On June 24th, 2025, we hosted our first-ever Virtual Growth Summit: Built Different and let’s just say, it lived up to the name.
This summit wasn’t just another webinar. It was a high-energy, information-packed experience designed to bring general contractors and subcontractors together to learn from each other, spark real conversations, and grow stronger together in today’s construction landscape.
We had nearly 1,000 people registered and over 300 live attendees, and from the second we opened the Zoom doors, the chat was on fire.
People were introducing themselves, swapping contact info, sharing insights, asking big questions, and most importantly, learning from one another.
Keynote Truth Bombs: What’s Bleeding Your Bids and How to Stop It
We kicked off the summit with a powerful keynote from PlanHub CEO Ro Bhatia, and it set the tone for the day: if you’re not streamlining preconstruction, you’re bleeding time, money, and bids.
Ro laid it out clearly: the construction industry is growing, but inefficiencies are costing contractors big.
- $14B in rework due to poor documentation
- Tariffs driving up material costs by 10%+
- Labor shortages and supply delays dragging timelines
- And a flat 2% growth forecast that won’t cover rising expenses
The root of most jobsite issues? Not the jobsite, but preconstruction.
Incomplete docs, unclear scopes, and disconnected tools are setting contractors up to fail before the project even starts.
But there’s good news: Preconstruction is where profit is protected.
Done right, it can:
- Cut rework by up to 50%
- Reduce material waste by 30%
- Improve timelines and cut total costs by 17%
And that’s where PlanHub comes in.
Ro explained how we’re not just a platform, we’re your business ally in every stage of preconstruction. Whether you want to win more work, find better partners, or just stop drowning in admin, we’re here to help you grow. In profit, process, and performance.
After the keynote, we split into two breakout tracks, one for general contractors and one for subcontractors, so everyone could dive deep into the insights that matter most to them.
Seasoned General Contractors Share What They Really Want in a Subcontractor Bid
Our breakout session designed specifically for our subcontractors had Jordan Madewell (Owner) and TJ Andrade (Estimator) of Madewell Construction based out of Lubbock, TX in the hot seat answering all the burning questions subs typically have for GCs.
Among the many hot topics they touched on in the session, a big one included what makes a subcontractor’s bid stand out, and what gets it tossed immediately.
Bottom line: GCs want more than a number. They’re looking for clarity, effort, and confidence that you’ve done your homework.
Here’s what gets their attention:
- Break down your bid: Detailed line items, especially for big-ticket or long-lead items, show you’ve actually read the plans.
- Spell out qualifications and exclusions: Clear scope = fewer surprises and more trust.
- Call out relevant experience: Past projects that match the job build instant credibility.
- Explain your pricing: If your number is higher, tell them why. GCs don’t mind paying more if it means fewer headaches.
Use a polished, consistent format: Include a short company overview, website link, certifications, and project stats (like “27 car washes built”). PDF preferred.
At the end of the day, GCs aren’t always picking the cheapest bid. They’re picking the one they feel confident in. The more clarity and context you give, the easier it is for them to choose you.
From Bids to Burnout: What Top General Contractors are Doing Differently
In our breakout session curated for just our general contractors in attendance, we had GC panelists Don McDaniel (FM Constructors), Alan Demaske (C4 Builders), and Brad Tatum (Key Construction) spill the tea on how making small, intentional improvements in everyday workflows can lead to major results.
Among the many hot topics they touched on in the session, a major one included building better subcontractor relationships.
Every GC knows deep down: great bids start with great relationships.
Subs who ask questions, clarify scope, and engage early are way more likely to submit accurate, complete, and competitive bids. And on the flip side, GCs who reach out to subs during the bid cycle, not just on bid day, are more likely to get solid responses.
Here’s a few helpful tips they suggested:
- Follow up with subs who download plans but don’t bid. A simple nudge can boost participation.
- Use bid-day convos to assess if the sub truly understands the scope.
- Review bids in layers: price, clarity, reliability, and communication style.
- Don’t just look for the cheapest, look for alignment and consistency.
As the conversation wrapped, one thing was clear: GCs are focused on doing things better, and the Q&A that followed took the conversation even deeper.
Q&A Power Hour: No Fluff, Just Real Talk
At the end of each breakout session, we opened the floor for live Q&A, and the questions poured in. There were so many, we could barely keep up (and couldn’t even get through them all). The quality of the questions and the honesty in the answers truly blew us away.
Here were a few of our favorites:
- When should subcontractors follow up on a proposal? And how often?
- When submitting a bid, knowing that metal will increase, should we use current prices?
- Who do general contractors consult with to create their schedules? I’ve seen unrealistic schedules.
- How do you plan for inflation? Can efficiency help offset it?
- How can general contractors win more work during design and pre-bid?
- How can general contractors better manage last-minute MEP bids?
Big Summit Energy, Even Bigger Giveaways
We love helping our construction community grow, not just with insights and tools, but also with a little fun. As a thank you to everyone who spent their afternoon with us, we gave away some incredible prizes, including a limited-time 20% off PlanHub promo code for all of our attendees.
We have to shout out the winners of our swanky giveaway prizes too! Big congrats to:
- Felicia, William, and Joelle who won our three $100 Doordash gift cards!
- Cameron who won our $500 HomeDepot gift card!
- Thomas who won our grand prize of a brand new Apple iPad valued at $1,500!
See you in 2026! But for Now, Catch the Replay
If there’s one thing we learned from our first Built Different Growth Summit, it’s this…
Contractors are ready to evolve.
They’re leaning into better tools, stronger relationships, and smarter ways of doing business, and they’re doing it together.
Want to soak up all the insights from the summit? We’ve got you covered with session replays and a PDF takeaway guide packed with everything you might’ve missed.
You’ve got bids to win and a business to grow. We’ll see you at next year’s summit!
