Building Brix: One Year After B4i

One year ago, we interviewed a co-founder of Brix shortly after they joined the B4i Acceleration Program. At the time, the conversation focused on ambition, execution, and the decision to go commit fully to entrepreneurship.

Founders on Founders: Navigating the Early Days of Startup Life

Twelve months later, we sat down with the team again to find out what had happened since the Acceleration Program: closing their first funding round, launching the product, achieving the first signs of market traction and dealing with the realities of building operational workflows for enterprise clients in construction procurement.

In this follow-up conversation, the founders - Tommaso Zoldan (CEO), Filippo Simone (Product Engineering Lead) and Luca Caivano (Data & AI Lead) - reflect on the challenges of transforming ideas into scalable operations, the importance of relentless iteration and the responsibility that comes with managing critical procurement budgets for enterprise customers.

What is Brix and why did you create it?

Tommaso Zoldan: “Brix is an AI-powered procurement platform designed to transform the way construction companies source materials and services. We founded the company around a year ago after realizing that the construction industry was facing huge problems sourcing the materials and services needed to complete projects.

On average, general contractors spend around 70% of their revenues on procurement, yet most companies can only evaluate two or three suppliers for each purchase. We asked ourselves a simple question: if consumers can compare twenty different options online when buying a €15 phone charger, why can’t contractors do the same when spending hundreds of thousands of euros? That’s where Brix was born.”

The last time we spoke, you were preparing for your first commercial launch having validated the product with design partners. What happened next?

Filippo Simone: “At that time, we were still in the B4i Acceleration Program and had yet to close our first angel round. Since then, we have completed our first funding round, which has allowed us to hire key talent, invest in product development and build our go-to-market team. We brought on board incredible people who helped us launch the product in January 2026 and start gaining traction with clients. Since then we have focused on testing product features directly against market needs, listening carefully to customer feedback and continuously improving the platform.”

Looking back at the last twelve months, what achievement are you most proud of?

Tommaso Zoldan: “One of the things I’m most proud of is how we built our go-to-market team. We hired people who could source, negotiate with and close clients independently in a very short amount of time. Seeing someone ramp up so quickly and deliver results almost immediately was huge validation not only of the team, but also of our target market. This confirmed that we are solving a genuine problem and that there is strong demand for what we are developing.”

Luca Caivano: “ne of the most satisfying aspects for me has been seeing how much trust clients place in us. Construction companies are essentially entrusting us with one of the most critical parts of their business: procurement budgets. This level of trust is both surprising and incredibly rewarding.”

What has been the most challenging aspect of transforming Brix into a real business?

Filippo Simone: “The hardest part has probably been turning ideas and "cool features" into an operational workflow that clients can rely on. At the beginning, you start with almost nothing. Then, over time and through relentless iteration and feedback, the product evolves dramatically. Looking back at the very first version that we launched with clients, it feels completely different to what we have today. What matters, especially in B2B, is solving the customer’s workflow issues. You cannot compromise on that. Every feature must fit into a coherent operational flow for the client.”

Last year we talked about the decision to go “all in” as founders. How has your life changed personally since then?

Luca Caivano: “Being a founder is a double-edged experience. You end up dedicating enormous amounts of time and energy to your work. Probably more than most people around you. But at the same time, work becomes genuinely exciting. Every day brings new challenges, new ideas and new opportunities to create something meaningful. It is demanding, but also deeply satisfying.”

Tommaso Zoldan: “What has changed the most is the feeling of having a real impact. Before Brix, we worked in more traditional corporate environments. Now, we walk through the city and see construction sites operated by clients that are using our software and services. Knowing that we are contributing, even indirectly, to shaping the physical environment around us is incredibly motivating.”

What’s next for Brix?

Tommaso Zoldan: “There’s a lot in development at the moment that we’ll be announcing soon. We are continuously improving the product, expanding the team, and working closely with clients to understand their evolving needs. One of the main requests we receive concerns workflow automation and coverage of increasingly technical procurement activities. That is exactly where we are focusing our efforts. Many product improvements are on the horizon, and we are excited about the next phase of growth for Brix.”