Crazy for ConTech with Noel Brady, ProjectMark

Welcome to ‘Crazy for ConTech’ with Romey Oulton, a Q&A focused on the Construction Technology Industry. 

This Q&A series is an opportunity for our Head of ConTech, Romey Oulton, to discuss all things construction technology with key players who are championing innovation and digitalisation in the construction space. 

This week we have been in touch with Noel Brady, Co-Founder and COO at ProjectMark.

ProjectMark is the CRM built for the construction industry. Our platform empowers teams to be more productive in their pursuits and leverage historical data to make better decisions, so they can chase the right opportunities, streamline their RFP processes, and increase their win rates.

Can you describe the inspiration behind being a co-founder? What motivated you to choose this path and found ProjectMark? 

The inspiration behind co-founding ProjectMark stemmed from a deep understanding of the challenges in the construction industry. Having held pivotal roles in procuring billions of dollars of construction contracts, we were lucky enough to interface with hundreds of GCs, subs, architects and engineers and gain firsthand experience of what it takes to successfully win new work. We saw so many construction companies miss out on valuable revenue because they were not doing the simple things right. We also learned that many companies were struggling with excel, generic or legacy CRMs identified an opportunity to not only drive efficiency, but manage risk, increase opportunity and maximize revenue and profit through a modern, integrated construction specific CRM. 

What is the biggest challenge of a start-up having multiple founders, from your personal experience? 

In all honesty, there is really only upside. What if i asked you to go find me 3 people with founder mentality to hire? And then layer on the right combination of technical and personal attributes to gel together? How long would that take you? Having multiple people with the founder mentality means we can cover so much ground and focus on the business rather than spending time searching and hiring for those qualities.

On a personal level, you always have someone else going through the exact same journey as you, the highs and the lows – they immediately get it whether you need a pick up or a kick in the arse! On day 1 we agreed to leave egos at the door and that has been so key to our progress.

What learnings did you take from working with your boots on the ground as a project manager from your AECOM days, to the world of tech start-ups? Were there any unexpected obstacles along the way, and how did you navigate them?

Going from a multi-national behemoth like AECOM to a scrappy 3 person startup definitely took some adjusting. It was chaos, no structure, no processes, no templates to guide you. I’m a perfectionist so I sweat every small detail, which is so hard to do in a start up environment. Tom thrived in the chaos, Anto was somewhere in between and It took me some time to stop spending hours perfecting excel models, establishing a filing structure or deliberating over the smallest of product details. But we found our groove.

I think having domain experience is critical to success in ConTech. Construction is such a nuanced and fragmented industry and if you don’t speak the language you will get eaten alive. I have major respect for any contech company who crosses the chasm in ConTech.

What’s your secret sauce to success? Any advice you’d give to aspiring entrepreneurs or innovators in the ConTech space?

I don’t think there is a secret sauce. It’s not an industry that can be “disrupted” overnight, you have to meet contractors where they are and lead from there. You really have to listen, it takes a little patience, a lot of conviction and an incredible amount of consistent, hard work. From there you have to build the right team around you – advisors, investors and employees!

How integral do you see VC investment/support to the success of a start-up? 

It’s so key. They provide not just capital but also strategic guidance, industry connections, and credibility. Their support can accelerate growth, provide a sounding board to navigate challenges, and open doors that might otherwise remain closed. However, it’s essential to balance this with maintaining the startup’s vision and values to ensure long-term success.

What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you? What value does it bring to you and your team?

Diversity means different backgrounds, which means different perspectives to foster creativity, innovation, and problem-solving within our team. It builds a stronger, more empathetic company culture, leading to better decision-making and a more inclusive product that serves a broader audience.

Tell us about ProjectMark’s approach to talent acquisition and culture? Has it changed since you first founded the company?

Good question – Yes, our approach to talent acquisition and culture has certainly evolved since we founded ProjectMark. Initially, we were guilty of chasing impressive resumes rather than addressing the actual needs of the business. Now, we define the key attributes required for success in each role, develop targeted questions to assess suitability, and use a weighted matrix to evaluate each candidate’s attributes along with their alignment with our company culture. This iterative process ensures we bring in talent that not only has the necessary skills but also fits well with our team and values.

What is your favourite quote? If you could have dinner with any two famous people, dead or alive, who would you choose?  

The only quotes i can really remember are from Will Ferrel films. Does that count? How about “If you’re not first you’re last!!” 

One that comes to mind that has impacted me since I was a kid is from Lance Armstrong. I can’t remember the full quote but it goes something like this “Pain is temporary, if i quit it will last forever”. This resonates in so many aspects of my life and i think there is a subtle message of patience that is important for a startup. We will go through hard times but it will pass, don’t panic and keep your head – it will pay off in the end. 

If I could have dinner with any two famous people, I would choose Nelson Mandela and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Nelson Mandela for his courage of conviction, patience, and ability to change the opinions of even the most ardent opposition.
Arnold Schwarzenegger for his relentless drive, tunnel vision and ability break the most ambitious of long term goals into small achievable chunks.