Bonus Episode: Closing the Gap Between Sketch and Build with Trimble 0-60 and Formas.AI

How can early-stage startups drive true transformation in the AECO space, and what happens when AI-native tools are designed to amplify human intent rather than replace the architect?In this bonus episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee explores the intersection of corporate acceleration and cutting-edge startup innovation. The conversation brings together German Aparicio from Trimble Ventures alongside Yiping Goh and Carlos Banon, the co-founders of Formas.AI.German walks listeners through the Trimble 0-60 accelerator program, which was recently named Built World's Accelerator Program of the Year. This 12-week, historically equity-free program invites early-stage startups to build on top of Trimble platforms like SketchUp and showcase their live integrations at Trimble Dimensions in Las Vegas this November. Herman outlines how Trimble acts as a system of record, searching for partners to create systems of action and intelligence across three key pillars: connected data, connected design, and the connected field. He also defines what "early stage" means for the program, targeting companies founded within the last five years, making under $2 million ARR, and operating with a couple of early customers looking to scale.The spotlight then shifts to Formas.AI, a participant in the current cohort operating in the connected design space. Co-founders Yiping and Carlos explain how their AI-native design workspace is bridging the gap between an initial sketch, reference image, or floor plan and a buildable 3D model in hours instead of months. Carlos, an architect and professor, shares how the tool was born out of personal frustration with fragmented interfaces and broken workflows that detach designers from the joy of creating. Yiping provides an entrepreneurial lens on the broader AEC industry, noting that while it represents 13% of global GDP, it remains one of the least digitized sectors, heavily reliant on legacy software and restricted by the slow timeline of physical building processes.Together, the group tackles the critical challenges of technology adoption, highlighting trust as a core barrier for practitioners who have invested heavily in traditional tools. Rather than replacing human designers, the founders argue for a democratization of design through guardrails that preserve creative authorship and intent. As Formas.AI navigates its 12-week acceleration path, they aim to leverage Trimble's ecosystem to deliver a validated, highly precise design experience that brings excitement and joy back to the craft."We are believing in the future of design being more human led, less or not even about human replaced. That the winners of AI are the ones that really can give people more creative power, not less." - Yiping GohThis episode serves as an inspiring look at how industry giants and agile startups can co-create workflows that amplify human intuition and make design fun again.GuestsGerman Aparicio runs the Zero to 60 accelerator program at Trimble Ventures. As a trained architect, he focuses on scaling early-stage software and hardware innovations that connect data, design, and job sites across the full project lifecycle.Yiping Goh is the co-founder and CEO of Formas.AI. She is a tech entrepreneur currently scaling her fourth company, with a professional background spanning a real estate degree, venture capital, corporate venture building at McKinsey, and multiple successful company exits.Carlos Banon is an architect, computational designer, and professor who has taught design in Singapore for the last 13 years. A self-taught coder since age six, he is the design and technical mind behind Formas.AI, having built its foundational versions to streamline creative workflows.This episode is especially for you if:✅ You want to understand how the Trimble 0-60 accelerator helps early-stage startups scale by integrating directly into established industry platforms like SketchUp.✅ You are curious about how Formas.AI closes the gap between a rough sketch and a buildable model using natural language and multimodal AI tools.✅ You want to explore why trust, legacy tools, and authority code submissions present unique adoption challenges within the AEC space.✅ You believe that AI technology should amplify a designer's creative intent and preserve human authorship rather than generate generic, unmeaningful variations.What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.📍 Show Links:Learn more about TrimbleLearn more about 0-60 accelerator Learn more about Formas.AIListen to the previous episode featuring German Aparicio📍 Follow Practice Disrupted on Social:Instagram | LinkedIn | YoutubeCheck out our past episodes Be a part of our community — join the conversation