7. How can we use tech to make better buildings and cities? Talking with Raja Ghawi from Suffolk Tech.

How Tech Becomes Law

How can we use tech to make better buildings and cities in the future? In this episode, we talk to Raja Ghawi from Suffolk Tech about his work investing in technology companies innovating on making construction cheaper, safer, and more environmentally friendly. For example, Raja talks about how software can catch small construction mistakes before they snowball into bigger ones and how robots can make drywall more cheaply, faster, and safer than ever. Listen to Raja discuss the career opportunities in the construction industry for both tradespeople and technologists, the role that government policy can play in pushing for more energy-efficient buildings, and how to finance the transition away from the status quo. Raja also talks about his own journey into the construction tech industry from growing up in Syria to attending Harvard to working in management consulting to working at Suffolk Construction. Listen to Raja talk about how to address the lack of diversity in venture capital and in the construction industry and finally, why he believes algorithms can help design more collaborative and social spaces and cities in the future.
Guest bio:
Raja Ghawi is the Investment Director of Suffolk Tech, a VC investing in new technologies and business models innovating the way we build and the spaces where we live, work, and play. Prior to Suffolk Tech, Raja was a consulting with McKinsey focused on growth and M&A, advising clients in multi-billion dollar software, Fintech, and industrial acquisitions. He studied bioengineering at Harvard College.

Related links:
Suffolk Tech. https://www.suffolk-tech.com/

About the podcast:
How Tech Becomes Law is a weekly public interest tech podcast about technology, public policy, and career advice. We are your co-hosts, Jinyan Zang and Dhruv Gupta. Each episode uncovers insights from leaders in government, business, journalism, and academia to highlight how technology can be built in the public interest. Interviewees discuss how technology can move society forward, what role they play in shaping this, and how students and young professionals can impact the path forward. We are supported by the Public Interest Tech Lab. Listen to us on your podcast platform of choice. You can find us online at howtechbecomeslaw.org and on social media channels @techbecomeslaw.