#199 Gentle Disruption, Robotics in Construction, Global VC Strategy, Built Environment Trends, & More w/ Vivin Hegde (Zacua Ventures)

Vivin Hegde is a visionary in the built environment space — from leading innovation efforts at Hilti to co-founding Zacua Ventures, Vivin is on a mission to redefine how we think about construction and infrastructure. In this episode, he dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of investing in the built environment, sharing his journey from managing corporate venture capital at Hilti to launching Zacua Ventures, where he backs early-stage startups focused on decarbonization, productivity, and infrastructure resiliency.Vivin unpacks:**The importance of "gentle disruption" in the construction industry 🛠️**The strategic shift from corporate innovation to independent VC investing 💼**How global perspectives inform better investment decisions 🌍**The key traits he looks for in founders, especially in the construction tech space 👥Topics:**02:04 Intro**03:08 Defining the Built Environment**04:56 Automation and Robotics in Construction**08:40 Sales and Building Relationships**24:59 Supporting Startups at the Earliest Stages**26:35 Investing Globally to Fund the Best Entrepreneurs**31:55 The Importance of Sector Specialization**42:53 The Role of Data Centers in the Digital Age**44:27 The Potential of Mass Timber in Construction**45:48 Addressing Challenges in the Design Space**47:22 Impressing Investors: Deep Understanding, Knowledge, and Learning AgilityLinks:**Vivin Hedge | Zacua Ventures**Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn**@Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showIf you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.70+ Placements5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)90-day placement guaranteeIt's really hard to say no to that. Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company. We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank. Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. [email protected]