Inside the Spec

INSIDE THE SPEC

The podcast that bridges the gap between building product manufacturers and the architects who specify them. Each episode brings you unfiltered insights into how architects find, evaluate, and specify building materials.

Because understanding how architects think is the first step to becoming the architect’s standard.

Recent Episodes

21
Sept. 21, 2026

Episode 21: Building Unmistakable Brands: How BPMs Actually Win Spec Today

Stefanie Couch, founder of Grit Blueprint, joins Megan Kacvinsky and Vardhan Mehta to explore how building materials brands can turn real projects, people, and expertise into media that builds authority. She shares why visibility, differentiated branding, executive thought leadership, and a willingness to stand out are increasingly important for long-term growth.
20
Sept. 12, 2026

Episode 20: The Global Façade Playbook: What Actually Drives Spec Across Borders

Summary Ahad Ahmed, director at Zak Exhibitions and Conferences, joins Megan Kacvinsky and Vardhan Mehta to explore how facade specification decisions are shaped across global markets. Drawing on 225 editions of Zak World of Facades in 51 countries, Ahad discusses event strategy, sponsor ROI, code and carbon pressures, EPDs, digital specification, AI, and the future of facade-focused collaboration. Key Insights A tightly curated audience can change the value of an industry event. Zak World o
19
Sept. 12, 2026

Episode 19: 200+ Conversations Behind the Spec: What the Glass Industry Wants Manufacturers to Know

Glass and glazing veteran Max Perilstein joins Megan Kacvinsky and Vardhan Mehta to unpack what manufacturers often miss after the sales pitch: quality, technical support, training, and trust. Drawing on decades in the industry and more than 200 podcast interviews, Max shares how manufacturers can strengthen customer relationships, close technical gaps, and build stronger organizations.
18
Aug. 17, 2026

Episode 18: From RFIs to AI: Where the Built Environment Is Actually Headed

In this episode of Inside the Spec, Megan Kacvinsky and Vardhan Mehta sit down with KP Reddy, construction technology entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Zero RFI, to explore how AI could reshape the way buildings are designed, built, and operated. The conversation focuses on breaking down industry silos, giving building product manufacturers a stronger seat at the table, and using technology to connect product decisions with real-world building performance.
17
June 26, 2026

Inside the Spec - Episode 17: Beyond the Booth at AIA26: AI, Sustainability & What Manufacturers Need to Know

This episode of Inside the Spec highlights the conversations architects were having beyond the show floor at the 2026 AIA Conference. Industry leaders discuss how AI is reshaping product discovery and workflows, why trustworthy sustainability data matters more than ever, and what building product manufacturers can do today to support architects.
16
May 20, 2026

Inside the Spec - Episode 16: Before You Build: How Walking Your Plans Changes Design Decisions

Joe Matejka, founder of Walk Your Plans, joins hosts Megan Kacvinsky and Vardhan Mehta to share the origin story behind the first life-size blueprint projection facility in the United States — and how a miscalculated great room at a Yellowstone lodge sparked a business that now has 55 signed locations nationwide, with international expansion on the horizon.
15
April 5, 2026

Inside the Spec - Episode 15: Beyond the Bank: Alternative Capital for Building Product Innovation

In this episode, co-hosts Megan Kacvinsky (CEO, Point To Point) and Dave Lamont (Executive Chairman, Acelab) sit down with David Bernardino of Bernardino Enterprises to explore the full landscape of alternative capital sources available to building products manufacturers — from family offices to foreign sovereign wealth funds — and how to craft the right pitch story to attract the right investors.
14
April 5, 2026

Inside the Spec - Episode 14: Getting Built: The Owner’s Perspective on Design, Construction, and Product Selection

Co-hosts Megan Kacvinsky and Vardhan Mehta welcome Frank Coppola III of Coppola Brothers to pull back the curtain on what happens in the closed-door meetings between owners, architects, and GCs — and what building products manufacturers must understand to win specification and keep it through installation.

About the Hosts

Megan Kacvinsky Profile Photo
Megan Kacvinsky

CEO | Point To Point

Megan Kacvinsky helps Building Product Manufacturers drive specification through targeted AEC marketing. As a partner at Point To Point, she specializes in demand generation, customer engagement, and strategic content marketing that fuels sales success.

With 15+ years of experience, Megan combines digital marketing expertise with sharp business acumen to bridge the gap between marketing strategy and real-world impact. She has transformed marketing programs for Fortune 500 companies, mid-market firms, and startups—adapting strategies to fit each organization's unique needs. Known for her tailored, results-driven approach, Megan crafts high-impact solutions that help brands thrive in the competitive building and manufacturing industries.

Vardhan Mehta Profile Photo
Vardhan Mehta

Co-founder & CEO | Acelab

Vardhan Mehta is a second-generation architect and co-founder of Acelab, an AI-powered platform transforming how the AEC industry makes material decisions. After working as an architect designing U.S. embassies and institutional projects for MIT and Yale, he recognized the critical inefficiencies in how architects, owners, manufacturers, and contractors communicate about building products.

He co–founded Acelab while at Harvard Graduate School of Design to solve this problem by creating a new universal language for material decision-making. The platform helps design teams evaluate and select materials based on real performance data, costs, lead times, and sustainability metrics. Acelab was recognized on Forbes' 30 Under 30 2025 for digital transformation in AEC industry.