Going Direct Conversations
Going Direct Conversations
Podcast Description
Going Direct explores the decentralization of the real economy and how new technologies can bring us closer to the products we buy and the people who make them. We feature conversations with entrepreneurs, creators, engineers, and policymakers building new systems around how we produce, distribute, and sell products. If you want to help create this future, come join us!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers themes like the impact of new technology on traditional commerce, sustainability in production, and decentralized manufacturing systems. Episodes explore specific topics such as lean manufacturing in construction and the role of micro-factories in reducing housing costs, showcasing practical solutions to contemporary economic challenges.
Going Direct explores the decentralization of the real economy and how new technologies can bring us closer to the products we buy and the people who make them.
I sit back down with Aleks Gampel, the co-founder and COO of Cuby, to talk about why construction has become less productive over time, why skilled labor shortages are getting worse, and why the current system still relies on fragmented crews and outdated methods.
Cuby’s answer is to build mobile micro-factories that produce home components close to where the homes are actually being built.
Among the topics we discuss are:
* Why construction productivity has gotten worse since the 1950s
* Why construction is really a logistics problem
* Cuby’s proposed solution – Mobile Micro-Factories (MMFs)
* Eliminating middlemen through vertical integration
* Launching the first Cuby micro-factory in New Mexico
Enjoy.
Recording date: April 08, 2026
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
03:50 Revisiting The Bottlenecks In Housing Construction
06:04 Why Construction Has Regressed Over 60 Years
09:32 Non-Obvious Problems In The Construction Industry
11:26 Cuby’s Approach To Housing
14:03 Building High-Quality, Affordable Housing
19:16 Cuby’s Mobile Micro-Factory Progress
23:22 Deploying The First Factory In The US
27:16 The Going Direct Economy
35:48 Applying The Toyota Production System To Construction
37:38 Coordination vs Control
41:10 Eliminating Middlemen
43:03 Regulatory Maze & Zoning Codes
45:43 Future Plans And Rapid Fire
Follow Jordan on X
Connect with Aleks Gampel:
* LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamaleksandrgampel/
* Cuby – https://cubytechnologies.com/home
* X – https://x.com/buildwithcuby?lang=en
Remember to go direct!
Jordan
P.S. Build with love
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goingdirect.substack.com
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