Merging Expertise for Next-Level AEC Content
This episode dives into the inspiring story of Gary Sprague, a long-time outsider who became a co-founder of two successful AEC startups, Andekan and Kinship. His journey is a testament to the power of collaboration and embracing new perspectives.
Gary’s background wasn’t in AEC. He initially worked in finance, focusing on social impact and environmental businesses. This experience equipped him with valuable skills in startups, marketing, and customer support. The turning point came through a reconnection with a college friend who had been working in a digital modeling company. Their shared passion for technology and a chance encounter with Revit software sparked an idea: who would create the content for this revolutionary tool in the AEC industry?
Despite lacking a traditional AEC background, Gary faced his initial imposter syndrome head-on. He realized that the industry’s vastness meant no one had the complete picture, and an outsider’s perspective could be a strength. He brought a user experience and technology focus, challenging the common narrative of architects being stuck in the past. For Gary, the design industry should be forward-thinking, and innovation is not exclusive to other sectors like Fintech, which he believes often relies on outdated backend systems.
The conversation also highlights the importance of strong partnerships. Gary emphasizes that finding the right co-founder is crucial. It’s a long-term commitment, and having partners who act as a team provides invaluable support through challenges and crises. With the right team in place, even outsiders with fresh perspectives can become successful innovators in the complex world of AEC.
Dive into this story of a build-passionate entrepreneur and his journey into founding 2 amazing AEC Startups.
Host
Gary Sprague
Co-Founder & CEO at Kinship
Gary brings a unique blend of operational expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to the building industry. He honed his operational acumen in the early years, working across various roles in financial services for mission-driven businesses. But his passion for building things led him to a freelance consultancy role, where he spent nearly five years helping entrepreneurs and social enterprises leverage affordable technology to create high-impact operational systems.
In 2008, Gary embraced entrepreneurship fully by co-founding Andekan, a Revit content creation company. They've provided thousands of Revit families to major AEC firms and manufacturers globally. As COO for a decade, Gary gained extensive experience in the AEC and IT services world.
Recognizing the growing need for cloud-based Revit content management, Gary helped launch Kinship in 2016. This AEC startup, where he serves as CEO, offers a cloud solution for Revit content, projects, and analytics. Kinship’s customers include major international AEC firms such as Buro Happold Engineering, Bjarke Ingels Group, Herzog & de Meuron, Laing O’Rourke, Pace, and COX Architecture.
Gary is a recognized leader in the digital transformation of the building design and construction industry. He's driven by a passion for building high-growth technology businesses that excel in product, talent, and customer service.
In his personal time, Gary loves to travel and spend as much time as possible on trails or at the beach with his wife and two kids.
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.
e-verse
https://e-verse.comDESIGN PROCESS ACCELERATORS FOR THE AEC INDUSTRY. e-verse's main expertise is to automate, streamline, and connect every stage of the design process, building solutions to help your business grow at a faster pace by leveraging technology. As architects and engineers who code, they transform your design construction requirement into accurate solutions that fit your needs.
