Why $1T Construction still runs on Spreadsheets (And How AI Fixes It) | Sneha & Graham, Merlin AI

Can AI Rebuild the $1 Trillion Construction Industry?Construction is one of the largest industries in the world, yet most projects still run on Excel sheets, fragmented tools, and disconnected workflows.Sneha Kumari (Co-founder, Merlin) and Graham Blake (CPO, Merlin) break down why construction has remained one of the least digitized industries and why that is finally starting to change.We explore why traditional ERP systems like NetSuite or Dynamics fail construction companies, how Merlin is rethinking enterprise software for builders, and why AI may finally make it possible to coordinate the massive complexity behind modern construction projects.Sneha also shares her journey from industry operator to first-time founder, how Merlin found early product-market fit, the power of word-of-mouth growth in construction, and what it takes to build a vertical SaaS company in a “non-sexy” but trillion-dollar industry.If you're curious about how AI can transform deep, complex industries this conversation is for you.00:00 – Trailer00:40 – Merlin x Neon 02:07 – Software for construction04:37 – What convinced Graham to join06:25 – Founder insights that discovered the pain points08:43 – The team behind Merlin10:15 – Challenges of building tech in construction11:51 – Biggest pain points for Merlin’s customers17:16 – Does ERP need a revolution?17:55 – Merlin’s end-to-end ERP approach20:39 – Why customers aren’t happy with existing solutions24:36 – Why an AI-native approach makes sense28:23 – What % of construction budget goes to tech30:37 – How Y Combinator changed a first-time founder31:50 – The role Neon played in Merlin33:34 – Current players that excite the founders36:43 – What it takes for Merlin to reach $10M ARR39:57 – How to build with zero sales constraints43:06 – Why become a founder?45:56 – Build only for an industry you truly understand47:41 – Why construction over manufacturing48:38 – When customer called previous software a “black box”-------------India’s talent has built the world’s tech—now it’s time to lead it.This mission goes beyond startups. It’s about shifting the center of gravity in global tech to include the brilliance rising from India.What is Neon Fund?We invest in seed and early-stage founders from India and the diaspora building world-class Enterprise AI companies. We bring capital, conviction, and a community that’s done it before.Subscribe for real founder stories, investor perspectives, economist breakdowns, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we’re doing it all at Neon.-------------Check us out on:Website: https://neon.fund/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theneonshoww/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beneon/Twitter: https://x.com/TheNeonShowwConnect with Siddhartha on:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siddharthaahluwalia/Twitter: https://x.com/siddharthaa7-------------This video is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the individuals quoted and do not constitute professional advice.Send us Fan Mail