea.”
• “Exclusivity is a moat, but only if you dare to enforce it.”

👉 Explore more at KPR Co and follow us on LinkedIn for upcoming episodes, events, and insights.

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The #1 podcast in AEC.

In this episode, KP Reddy and Nick Durham unpack why defensibility today looks less like patents and more like paradoxical thinking, and why the smartest move for AI “wrappers” is to act like a services firm that sells results, not features.

5 Big Ideas

1. Wrappers = Services Business: If you’re building an LLM wrapper, stop pitching IP. Sell industry outcomes, deliver faster/cheaper with your toolset, and price like pros.
2. Moat = Paradoxical Thinking: Your edge isn’t secret code. It’s a founder’s contrarian judgment and speed. Nobody can clone that.
3. Guard Your Info Rights: Corporates as investors? Kill board seats/observers and information rights. Money is cheap; data is priceless.
4. Monopoly Myths in AEC: Software can show power-law effects; services don’t. Fragmented, regulated markets blunt “winner-take-all” dreams.
5. Franchise the Customer: Wild model: sell market exclusivity to be your customer, capture scarcity up front while keeping product margins.

 If this made you rethink your go-to-market, hit follow and send this to the one founder who needs tougher advice.

Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/

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In this episode of KP Unpacked, the #1 podcast in AEC, KP and guest Frank Lazaro explore how AI is reshaping the job market for recent graduates and what parents should tell their children about future career prospects. They discuss strategies for navigating an economy where traditional entry-level jobs are disappearing and entrepreneurship offers promising alternatives.

• The job market for recent graduates has softened similar to the post-dot-com bubble era
• Three emerging career categories: capital allocators, high experts, and exception handlers
• High agency individuals who can solve problems without guidance will be increasingly valuable
• Today's generation seems more comfortable separating income generation from traditional employment
• Entrepreneurship offers viable paths forward with less capital investment required than in previous eras
• AI tools can democratize business creation, allowing individuals to launch ventures without extensive technical expertise
• Field experience and customer-facing roles may become more important initial career steps
• Modern business opportunities don't require venture capital - many successful ventures start with minimal investment
• The ability to quickly learn and adapt matters more than formal credentials for entrepreneurial success
• Companies are abandoning custom AI projects in favor of using existing tools and platforms

Check out our upcoming Vibe-a-thon in Phoenix this October! For companies interested in private Vibe coding workshops, reach out to Frank directly.

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The #1 Podcast in AEC.

This episode marks a first: KP sits down with Nick for their debut recording together on KP Unpacked. Funny enough, you heard their second episode (on the MIT AI Report) before this one because the MIT discussion was too timely to hold back. But here’s where it all started.

Expect raw takes, sarcastic banter, and unfiltered truths about startups, venture capital, and the built world.

Highlights from KP & Nick’s first rodeo:

• “You know nothing” - why KP tells teams to stop looking for answers from the boss and start listening to the market.
• Henry Ford’s “faster horses” quote and why KP calls it a dumb take.
• AI + robotics roll-ups and who’s really the customer when law firms and AE shops adopt agentic tools.
• The death of niche features and why vibe coding and no-code kill most startup theses before they begin.
• The illusion of being venture fundable and how KP decides when he’s out, even on good ideas.
• Why venture theses get stale fast and why copying YC or Sequoia is a losing move.

Resources / Links mentioned in this episode:

• MIT AI Report was wrong 
• KP Reddy on LinkedIn

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Welcome to KP Unpacked, the #1 podcast in AEC.
Hosted by @KP Reddy and co-host @Nick Durham. 

What if the way we measure work is completely wrong? In this episode, KP and Nick dive into the MIT “Gen AI Divide” report and uncover how incentives, adoption, and measurement distort the real impact of AI inside enterprises.

Here’s what you’ll hear in this conversation:

• Why most companies report “no AI benefits” even though 95% of employees use AI daily
• The hidden incentives that keep workers from admitting AI is making them faster and better
• The rise of the Shadow AI Economy and what it means for enterprises vs individuals
• Why current ROI metrics miss the mark and why we should measure tokens instead of time
• Token arbitrage explained: how value will shift when human work is priced per token
• The psychology of professional services and why billable hours are nearing extinction
• How AI adoption differs across industries and why AEC faces unique challenges
• Fresh founder lessons on persistence in construction tech and the brutal reality of this industry

AI is not just about saving hours. It is about redefining how value gets measured, priced, and delivered. The question is not if this shift happens, but when.

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Welcome to KP Unpacked - the #1 podcast in AEC.

What if buying a home felt like talking to Jarvis instead of chasing a realtor? In this episode, Jeff Echols sits down with Enoc Silva, CEO of Vuen AI, to unpack how AI-powered visual agents are reshaping real estate, construction, and the built world.

🔑 Highlights from this episode:

• How AI visual agents give buyers on-demand 3D property tours that answer every question in real time.
• Why this tech could cut sales cycles from a year to weeks.
• The hidden gem: how AI can capture buyer intent and pass it straight to sales teams.
• The bigger vision - a personal Jarvis-like assistant managing your schedule, tasks, and even your home.
• Cutting through AI hype vs. reality: what’s real, what’s noise, and why human connection still matters.

Whether you’re in real estate, construction, or simply curious about where AI is headed, this conversation shows how close we are to living with personal AI agents.

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Most AEC and manufacturing firms are leaving serious money on the table.

Jordan Wilson, Director of Business Development at Corporate Tax Advisors, joins Jeff to unpack a major tax law change that could put hundreds of thousands back into your business. 

From reversing Section 174 amortization to unlocking retroactive R&D credits, this update has big implications for growth, innovation, and M&A. 

Whether you run a billion-dollar firm or a bootstrapped startup, you’ll want to hear how to capture these incentives before the window closes.

Need help modeling the impact or prepping filings?

Reach out to Jordan Wilson at Corporate Tax Advisors or call 404-317-4246 for a strategy discussion on how best to approach and claim the credit going forward.

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In this episode of KP Unpacked, the #1 podcast in AEC, Jeff Echols sits down with Chris Parsons, founder and CEO of Knowledge Architecture, to explore why knowledge management (KM) is no longer just an IT function—it's a strategic currency for AEC firms.

Chris shares his 15-year journey building Synthesis, a knowledge platform purpose-built for AEC, and how today's KM 3.0 (powered by AI) is reshaping how firms capture, share, and scale what they know. From navigating firm growth to managing M&A, this conversation covers what it really takes to design a smarter business.

🧭 Episode Chapters:

02:00 – Why Chris left firm life to build a KM company
07:30 – KM 1.0 → KM 2.0 → KM 3.0 (AI changes everything)
12:00 – The high cost of knowledge stuck in people’s heads
15:00 – What it means to “design your business like a building”
21:30 – AI’s role in making KM searchable and actionable
24:00 – KM as the secret weapon in M&A and scaling innovation
26:45 – Why executive sponsorship makes or breaks KM strategy
31:15 – Process is the product: rethinking “build vs. buy”
41:00 – Designing AI agents that work alongside humans
54:00 – The mindset shift every knowledge leader needs now

📚 Resources Mentioned:

• Synthesis – AEC-specific KM platform by Knowledge Architecture
• KA Connect – Annual KM conference for AEC professionals
• Smarter by Design – Chris’s newsletter on knowledge strategy
• People, Planet, Design by Corey Squire – Sustainability book with a KM chapter
• Eisenhower Matrix – Prioritization tool discussed in the episode

👤 Guest:
Chris Parsons – Founder & CEO, Knowledge Architecture

🎙️ Host:
Jeff Eccles – Executive Director, Catalyst by KP Reddy Co.

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This episode of KP Unpacked pulls no punches. KP and Jeff dive into why real innovation in AEC doesn’t come from AI, tech stacks, or strategy decks, it comes from frustration. From timesheet tyranny to capital allocation myths, this is a wake-up call for founders, executives, and anyone stuck in the loop of “this is how we’ve always done it.”

They unpack why most firms are afraid to change their business model, how brand is often confused with logos and websites, and why go-to-market matters more than invention. Plus, KP shares what really happened in the latest Catalyst AMA and what inspired the launch of the Vibe-a-Thon — a no-code innovation sprint built for operators, not just engineers.

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• KP’s Post that inspired the episode: “Creating an intangible enterprise is not easy, but well-documented…”
• 📘 Creating an Intangible Enterprise by KP Reddy
• Catalyst Community — apply to join: https://kpreddy.co
• Vibe-a-Thon at the Innovation Center (July 28) — no code needed, real AEC problems, $5K prize

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In this special edition of KP Unpacked, Jeff and KP dive into the heart of KP’s viral Sunday Scaries post: Brackish Waters – The Startup Survival Zone.

KP breaks down why traditional lines between VC and PE are blurring — and what it means for how startups should build, fund, and scale in today’s climate. From hybrid capital models to real-world disruption via AI and robotics, this episode is a must-listen for founders, investors, and corporate leaders alike.

You’ll hear:

• What “brackish waters” really mean for capital strategy
• Why VC volatility and PE predictability are no longer your only options
• How firms like General Catalyst and Thrive Capital are changing the game
• Case studies like Lumina’s new playbook for AI-powered M&A
• Why this might be the most important episode we’ve ever recorded

💡 Bonus: KP reveals how some of the biggest wins in the next decade will come from founders who know how to steer in murky waters.

👇 Resources Mentioned:

• KP’s Sunday Scaries Post
• Catalyst Community - Join the Conversation
• Book by KP Reddy - Creating the Intangible Enterprise

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KP Unpacked is the #1 podcast in AEC—and for good reason. In this episode, KP Reddy and Jeff Echols start with baseball and end up somewhere way more urgent: the death of innovation-as-edge. From Moneyball to AI, from power drills to predictive hiring, they unpack what happens after everyone catches up—and what firms should do next to keep their advantage.

KP drops insights on fast feedback loops, tech resistance in AEC, and why real innovation today comes from judgment, not just data. They also explore how AI is rewriting the rules in venture, recruiting, sports betting, and founder evaluation. If your firm is still calling BIM “innovation,” this one’s for you.

“The thing about building an edge is… you rarely get to keep it.”

🔗 Resources & Mentions in This Episode

• 📘 Book: Creating the Intangible Enterprise by KP Reddy — Available on Amazon and Audible
• 📽️ Movie Reference: Moneyball (2011) – starring Brad Pitt, based on the book by Michael Lewis
• 🧠 KP’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kpreddy – follow to predict next week’s podcast topic
• 🎤 AEC Summit Archives: YouTube Channel – features past Summit presentations, including from unicorns like Anduril, OneTrust, and Greenlight
• 🧰 Tools Mentioned:
  • ChatGPT / AI (for resume filtering, betting models, etc.)
  • PipeDrive CRM
  • CrowdStrike, Microsoft Cloud
  • Sam.AI (voice-based CRM mentioned indirectly)

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Welcome to KP Unpacked , the #1 podcast in AEC.
In this episode, KP Reddy and Jeff Echols unpack a movement that's flipping tech, venture, and entrepreneurship on its head: vibe coding.

What started as a LinkedIn post sparked one of the most active polls in Catalyst history, and it turns out, 73% of this high-performing AEC community is already doing it.

They dive into:

• Why vibe coding is displacing CRMs (and entire startups)
• How a skeptical sales exec built a GC-specific CRM in 20 hours
• What this shift means for tools, venture capital, and the next era of startups
• Why early adopters will always win, even if it's messy

Plus, KP shares his private equity wine-country story, a bold new startup funding model (no VC required), and how the team might be accidentally launching a hackathon.

📚 Mentioned in this episode:

• KP’s book: Creating the Intangible Enterprise
• Connect with KP on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kpreddy
• Follow KPR Co.: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kpreddy

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Welcome back to the number one podcast in AEC, KP Unpacked, where AI, innovation, and the built world collide.

In this episode of the AI in AEC series, Jeff Echols (Executive Director, Catalyst) is joined by Frank Lazaro (Head of Advisory, KP Reddy Co.) for a strategic deep dive into how AEC firms can assess and improve their innovation readiness before adopting AI or any new tech.

They break down the DIAL Framework, a free assessment designed to benchmark your firm's innovation posture across six critical pillars:

1. Internal Innovation
2. External Innovation
3. Culture
4. Ecosystem
5. Tech Adoption
6. Blue Sky Thinking

You’ll hear real-world insights from working with dozens of AEC firms, stories of siloed departments unknowingly duplicating efforts, and practical advice for creating sustainable innovation systems across your organization.

Whether you're a disruptor, adopter, or laggard, this episode gives you the tools to find out where you stand, what to fix, and how to move forward.

🔗 Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Take the DIAL Assessment (Free): https://kpreddy.co/dial
• San Francisco Event (July 29): https://kpreddy.co/event-highlight

🔧 Key Takeaways:

• Do not start with tools. Start with understanding your culture and capacity for innovation.
• DIAL helps uncover organizational blind spots before tech investments fail.
• AI success in AEC depends more on alignment and execution than access to tools.
• Internal communication and cross-departmental knowledge sharing are key to progress.
• The most innovative firms often still struggle with consistent adoption, and that is okay.

Subscribe, rate, and share this episode with the leaders shaping what is next in AEC.

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In this brutally honest episode of KP Unpacked, the number one podcast in AEC, KP Reddy and Jeff Echols take a sledgehammer to one of the industry's most overused and misunderstood buzzwords: digital twin.

What even is a digital twin? KP unpacks why most people using the term don’t know what it really means, why having a 3D model doesn’t qualify, and how the lack of real-time sensing, integration, and meaningful data makes the concept nearly useless in today’s built world.

From hilarious real-world anecdotes to blunt industry truths, KP explains how chasing digital twin hype makes the whole AEC industry look foolish and what we should be focusing on instead.

You’ll hear about:

• Why BIM ≠ digital twin (and never did)
• The difference between useful models vs. empty tech flexes
• The real ROI (or lack of) in pursuing true digital twins
• Why too many people use tech to avoid getting on job sites
• How AI is learning from the wrong people

Plus: A sneak peek into the launch of Catalyst, KP Reddy Co.’s new community for forward-thinkers in AEC.

This episode is packed with insight, no-BS takes, and the kind of field-first perspective the industry desperately needs. If you’ve ever used or been confused by the term "digital twin," this one’s a must-listen.

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Every AEC firm faces it: Do we build our own AI tools or buy what's already on the market?

In this episode of KP Unpacked, the number one Podcast in AEC, Jeff Echols and Frank Lazaro dive deep into the strategic dilemma that's dominating boardrooms and innovation teams across the built world.

From skyrocketing subscription costs to the reality of custom bot deployment in under 10 minutes, they unpack the tradeoffs, timing, and total cost of ownership behind the build vs. buy decision.

You’ll hear:

• Why most firms overestimate the need to build
• The real ROI of custom AI tools
• How low-code platforms are changing the game
• The hidden cost of falling in love with building

Six sharp takeaways to guide your AI investment strategy

1. Start with the problem, not the tool.
   No AI investment works unless it maps to a real pain point.
2. Speed > perfection.
   Getting something into the hands of your team beats endless deliberation.
3. Adoption is your signal.
   Give teams low-stakes tools first — and watch what they build around them.
4. Cost strategy matters.
   $20 tools add up. But so does maintaining custom code. Run the real math.
5. Don’t build for your ego.
   The most overengineered tools often become the least used.
6. Don’t wait.
   Action beats analysis. Start with buy, evolve to build. But move.

Whether you’re a 5-person studio or a 5,000-person firm, this conversation will challenge how you think about innovation, adoption, and what it actually takes to future-proof your tech stack.

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In this episode of KP Unpacked, the number one podcast in AEC, Jeff Echols sits down with Frank Thalakotur, Senior Research Advisor at KP Reddy Co., to dig into one of the core issues holding the AEC industry back—chronic misalignment between design, delivery, and owner value.

Frank brings experience across HVAC engineering, MEP project management, startup innovation, and owner’s rep work. But in his current role, he’s stepping back from solutions and going deep into problem discovery.

Together, they unpack:

• Why the AEC industry keeps solving symptoms instead of root causes
• How contracts—not outcomes—are driving behavior
• Why owners remain disconnected from the value chain
• What it takes to shift from isolated innovation to system-level alignment
• Why “data is the new concrete”—and what happens when no one’s pouring it

This is real research, real voices, and real stakes. If you’ve ever asked “Why does this keep happening?” in AEC, you’ll want to listen in.

🎧 Powered by KP Reddy Co.
🎙 Hosted by Jeff Echols, Executive Director of Catalyst
🧠 Featuring Frank Thalakotur, Senior Research Advisor, KP Reddy Co.

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Welcome back to KP Unpacked, the #1 podcast in AEC.

In this episode, KP Reddy (Founder & CEO of Shadow Ventures) and Jeff Echols (Executive Director at Catalyst) unpack a powerful metaphor that’s reshaping how we think about startups, business models, and the built environment.

We’re not just talking features or fixes. We’re talking about delivering outcomes that actually cure real industry problems. From aligning incentives in AEC to rethinking how firms deliver value, this episode is packed with strategy, story, and sharp insights.

🔍 Featured in this episode:

• KP Reddy, Founder & CEO of Shadow Ventures
• Jeff Echols, Executive Director at Catalyst by KP Reddy Co.

📌 Main Topics Covered:

• Why “being useful” isn’t enough in an AI-driven world
• The real difference between vitamins, painkillers, and cures (and where your product fits)
• What AEC firms get wrong about value and deliverables
• How misaligned compensation models destroy innovation
• What NFL stadium designers can teach us about asymmetric business models
• Why the future of the industry belongs to those who think beyond specs and software

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🎙 Featuring:
 Jeff Echols, Chief Executive Director Catalyst, KP Reddy Co.
David Niewadomski, Senior Research Advisor, KP Reddy Co.

In this episode of KP Unpacked, the number one podcast in AEC, host Jeff Echols sits down with David Niewadomski, Senior Research Advisor at KP Reddy Co., to dive into the inefficiencies of construction—and how rethinking them through the owner's lens could change everything.

David shares insights from his journey across construction, development, and Lean Six Sigma. Together, they unpack what’s broken in our current workflows, why data fragmentation costs more than we think, and how the Integrated Owners Forum is designed to surface the real issues facing today's built environment.

From fragmented systems to missing feedback loops, this is a conversation about connecting the dots before solving the problem.

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On this episode of KP Unpacked—the number one podcast in AEC—Jeff Echols sits down with Alan Montpellier, Principal and Chief Innovation Officer at PAE, to explore what it really takes to embed innovation into the DNA of an AEC firm.

Alan shares how PAE shifted from ad hoc ideas to a fully resourced innovation group, why innovation can't live in a silo, and how they prioritize experimentation—without sacrificing project delivery or profitability.

You’ll learn:

• How PAE structured its innovation group and budget
• Why innovation should come from everywhere—not just the “innovation team”
• How to balance client deadlines with long-term experimentation
• Real-world examples of tools, AI pilots, and failed-but-smart experiments
• What to do when PMs block innovation because of fees

This is a playbook for firms who want more than buzzwords—who actually want to build something new and better.

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In this episode of KP Unpacked, the number one podcast in AEC, Jeff Echols, Executive Director at Catalyst, KP Reddy Co. kicks off a brand-new series featuring the in-house research team at KP Reddy Co. He’s joined by Senior Research Advisor Ted Kenney, who brings years of experience in AEC technology and building product specifications.

They explore the untapped potential of specifications in driving collaboration across architecture, engineering, and construction. Ted explains why specs are often overlooked, how they act as the connective tissue across stakeholders, and what’s missing from the current software landscape.

They also dive into the research goals of the Integrated Owners Forum—KP Reddy Co.’s initiative to empower owners with actionable insight—and why discovering core problems is more valuable than surface-level disruption.

If you work in AEC, product development, or innovation, this episode will shift how you think about specs, data silos, and the future of collaboration.

🎧 Hosted by Jeff Echols, Executive Director at Catalyst
 🎙 Guest: Ted Kinney, Senior Research Advisor at KP Reddy Co.
 🔍 Topic: AEC specs, owner-driven innovation, qualitative research, and SaaS licensing hot takes

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Check out one of our Catalyst conversation starters, AEC Needs More High-Agency Thinkers

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This week on KP Unpacked—the number one podcast in AEC—Jeff Echols and KP Reddy unpack the Sunday Scaries post that broke the internet (or at least LinkedIn).

It all started with a Talking Heads lyric and a throwback photo… but quickly sparked a bigger conversation:
What’s your 10-year plan—for yourself, not your startup?

KP shares hard-won lessons from building (and walking away from) multimillion-dollar businesses, why too many founders confuse “in flight” with “on course,” and how to evaluate whether you're heading to Mars—or just orbiting Earth.

You’ll learn:

• Why quick exits are the exception, not the rule
• How to identify when to abort, pivot, or persevere
• The 5 elements every founder’s 10-year life plan should include
• How to separate identity from startup ego
• Why financial, health, family, and passion alignment matter more than vanity metrics

This episode isn’t just for startup founders—it’s a personal gut check for anyone on a high-stakes path.

Sounds like you? Join the waitlist at https://kpreddy.co/

Check out one of our Catalyst conversation starters, AEC Needs More High-Agency Thinkers

Hope to see you there!

In this episode of KP Unpacked—the number one podcast in AEC—Jeff Echols sits down with architect and senior research advisor Zig Rubel to explore a bold question: What if the biggest issues in AEC aren’t what we think they are?

Zig brings his unique lens—from massive healthcare projects to tech startups—to unpack why most industry “solutions” may be missing the mark. Together, they dig into how KP Reddy Co.’s research team is flipping the script—asking not how we fix problems, but whether we’re chasing the right ones to begin with.

In this episode:

• The surprising reason most AEC “problems” are just symptoms
• How architects, engineers, and owners view the process differently
• Why the research team is talking to everyone—from executives to project doers
• What Zig expects to hear in 200+ interviews (spoiler: it’s bigger than tech)
• Why now is the time to question how the built environment really impacts us

If you’re tired of surface-level fixes and ready to rethink AEC’s future—this one’s for you.

Sounds like you? Join the waitlist at https://kpreddy.co/

Check out one of our Catalyst conversation starters, AEC Needs More High-Agency Thinkers

Hope to see you there!