Our Journey & Vision
Mind-Expanding Ideas is where I explore tech, innovation, and the human side of growth — all with curiosity and honesty.
Discover The Vision
Learn more about the vision behind Mind Expanding Ideas and our commitment to delivering forward-thinking content that empowers professionals across various sectors.
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The Curator
Hi, I'm Ty Waters, Chief Revenue Officer at TopBuilder Solutions and ContractorBI™. I'm passionate about exploring how cutting-edge technology — from AI and SaaS to business intelligence — is transforming the construction industry and beyond.
My Platform
This site is my personal platform to share thought-provoking insights, industry news, and the latest innovations that are shaping how companies scale, make data-driven decisions, and reimagine business as usual. Here, I dive into mind-expanding ideas in construction tech and related fields — even spotlighting competitors — because true progress comes from understanding the entire ecosystem.
Key Projects
I also use this space to introduce exciting projects like J. Waters AI and to keep you updated on what's new at ContractorBI™. Whether you're a fellow tech enthusiast, a construction professional, or just curious about the future of business tech, I invite you to explore, learn, and grow with me.
Thanks for stopping by!
Founder’s Corner
Because founders deserve clarity, not silence.
Building in the Dark, So Others Don’t Have To
Fundraising can feel like an endless cycle of vague rejections and silence. This blog dives into the frustrating experience of being left without clear feedback — and how that challenge sparked the creation of J. Waters AI, a data-driven tool designed to give founders real insight into their fundraising readiness.
Read About Solving Fundraising Frustration
The Problem
When I started fundraising for ContractorBI™, I kept getting vague rejections like:
“Your business is not a good fit with our investing strategy at this time.”
No feedback. No direction. Just silence or soft passes — leaving me, like so many other founders, without the insight I needed to move forward.
The Solution
That frustration became fuel. I’m now building J. Waters AI — a capital readiness engine designed to decode what investors actually look for. It’s not about guessing anymore. It’s about giving founders a clear, data-informed view of their fundability, using the same logic investors use behind closed doors.
It’s not finished yet — but I’m building it because I need it. And I know I’m not the only one.
J. Waters AI isn’t just a tool. It’s a founder’s answer to being left in the dark.
Continuous Growth is Non-Negotiable
In rapidly evolving fields like construction tech and SaaS, staying stagnant is not an option. This blog shares a firsthand account of embracing continuous learning to overcome the “black box” of investor funding. It reveals how this journey inspired the creation of J. Waters AI — a tool designed to bridge the gap between what founders know and what investors expect.
Read About Continuous Growth & Innovation
Continuous Growth is Non-Negotiable: Lessons from Construction Tech, Saas & Beyond
Why evolving your skills is the real game-changer in tech — and how it led me to build J. Waters AI
The Core Challenge
In fast-paced industries like construction tech, saas, and AI, one thing remains constant:
You can’t afford to stop learning.
New technologies, shifting market demands, and the ever-evolving expectations of investors and customers require leaders to continuously extend and expand their skill sets.
As the Chief Revenue Officer at TopBuilder Solutions, I’ve seen this firsthand while leading the charge for ContractorBI™, our business intelligence platform designed specifically for contractors.
But my journey took an unexpected turn.
The Catalyst for Change
The Funding Wall No One Talks About
While working to secure funding and partnerships for ContractorBI™, I encountered a frustrating but all-too-common problem:
The process of getting in front of the right investors is a black box.
I could have complained. I could have thrown up my hands and told my CEO, “This isn’t my job. I’m not a VC whisperer.”
But that’s not who I am.
Instead, I did what anyone in tech — especially in leadership — must do:I studied the process, leaned into my strengths, and found a way to turn the obstacle into an opportunity.
From Frustration to Innovation: The Birth of J. Waters AI
Leveraging my background in AI, technology, and business operations, I started mapping out a solution that could help not just us at ContractorBI™, but also other founders, CROs, and business leaders facing the same challenges.
That solution is J. Waters AI — a platform designed to help companies become capital ready with AI-driven scorecards, actionable insights, and investor-aligned narratives.
It’s not about “gaming” the system. It’s about bridging the gap between what founders know (their business) and what investors need to see (capital readiness).
Why Continuous Learning Matters
If I hadn’t embraced a mindset of continuous growth, this wouldn’t have happened.
The skills that got you here won’t get you there.Whether you’re scaling a startup, leading a revenue team, or seeking funding, evolving your skills is non-negotiable.
That’s the mindset I’m carrying into this next chapter — not just for ContractorBI™, but for J. Waters AI, and hopefully for you, too.
Join Me On This Journey
I’m still in design mode. Still testing. Still learning.
But I’d love to hear from you: What are the biggest challenges you face in getting your company capital ready? What resources, tools, or processes have helped you most?
Your insights could shape what J. Waters AI becomes.
Together, we can build solutions that not only help us get in the room, but also own the conversation once we’re there.
CFO Summit Insights: Data Challenges and Investor Hurdles
CFOs are under more pressure than ever to deliver clarity, strategy, and results—often without the data they need or the investor support they deserve. At the recent CFO Summit hosted by Scale Venture Partners, the conversations centered around two recurring challenges: accessing high-quality, timely data and navigating the realities of raising capital in a competitive landscape. These insights shed light on the broader challenges facing tech leaders across industries, including construction, where innovation often outpaces infrastructure.
👉 Explore the key takeaways from the CFO Summit.
2025 CFO Summit Insights: Data Challenges and Investor Hurdles
Reflecting on the recent CFO Summit hosted by Scale Venture Partners, the core theme was the CFO's pivotal role and the persistent challenge of accessing the right data. At TopBuilder Solutions, we address these issues with ContractorBI™, a business intelligence platform designed for the construction industry.
The Data Dilemma: As Chief Revenue Officer, I've seen firsthand how crucial data is for CFOs. The summit highlighted that CFOs need data to drive strategic decisions. ContractorBI™ provides this, with dashboards for bid performance, profit margins, and cash flow. We're proud members of CFMA, where we regularly discuss these challenges with our peers.
The Investor's Perspective: Beyond data access, a key challenge is securing investment. Every investor has different priorities - rapid ARR growth, profitability and healthy margins, AI and automation capabilities. ContractorBI™ addresses these needs, empowering CFOs to make data-driven decisions and demonstrate their company's financial health.
Insights
These insights from the CFO Summit reinforce our mission at ContractorBI™ and J. Waters AI: to transform raw contractor data into capital-ready insights that speak directly to investors' concerns. By bridging this gap, we're not just solving technical problems—we're addressing a fundamental business challenge that prevents innovative companies from securing the capital they need to grow. As we continue developing these solutions, we remain committed to empowering construction industry leaders with the tools they need to thrive in an increasingly data-driven investment landscape.
Thought Leadership, Real Voices
What I share
- Reflections from my work in tech and analytics
- What I've learned about leadership, resilience, and reinvention
- And sometimes, stories or insights from the brilliant people I work with
The Focus
This corner is about keeping it real — for founders, professionals, and anyone navigating the big questions.
Thought Leadership
From the Front Lines of Building, Leading, and Scaling
These aren't just theories — they're real insights from real experiences. Below, you'll find reflections shaped by long hours, team wins, hard pivots, and everything in between.
What Team Leadership Taught Me About Trust, Culture, and Growth
A candid look at collaboration, communication, and culture from the inside out.
Great project outcomes start with great teams. This blog explores the role of trust, communication, and adaptability in building high-performing teams that drive projects forward. From psychological safety to conflict resolution, it's a practical take on what makes team collaboration a strategic advantage in modern project management.
Read About Building Strong Teams
Team Dynamics
Effective team dynamics form the backbone of successful project management. When team members collaborate harmoniously, bringing their diverse skills and perspectives together, projects tend to meet deadlines, stay within budget, and deliver high-quality results. However, building these productive relationships requires intentional leadership and careful attention.
The Foundation: Trust and Psychological Safety
At the core of high-performing teams is psychological safety – an environment where members feel comfortable taking risks, admitting mistakes, and sharing ideas without fear of ridicule or punishment. Project managers who foster this trust-based atmosphere often see increased innovation and problem-solving capacity within their teams.
Communication Patterns That Drive Success
Clear, consistent communication serves as the lifeline of effective team dynamics. This includes not only the formal project updates and documentation but also the day-to-day interactions that build rapport and maintain alignment. Teams that establish communication norms and respect different communication styles typically navigate challenges more smoothly.
Conflict: A Catalyst for Growth
Contrary to popular belief, conflict isn't inherently negative in team settings. When managed constructively, disagreements can lead to deeper understanding, more creative solutions, and stronger team bonds. The project manager's ability to facilitate healthy debate while preventing destructive conflict often determines whether team dynamics strengthen or deteriorate during challenging phases.
Evolving Through Project Phases
Team dynamics aren't static – they evolve as projects progress through initiation, planning, execution, and closure. Successful project managers adapt their leadership approach to support teams through these transitions, recognizing when to provide structure and when to step back and empower the team's collective intelligence.
By prioritizing healthy team dynamics alongside technical project management skills, leaders can create environments where both people and projects thrive. The investment in building strong relationships pays dividends in productivity, innovation, and ultimately, project success.
Conflict is Catalyst For Growth
Conquer Challenges: Leading with ResilienceLeadership isn't about control — it's about clarity. It's knowing when to step up, when to step back, and when to just listen.
I've learned that the strongest teams aren't built by avoiding conflict, but by facing it with trust and transparency. That's the energy I bring to every table I sit at — even the ones where I used to be overlooked.