I'm Melvin, co-founder of PataBid. I spent 15+ years as a construction estimator before starting the company in 2018, and these days I split my time between running the business as President/CTO and writing code. My background is in estimating and construction tech, but I'm also a self-taught full stack developer with a deep interest in AI, machine learning, and where they actually fit into the construction industry (and where they don't). At PataBid, we're building software that solves the problems I used to deal with myself on the estimating side. I care about making this kind of technology accessible to contractors of every size, and I write and speak about the intersection of trades and tech whenever I get the chance.