This week’s interview is with Tian Deng and Qi Su, co-founders of the startup Modelo based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Tian and Qi developed a browser-based 3D design collaboration tool, which makes it easy to share and comment on digital 3D models. From his work in various architectural offices, Qi’s experience was that sharing a 3D model with a client for giving feedback could be difficult. The process was hardly optimized, involving converting the 3D model into a flat image, printing it out for the client, marking on the print, and then scanning it and updating the 3D model.

That pain point is what eventually led to Modelo, which Qi founded together with industrial designer Tian Deng in 2014. Their product is now in its beta development stage and the full commercial release is coming soon. The startup has raised more than $1 million in funding and has 12 employees. Way to go!

Keep reading to learn how the two founders managed to finance their startup, about their Software as a Service (SaaS) business model, and about the similarities of being an architect or software entrepreneur.

I hope you enjoy the interview!

What are your respective backgrounds and when did you partner up?

Qi Su: I was an architectural designer and had worked for several firms before I went to The Harvard Graduate School of Design. While there my major focus was on technology, so it’s fair to say that at that point I became half architect, half programmer.

Tian and I met through a mutual friend. At the time, I was mainly doing everything by myself, showing my prototype to friends. I still remember the first time Tian and I talked about potential collaboration; we actually did it on a model page of Modelo where we could both chat and rotate the 3D model together.

I think we shared the same vision for and interests regarding the solution we are offering to the industry, and so that’s why we decided to partner up.

Tian: I had worked as an industrial designer before, so the design disciplines were different for both of us. But our experiences gave us a great combination of perspectives to build our product.

What made you decide to found Modelo? Was there a particular moment that sealed the decision for you?

Qi Su: The first moment must have been when I first saw a 3D model get rendered in the browser using WegGL; that was back in 2012. My director at Harvard, Panagiotis Michalatos, showed it to me. I was so excited because finally our major digital production outcome, CAD models, could reside in a web browser and be shown to the others interactively, in 3D. As a result, I decided to do something with it.

How do you finance your startup? Any tips for our community on how you managed it?

Qi Su: We were supported by our friends (mainly architects) at the beginning and also got some funding from an accelerator program called BetaSpring. After that, we went on the same track like every other technology startup in the world: getting money from institutional VCs.

Regarding tips, I think you really have to think your business through, keep your mind open and learn as much and as fast as you can.

You developed a browser-based 3D design collaboration tool. Could you give us some examples of how the tool is used and how it helps architectural practices?

Tian: Modelo provides web-based communication and presentation tools for architects and people who use CAD as their production tool. The goal of Modelo is to help our users get things done faster: making presentations, rendering, giving design feedback, sharing files, getting clients’ approval or validating building issues with engineers and consultants. We’ve seen our customers extensively using Modelo for internal design feedback, file transfer and client-facing presentations.

We’ve heard from one of our customers that their design partner wouldn’t allow anyone to show him models that are NOT on Modelo; besides that, they use Modelo for most of their client presentations and the clients love it.

In what stage of development is your tool?

Tian: We are still in beta, but the product has been pretty stable and we already have many paying customers using it in their work. We will probably launch our full commercial release in the next couple of months; by that time, we will have released several very exciting functions.

What is your business model for your startup?

Tian: It is Software as a Service (SaaS) and subscription based. Users go to www.modelo.io, sign up, choose a plan, try it out, and then they get to decide whether they want to pay after a 14 day trial. We also have a free plan where people can sign up and try Modelo out by uploading models that are under a certain file size.

Qi Su, first you worked in an architectural office, now you are an entrepreneur. What do you find the most fulfilling about it?

Qi Su: I found both very interesting, and in some ways similar to each other. They are both about creating things for people to use and getting big projects done – but the pace is very different. As an entrepreneur you can probably (and have to) learn new things faster than as an architect.

Do you miss working as an architect?

Qi Su: Sometimes. I still love architecture very much. My family’s background is in architecture and civil engineering. So becoming an architect was my childhood dream – except during my teenage years when I tried to become a professional soccer player!

The building industry is known for being slow to adapt to new technologies. What is your experience with this?

Qi Su: We are dealing with buildings, not toothpaste. I think it is reasonable for the industry to be slow. It’s such a complex industry, and it involves many stakeholders.

The bigger problem I see is in architectural design education. I think it’s very broken; it’s rare that people coming out of it will know anything about how to run an architectural practice. I think we need to change that.

Do you have any advice for archipreneurs who want to start and build their own business?

Qi Su: Follow your heart and do what you love to do. However, if it’s business you want then you need to learn to take care not only of yourself but also your customers.

In which areas (outside of traditional practice) can you see major business opportunities for up and coming architects?

Qi Su: Wherever our skills can be sold and the Internet can help us in selling.

About Qi Su and Tian Deng

Qi Su is an architect who has worked for the architectural offices amphibianArc, MADAs.p.a.m. and Michael Sorkin Studio. He graduated from Harvard Graduate School of Design and is the only master’s student in school history who has won both the Peter Rice Prize for structural design invention and the Digital Design Prize for the innovative creation of digital tools.

Tian Deng worked as an industrial designer after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design. He worked on several hardware design and interactive design projects before he joined Qi Su and start working on Modelo in 2014.

The post How Modelo Started a SaaS Business appeared first on Archipreneur.

This week’s interview is with Antje Kunze, Co-Founder and CEO of SmarterBetterCities.

Antje founded SmarterBetterCities together with Jan Halatsch in 2012. It started out as a spin-off from ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology); the company has since gone from strength to strength and has recently opened its second office in Berkeley, California.

The initial goal of the company was to provide easy-to-use and intuitive tools for urban planning and management. They did so with their web-based tool CloudCities, an online platform where users can view, upload, share and discuss 3D city models.

This “YouTube for cities”, as Antje calls it, runs on any device that has a web browser. You can bring all of your design data into CloudCities’ practical and eye-catching dashboards without any prior coding knowledge necessary. This web-based tool is especially designed to help governments, city planners, architectural companies and consulting companies with their planning scenarios and city visualizations.

Keep on reading to learn from an architect with a background in computer science on how she started her business, the kinds of services and products she creates, and how she envisions the future of the building industry and energy-aware urban planning – all from a simple web browser.

I hope you enjoy the interview!

What made you decide to found the software company SmarterBetterCities?

In 2013, we established SmarterBetterCities to provide easy-to-use and intuitive tools for urban planning and management. We designed our products for integrating, sharing and understanding complex urban data.

Back in the days at ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), my colleagues and I researched urbanization and how information technology can support designers, stakeholders and decision makers to arrive at the best decisions. Traditional software technology is difficult to use, and creates data silos and unnecessary boundaries between people.

We believe that combining and sharing planning information is important. However, it should not be so time-consuming and complicated. People should be able to easily access contextual urban information and analyses. In addition, the urban fabric is becoming even more important with emerging technologies such as IoT and Smart Meters, creating Big Databases of planning information.

Was there a particular moment that sealed the decision for you?

The idea of founding a company and becoming its CEO did not instantly come to mind. In fact, I had been planning for an academic career. In that sense, there was no particular moment. However, my co-founders and I had been involved in a couple of large-scale research projects that provided our team with an opportunity to create an ETH spin-off company.

At the same time, our research group at ETH Zurich had received several requests for consulting work, which were beyond the scope of the university. It was the perfect time to bootstrap SmarterBetterCities.

Who were your co-founders and in what professional position were you at that moment?

Initially, I founded the company together with Jan Halatsch in 2013. We had both known each other for years. At the time, we were working as research scientists and project leaders with the Chair of Information Architecture at ETH Zurich.

Half a year later, Michael Van den Bergh joined us as a co-founder of SmarterBetterCities. He was a Postdoc at the Computer Vision Laboratory of ETH Zurich and was very interested in designing great user interfaces and 3D computer graphics. I think we are quite a unique combination of talents.

SmarterBetterCities developed the web-based tool CloudCities. Could you give us some examples of how the tool is used and how it helps architectural practices?

CloudCities is a novel tool to present and share complex 3D data containing architectural and urban designs. CloudCities runs on any device and on any modern web browser. Think of it as a YouTube for cities.

Using CloudCities, architects and urban planners can upload 3D data from CAD, BIM or GIS applications. In a few steps, they can configure the look and feel of their design, and share them online. The resulting web scene can be easily embedded inside blog posts or shared on social media for public or closed audience approval.

When you configure a CloudCities web scene, you can control what information, layers, cameras and animations are shown to your audience. You can set up sliders and toggles for design comparison. And, if you are using Esri ArcGIS or Esri CityEngine for 3D content authoring, then you can easily add meta-information.

For instance, you can report floor areas, open space ratios, energy demands and other key performance indicators. The great thing with CloudCities is you can bring all of your design data into useful and beautiful looking dashboards without the headache of coding it yourself. The result is a beautiful web application that is driven by architectural design facts.

CloudCities currently supports SketchUp, Google Earth, and Esri CityEngine. Soon we will add support for Autodesk Revit using the fbx file format as well as more CAD and GIS file formats.

What other software do you offer?

We offer 3D Libraries, making it very easy to create 3D city models using Esri CityEngine and Esri ArcGIS Pro. The 3D Libraries are parametric building and parcel models that contain typical urban morphologies. They come as abstract, simplified building models or as very detailed models including facades and some interior features.

Unlike conventional 3D models, our 3D Libraries work with footprint or parcel input of any size. The geometry (e.g., facade elements, courtyards, vegetation) will always adjust, depending on size or other input parameters. Designers can use the 3D Libraries to create a contextual 3D model, which surrounds their actual building or development proposal.

Alternatively, they can use the 3D Libraries to create a buildout analysis of land parcels. Urban planners can generate 3D zoning plans, following exact legal thresholds. Think of defining setbacks, governing floor area ratios, building masses and checking the energy efficiency of your proposed building shells at the same time.

Step by step, we are uniting our 3D Libraries with CloudCities. The idea is that, in the future, users will be able to instantly draft their urban scenarios online. Another novelty will be that CloudCities users can bridge their data between the architectural (CAD, BIM) world and the city planning and management world (GIS).

Your clients are both private and public – architectural offices and real estate agencies on the one hand, and municipalities and local governments on the other. Is it difficult to meet their very different needs?

All of our clients share more or less the same parts of the value creation chain. It is all about creating, modifying and optimizing urban assets. Unfortunately, the value creation chain lacked integration. We like to make life easier for both sides.

Imagine that a municipality can create a 3D zoning plan that optimizes the energy demand of its buildings (e.g., maximize solar impact for local energy generation, minimize building shell area to avoid energy losses) and also considers system thresholds such as traffic network traffic capacity.

On the other side, architects and urban planners can instantly check to see if their designs meet legislative requirements or if there is a need to negotiate. Both parties can easily digest different types of data and can profit from clear communication channels.

The reduction of CO2 emissions is a big topic in city planning. You are working on a pilot project that might help in the decision-making. Could you tell us a little bit about it?

Yes, of course. We are currently integrating our 3D Libraries into CloudCities. For a couple of years, we researched a novel product for energy aware urban planning. The idea is that you can quickly assess the current energy demand of buildings, even when very little usage data is available.

Using this product, users can understand what options might be effective for significantly reducing the energy demand of buildings. This product will be coupled with our 3D Libraries. Imagine that you can create energy efficient building and urban design proposals right at the design phase, only using a web browser.

This will be especially important for emerging countries, where cities are growing extremely fast and skilled planners are limited. We hope that we can leave a big impact there.

What are you working on right now?

This one is exciting. We are about to release the next version of CloudCities. The new release will stream whole cities instead of individual web scenes. We are also adding the ability to upload any 3D and 2D data to compose large urban scenarios, only using a web browser. The next big thing will be to include even more realtime data from sensors and refresh the user interface.

How did you finance your start-up? Any tips on how to manage it?

We used a combination of bootstrapping and Seed round supported by smart investors. Right from the start we had customers and worked on a consultancy basis. Research project funding provided us with additional resources to flesh out our products.

Last year, we completed a first Seed Investment Round and the Swiss Environmental Protection Agency certified that we created effective GHG assessment tools for urban planning. The certification was a great success and it brought additional resources to our company.

Do you have any advice for “Archipreneurs” who want to start and build their own business?

I think that the most important step is to just do it. It sounds bold but in the end you need to think about your business idea and how customers will use and pay for it. Finally, you need to implement it. Do not wait too long; make it a reality.

In which areas (outside of traditional practice) can you see major business opportunities for up and coming architects?

Smart cities, energy consultancy and data interoperability are hot topics for architects. Architects are extremely good to structure spatial information at all scales from indoor to city-scale. The big geospatial and IT companies are typically missing these kinds of qualities. Paired with local knowledge, an architect can provide true value.

About Antje Kunze

Antje is the co-founder and CEO of SmarterBetterCities, and the creator of CloudCities, an online platform to view, upload, share and discuss 3D city models. 3D has never been easier.

Antje founded SmarterBetterCities together with Jan Halatsch as an ETH Zurich spin-off in 2012. Up to 2013, Antje had been a research scientist at the Chair of Information Architecture ETH Zurich. In addition to her degree in Architecture, Antje has a background in Computer Science, with a strong focus on information visualization.

The post Smarter, Better Cities: Converting Data into Designs for Urban Planning with Antje Kunze appeared first on Archipreneur.

Please read my list of 5 ways architecture students can get their start as entrepreneurs.

By Cory Wingelaar

A professor in my final semester of University made a point that resonated with me: Why does a field of study that teaches students to envision and create so subjectively, generate graduates that view their career path so objectively?

I think there needs to be a fundamental shift in the mindset of architecture student’s. We need to ask, how can I monetize this skillset, as opposed to where can I wait tables until a firm hires me?

Why wait hat in hand for job interviews? Here are 5 ways that you can capitalize on your arsenal of valuable skills and make a couple bucks now!

#1 – Create a 3D Rendering Service

When I was working as a draftsperson for a residential construction company that specialized in addition/renovations, I noticed that we were spending far too much of the drafting budget trying to sell 2D elevations and plans to homeowners.

The reason being is that most customers aren’t architecturally trained and can’t visualize in 2D. Customers want you to show them solutions that they see on sites like Pinterest, Houzz and shows like Property Brothers.

Therefore, I created a freelance service that catered to developers and residential construction companies. This is how it worked: First meeting, I would meet with the customer to discuss their design ideas and obtain relevant job documents.

Second meeting, I would show them 12 different views of basic mass models and have them agree upon any number they were willing to pay for. We would set the fee, sign the contract and move forward. Following the second meeting, I’d send progress shots with inquiries and alter designs based on their feedback until we reached a final agreement.

How can you start?

Use your portfolio as your advertising tool. I would suggest setting up a small WordPress portfolio site and advertising your service via social media platforms. Check out this post on how to set up a WordPress site for architects.

Note: Make sure to agree upon exact perspective views early on. Customers have a tendency to change views throughout the process, not realizing how time consuming it can be for you if you have already dressed your perspectives up in Photoshop. Set the views collectively, and agree upon a fee if the customer would like to make a change or add one later on.

#2 – Set up a Residential Drafting Service

Different states or provinces are likely to have different requirements for submitting permit drawings, but there is always a need for qualified people to produce drawings for DIY projects. Most building departments require more than a “napkin” sketch in 2015, which is why your CAD skills can be of great assistance. As for payment, you can either set an hourly fee, or charge by the job. Personally, I always charged by the job.

How can you start?

Advertise your services on sites like Kijiji or Craigslist and you might be surprised how quick you get contacted.

Note: Make sure to find out what local permit drawing qualifications are required for submissions prior to putting yourself out there. You don’t want to damage credibility by making promises that you are not qualified to fulfill.

#3 – Start a “How to Blog” that offers Tips

Have you just passed your LEED AP BD+C exam? Are you an expert in AutoCad, Sketchup or Photoshop? What can you do really well that you can put in writing to help others?

Blogging is a longer path to produce regular income, but there are people making money simply sharing their skills online. For information on monetizing your blog please visit this link.

How can you get started?

A case study that should inspire you, is Pat Flynn. Pat was a job captain in an architecture firm until 2008 when he became jobless as result of the recession. He started with a simple blog sharing his study tips for the LEED AP exam and made over 5 times his previous salary in his first year. The key point is that it started as a tip sharing blog to make things easier for others and grew beyond something he could have ever imagined. For more information please visit this blog post.

WordPress is a great, user friendly blog building website. I suggest visiting this how to guide to help you get started.

 Note: Your blog can also be your advertisement platform for the rest of the services on this list!

#4 – Create your own Youtube Channel

If you’re anything like me, every time you have an AutoCAD or Revit issue, you YouTube the solution. More often than not, the solution is there. Why? Because someone else has had that issue, and someone else has solved that issue.

Yes, you aren’t the first person to do this. But who cares? If you’re good at a particular program and you communicate the solution well, your services may be in high demand. Check out Eric Reinholdt’s video blog to see a great example of how to offer tips to users on a video platform.

For information on how to monetize your video blog, visit this site.

How can you start?

First, find your niche. You’re more likely to be successful with a target audience.

Note: Niche is the keyword. Be specific with your topic!

#5 – Use Freelance Job Platforms

Why not take advantage of platforms that were created for people like you? There are too many great platforms available online for freelance work to list, but I will outline 2 that I am familiar with:

GreenLancer

A Detroit based start-up that hires people with architecture and engineering backgrounds to create solar design documents via correspondence. Your hourly wage is dictated by your experience. For more information please visit GreenLancer.

Upwork

Unlike GreenLancer, Upwork is not industry specific. It is a platform designed to connect various types of employers to freelancers and vice verca. Compensation is unique job to job. For more information please visit Upwork.

How to get started?

You can simply get started by creating a profile on one of these websites and bidding on your first project. Your first freelance job can be a start on your own freelance business.

Conclusion

I must reinforce my point: architecture draws creative, driven people that are trained to innovate and adapt. Therefore, why can’t these skills be implemented for entrepreneurial ventures? They can and they should!

Don’t accept the status quo for graduates and more importantly, don’t fall victim to the negative banter you hear about how there are no jobs for graduates. Pick a service, advertise your work, network and good opportunities will present themselves.

Am I missing any great entrepreneurial services for architecture students? Your feedback would be greatly appreciated!

***

This post is a guest post by Cory Wingelaar.

Cory is a graduate of Architecture at Lawrence Technical University and a LEED AP BD+C. Cory’s professional experience ranges from drafting/design in architecture firms to Project estimating/ technical sales for a building façade Curtainwall firm. Cory is passionate about architecture, entrepreneurship, travel and sports.

The post 5 Ways Architecture Students Can Get Started as Entrepreneurs appeared first on Archipreneur.

It is the age-old story of technology changing the industry, simultaneously eviscerating old and creating new job profiles. Early CAD systems were extremely expensive and involved the use of cumbersome machines operated by specially trained workers. Designers had to bring their work to the CAD Departments and wait for hours or even days to receive plotted outputs. While this way of working seems ridiculously inefficient, back in the time of the first minicomputers and mainframes, this technological advancement allowed for the production of work which previously took 10 to 12 people to complete.

Blue-collar workers such as painters, plasterers, carpenters and brick masons may become extinct due to automation and new technologies, but according to several studies, computerization jeopardizes desk jobs the most-particularly middle-skilled positions that involve the execution of routinized tasks. The term “job polarization” describes the diminishing employment opportunities when it comes to jobs requiring moderate level of skills, especially compared to high-skilled workers and those at the bottom of the labor market.

Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael A. Osborne from Oxford University, authors of “The future of Employment”, have created a table ranking architecture jobs by probability of computerization according to which model makers, technicians, drafters and urban planners are at a much greater risk of disappearing compared to architects, interior designers and civil engineers. Meanwhile, computerization has birthed some new occupations within the field of architecture, mainstream profession in particular.

Here we bring you five relatively new job titles featured extensively on job boards across architecture-related platforms and websites:

#1 – BIM Specialist

Since the introduction of virtual building solutions during the 1980s and the emergence of 3d representation, the industry adapted to include these into its design processes and use building information technology in decision making, cost estimation and production of construction documents. Parametric modeling, associated data and rules have evolved to a degree which required highly-skilled employees that can keep track of the changes and be in charge of different aspects of the project. The position BIM Specialist can relate to different areas of expertise, from modeling, consulting, developing applications and software to researching and management positions. The general requirements for the position are usually a certification for specific software and experience in project planning and tracking.

# 2 – Digital Making Technologist

Over the last 15 years, rapid prototyping has found its way from car and aerospace industries into architecture. Large architectural firms dedicated to innovation and emerging technologies have established their own teams of specialists focused on the production of physical models and complex geometries, 3d printing and digital fabrication. The job title Model Maker has been substituted with Digital Making Technologist, describing employees capable of handling an entire set of complex tasks related to in-house rapid prototyping. Since 3d printers are being adopted as a new standard design tool, the demand for people skilled in handling technical and creative aspects of digital fabrication has significantly risen. Management skills and ability to handle infrastructure systems are highly valued when considering potential candidates.

#3 – Social Media Manager

The recent boom in social media has been embraced by architecture as well as other disciplines. The way architects communicate has changed drastically. Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Youtube, Pinterest and other platforms have permeated the industry and helped introduce a new position within the industry-Social Media Manager/Communication Manager. Many among the large firms working across the globe rely on their social media followers to communicate their ideas and brands and integrate user feedback into future designs. Choosing the best platform, forming a community and handling various social media accounts are the main responsibilities of potential social media managers.

#4 – 3d Architectural Visualizer

Pencil drawings, ink tracing and watercolor representation of architectural projects are things of the past and, as such, today they mostly have value as collectibles. Ever since the emergence of the first version of CATIA in 1982, it became apparent that the new technology can be applied to architectural representation. Today, architectural visualization has developed into creating photorealistic renders meant to infuse designs with the element of reality. Visualization can be part of the design process itself, but is most often used to represent finished projects. Architectural visualizers work either as part of a specialized visualization agency or as members of an in-house team in the case of large architectural firms. Working within a specialized agency can refers to 3d artists specialized in modeling, lighting, rendering or post-production, requiring extensive knowledge of specific software. People looking to break into the archiviz industry don’t have to be architects, but most jobs actually require an architectural background.

#5 – Motion Graphic Designer

Although photorealistic renders have become an industry standard, an increasing number of firms and developers turn to animation and promo videos to reach their target audiences. Architectural films conveying atmosphere and sense of lifestyle are becoming increasingly popular and facilitate a more interactive way of presenting projects to clients. Large firms such as Herzog & de Meuron, Zaha Hadid Architects and several developers have created videos which provide immersive experiences of spaces and urban interventions. Although this type of content can be created in-house, most large companies hire specialized agencies for the production of great-looking video content.

[The above-mentioned job profiles have seen numerous iterations over the years, causing some confusion among job seekers. The fact that the IT industry has hijacked the word “architect” can be a source of frustration for those looking for employment within the field of architecture, but this appropriation also reveals the increasing complexity of the job market and the immense influence technology has on all industries, including architecture. ]

The Royal Institute of British Architects’ think tank, Building Futures, have published a report that examines the role of architects in 2025. Through a series of interviews and round-table sessions, the study presents prevailing opinions of leading architects, consultants and contractors working in expanded fields of the practice.

“The profession is heading towards consultancy. I think that architects will have the greatest influence if they concentrate on high-end consultancy and strategic thinking,” states a project manager of a global consultancy. Another chief executive thinks that the “entire range of middle sized practices from about 25-150 people will be gone” by 2025.

What are your thoughts? Do you think your job will remain relevant in by 2025? Which other positions will emerge in the next few decades?

The post 5 New Architecture Jobs Created by Technology appeared first on Archipreneur.