From Silicon Valley to the Jobsite: Why Shreesha Ramdas Chose to Reinvent Construction
From Silicon Valley to the Jobsite: Why Shreesha Ramdas Chose to Reinvent Construction
What happens when a Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur dives headfirst into one of the most analog industries of all—construction? In this episode of AEC Trailblazers, Valentin Noves (CEO), sits down with Shreesha Ramdas, the multifaceted CEO & Co-Founder of Lumber, to discuss the big why behind his move from the world of SaaS and AI into the trenches of workforce management for contractors.
Shreesha shares the story of his journey from tech startup veteran—having scaled and exited over 40 companies, with buyers like Google and Symantec—to his current mission: transforming construction’s outdated systems through AI-powered solutions.
He opens up about what drew him to the construction space, a sector he describes as a “pillar of the economy” that’s long overdue for innovation.
With the energy of a race car driver, Shreesha talks about how he felt compelled to take on an industry lagging in automation and efficiency.
After countless conversations with contractors—over 200 firms, from small teams to major players—he noticed the same friction points: payroll headaches, compliance chaos, and financial blind spots.
That insight led to the birth of Lumber, a fully integrated platform built to empower SMB contractors with tools that simplify payroll, time tracking, onboarding, and decision-making.
But this conversation doesn’t stop at product innovation. Valentin and Shreesha go deeper, exploring:
- What SaaS lessons translate (and don’t) to the construction industry
- Why startups fail when they underestimate the complexity of field operations
- The power of listening before building—and how customer insight trumps assumptions
- How AI can empower, not replace, the human side of construction
- What it means to balance investor expectations with long-term industry change
You’ll also hear a refreshingly honest take on the pace of innovation in construction versus tech, and why Shreesha believes the best founders are those willing to learn a new industry from the inside out.
If you’re an AEC professional curious about the impact of tech, or a tech leader considering where real disruption is still needed—this episode is your blueprint.
Host
Shreesha Ramdas
CEO & Co-Founder
Shreesha Ramdas is a seasoned entrepreneur, investor, and growth strategist with a deep expertise in SaaS, AI, and business scaling.
As the CEO & Co-Founder of Lumber, he is transforming workforce management in the construction industry through an AI-driven platform designed to streamline payroll, compliance, and financial operations for contractors.
With over nine years of experience as an investor and advisor, he has supported more than 40 startups, helping them scale, grow, and successfully exit to companies like Google, Symantec, and LegalZoom.
He is also a patent holder in online marketing and dynamic content generation and has served as a board member at Korbyt.
Valentin Noves
CEO at e-verse
A versatile leader with broad exposure to projects and procedures and an in-depth understanding of technology services and product development. He has a tremendous passion for working in teams driven to provide remarkable software development services that disrupt the status quo. He is a creative problem solver who is equally comfortable rolling up his sleeves or leading teams with a make-it-happen attitude.
Samuel Barcenas
BIM Consultant Founder of AVES
A highly motivated and experienced architect with a proven track record of success in designing and delivering innovative and sustainable buildings. He is also a BIM expert with a deep understanding of how to use technology to improve the efficiency and quality of the design and construction process.
Valentin Noves
I'm a versatile leader with broad exposure to projects and procedures and an in-depth understanding of technology services/product development. I have a tremendous passion for working in teams driven to provide remarkable software development services that disrupt the status quo. I am a creative problem solver who is equally comfortable rolling up my sleeves or leading teams with a make-it-happen attitude.
