Alexei, Trey
## Key Points
- Estimator, now working as an owners rep (director of cost). Started 2 months ago, open to becoming a partner. Small team (6-7 people), working 60-70 hours/week. Hospitality focus -- build restaurants, retail stores.
- Trained to estimate all trades. When he worked for a GC, there were 4 estimators splitting divisions. Now he's the only guy, does everything.
- Strong advocate for 2D over 3D/BIM. Tried integrating BIM and estimating extensively -- 9/10 times had a bad model. "Super time consuming to remodel, so I just used 2D, so much faster." Garbage in, garbage out.
- Saved $40K on lowest bid through negotiation. Has deep knowledge of how to scrutinize estimates.
## Pain Points Mentioned
- MEP is most time-consuming: lots of small components that add up, equipment costs fluctuate a lot (transformers, bus ducts, switchboards)
- Transformers are the #1 bottleneck: suppliers backlogged, tried bypassing electrician but it was a headache. Delays cascade to the whole project.
- As owners rep: failure mode is not managing budget well -- being off at the end, not pointing out risks early enough
- Expanding to different states means working with unfamiliar GCs, can't rely on established relationships
## Product Feedback
- Confident in 2D approach: construction is old-fashioned, everything based on plans, faster execution to market with OCR/AI than waiting for someone to model 3D
- Has seen AI companies that take 2D drawings and create 3D for architecture -- interesting but separate problem
- Would value a tool that helps with site plan simulation (entry/exit points, delivery planning, storage)
## Next Steps
- High-value prospect: works across all trades, does everything himself, time-constrained
- Big ticket items insight: even planters/rooftop trees can be rare and need months of advance ordering
- Follow up on MEP-focused demo