Starting a multi-million dollar construction project and choosing the right subcontractors can be a daunting task. The decision is critical, as selecting the wrong subcontractors could lead to delays, cost overruns, and quality issues. The ability to tap into the collective knowledge and experiences of your entire organization could significantly impact these decisions. Preventing the same costly mistakes from happening project after project is a major concern in the construction industry. Victor Zhang, co-founder and CEO of Trestle, is revolutionizing the heavy construction industry with his innovative subcontractor and supplier management platform. His unique blend of industry expertise and entrepreneurial vision makes him a pioneer in bringing much-needed transparency and efficiency to construction management. Today, Victor talks about his company Trestle, which provides a subcontractor and supplier management platform for the heavy construction industry, addressing the need for centralized performance data and knowledge retention in the sector. Tune in to learn more! Quotes: "We joke that we won't even watch a movie these days without first checking in on Rotten Tomatoes. But in the construction industry, there is no system to be able to do that for all the thousands of subcontractors and vendors that somebody works with." "For us, one of the superpowers we always say that Trestle has is having a really deep industry network." "We want as much information collected and centralized for the company so that everyone has access to it. This way, you're not concerned when your four-year veteran project manager or superintendent retires, taking all that knowledge and experience with them into the sunset." Takeaways: If you're considering starting a business, look for problems in your current industry that you can uniquely solve. Your insider knowledge can be a powerful differentiator. Use every customer interaction, especially at industry events, as an opportunity to refine your pitch and product. Don't be afraid to adjust your approach based on feedback. In relationship-driven industries, personal connections are crucial. Attend industry events, seek introductions, and cultivate relationships that can lead to partnerships and sales. Before building a full product, talk to potential customers to ensure you're solving a real problem in a way that resonates with them. Consider unique ways to interact with potential customers, like Trestle's conference booth strategy of having attendees use their product to enter a raffle. Conclusion: The construction industry lacks effective systems for tracking and leveraging past experiences with subcontractors and vendors. By automating the collection of detailed performance data throughout projects, companies can make more informed decisions and avoid repeating past mistakes. Attending industry events and refining messaging through repeated interactions has proven valuable for introducing new technology solutions to this traditionally relationship-driven sector. Links Mentioned:  Guest Links:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vzhangpe  Email: [email protected]   

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