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Conversation
Highlights

 

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech’s most innovative B2B founders. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Marco Herbst, CEO of Evercam, a construction video platform that has raised €12.8 million in funding.

  • The founding story of Evercam and how Marco’s previous experience building Jobs.ie, Ireland’s number one jobs website, led him to explore opportunities in the IP camera space.
  • How Evercam evolved into a reality capture platform for the construction industry, leveraging video cameras, drones, 360-degree cameras, and other emerging technologies to improve construction productivity.
  • The challenges of driving technology adoption in the traditionally risk-averse construction sector and how Evercam is overcoming them by delivering immediate value.
  • Evercam’s traction with major global brands like Intel, Microsoft, and Meta, and the importance of consistency and tenacity in earning customer trust.
  • The company’s journey from bootstrapping to raising significant funding and the lessons learned during the “lost in the desert” years before finding product-market fit.
  • Marco’s vision for Evercam to become the category creator for reality capture and predictive construction, using data to design better buildings of the future.

 

Actionable
Takeaways

Seek Out Industries Ripe for Technological Disruption:

Marco identified construction as a sector that had fallen behind in productivity due to its risk-averse nature and lack of suitable tools. By focusing on an industry with clear pain points and a significant technology gap, Evercam found a massive opportunity for impact. Founders should actively explore sectors where the status quo is leaving value on the table and resist the temptation to follow the herd into overhyped spaces.

Embrace the Grind of Solving Mundane Problems:

In Evercam's early days, the team had to tackle countless mundane challenges like keeping cameras online and functioning in harsh environments. Marco emphasizes the importance of having the tenacity to solve these unglamorous problems as a foundation for tackling higher-order challenges like predictive analytics. Founders must be willing to roll up their sleeves and address the nitty-gritty realities of their industry before reaching for the stars.

Cultivate a Culture of Builders:

Marco attributes much of Evercam's success to assembling a team of intrinsically motivated builders who share a passion for creating something tangible. By fostering a culture that celebrates the joy of clocking off and seeing the fruits of one's labor, Evercam has attracted top talent eager to tackle hard problems. Founders should strive to align their company culture with the deeper purpose that drives their industry.

Play the Long Game in Complex Industries:

Construction is a vast, complex industry where change happens slowly and relationships matter. Marco advises founders entering such sectors to adopt a patient, long-term mindset and focus on consistently delivering value rather than chasing quick wins. By playing the long game and investing in deep customer empathy, startups can build the credibility needed to drive transformation.

Prepare for the Emotional Rollercoaster of Entrepreneurship:

Marco candidly shares the emotional challenges of the early years of Evercam, from the loneliness of pre-product-market fit to the strain of keeping the faith during long stretches without external validation. While his experience as a second-time founder helped, Marco stresses that each entrepreneurial journey comes with its own set of trials. Founders must cultivate resilience and find healthy ways to cope with the inevitable ups and downs.

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