Rory San Miguel, CEO of Propeller, joins the show to discuss building one of the most successful construction technology startups in the world. Propeller's drone mapping platform now operates across 30,000 active sites every month in over 100 countries, processing nearly 300,000 surveys annually.

In this episode, Rory shares the pivotal moment when early customers told them to "leave the drone" and focus on the data platform instead—a strategic decision that transformed their trajectory. We dive deep into how they scaled in an notoriously difficult industry through smart distribution partnerships with Trimble, a viral business model that spreads site-to-site, and early technology bets on cloud-first architecture.

Key Topics:

• The strategic pivot from hardware to data that built a global platform
• How they achieved viral distribution in construction through business model design
• Managing operational complexity at 300+ employees across multiple continents
• AI integration strategy and the workflow revolution coming in 2026
• Leadership philosophy: counting up instead of down and building structural resilience
• Future vision: sensors, robotics, and the construction site of 2035

Rory provides candid insights on the patience and grit required to succeed in heavy industries, the importance of outlasting competition, and why "there's no such thing as overnight success" in construction technology.

About the Guest: Rory San Miguel is CEO and co-founder of Propeller, the leading drone mapping platform for construction, mining, and heavy industry. He's a recipient of the 2025 NSW Pearcey Entrepreneur of the Year Award and has built Propeller into a global platform serving 2,000+ companies.