In this conversation, Talha Faiz, co-founder of Candid Intelligence, discusses the journey of building a platform that compresses months of pre-construction engineering into hours. He shares insights on the challenges faced in the EPC industry, the importance of understanding user needs, and the technical hurdles in developing AI-driven solutions. Talha emphasizes the need for companies to be AI curious and highlights the potential for technology to transform the energy sector. The discussion also touches on personal experiences, lessons learned as a founder, and the future vision for Candid Intelligence.

Takeaways

• Candid Intelligence compresses months of engineering into hours.
• Understanding user needs is crucial for software adoption.
• The construction industry faces significant inefficiencies in software.
• AI can help bridge the gap between engineering and technology.
• Validating ideas with real users is essential for product development.
• Technical challenges include reading complex diagrams and documents.
• AI curiosity is more important than being AI native.
• The energy sector is ripe for technological transformation.
• Founders must focus on solving real problems for users.
• Passion and deep knowledge in a field can lead to unexpected opportunities.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Candid Intelligence

00:54 Founders' Background and Early Discoveries

02:47 Identifying Industry Problems

05:32 Building the Prototype and Validating Ideas

07:39 Target Audience and Project Stages

10:16 Proudest Moments and Technical Challenges

11:48 Computer Vision and AI in Engineering

20:23 Becoming AI Native: Best Practices

23:17 Lessons Learned as a Founder

24:49 Opportunities in Engineering

27:59 Vision for Candid and Future of Energy

31:18 Rapid Fire Round and Closing Thoughts

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