Curated daily by our industry experts. Stay informed on how tech is shaping the real estate industry with these important headlines.
CRUNCHBASE
When crashes happen, inevitably the startup space gets hit, too. Funding slows, the IPO window closes and investors say no to bankrolling huge losses in the name of growth. Now that stocks are officially in bear market territory, and measures to curb coronavirus have turned the biggest tech hubs into work-from-home zones, we decided to check in to see if the downturn has yet impacted startup funding total
THEREALDEAL
Convene, the shared office-space provider that is backed by the likes of Brookfield Asset Management and RXR Realty, has laid off a fifth of its workforce, or about 150 employees, in response to the slowdown in business brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.
FUTURE PropTech
London (20 March 2020) – Due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, FUTURE PropTech 2020, part of the World’s number one real estate technology event series, has been rescheduled to 28 & 29 October. It will continue to take place at Magazine London. “The well-being and safety of our community will always be our number one priority so postponing the event was ultimately the right decision to make,” stated Gary Chimwa, Founder & MD of FUTURE PropTech. “We believe that the new October dates wi…
NINEFOUR
With the current state of worldwide health concerns due to COVID-19, many companies are leaning (or will eventually be forced) towards changing their day-to-day communication strategy by asking employees to work from home. With so many uncertainties, how will people adjust, and what companies will take charge to help with the transition from our everyday norm?
TECHCRUNCH
Venture capitalists have raised record-breaking funds in recent years, but that doesn’t always mean the money is there for them when they want it. In extreme downturns, the people and institutions that promise capital to venture capital firms, and then wire it when the VCs need it for their startups, have little choice but to answer the phone less. The alternative is to sell others of their positions — including in publicly traded stocks — at a steep loss, and they’d really prefer not to do tha…
PLACETECH
PlaceTech contacted companies across the proptech landscape this week to capture their thoughts on the immediate response to the outbreak, the forecast impact on tech adoption and what shape the industry will take in future as a result. Unsurprisingly proptech companies were well placed to work remotely according to the survey of companies carried out by PlaceTech.
WORKDESIGN
Just like you, I’m sitting here dazed and confused – never having experienced anything like this. Things are just weird. We are getting a lot of conflicting information about COVID-19, our government is not prepared, and nobody knows what to do.
BISNOW
Coworking providers burst into the office sector over the past few years, but the spread of the novel coronavirus could throttle the nascent industry, as the crisis forces flexible office workers to abandon once-vibrant workplaces. Flexible offices were envisioned as communities where a new form of work could thrive, one where startups and smaller businesses could share the kind of splendid amenities once reserved for major corporations, with short-term leases that didn’t tie them down to tradit…
THEREALDEAL
Discount brokerage Redfin Corp. is suspending its instant home-buying program amid economic turmoil sparked by the coronavirus pandemic. The Seattle-based firm, led by CEO Glenn Kelman, made the announcement Wednesday, according to the Wall Street Journal. It had stopped buying ads for the program earlier this month. Like other iBuyers, RedfinNow used an algorithm to buy homes, before renovating them and quickly selling them for a profit.
CRETECH
New York, NY (March 20, 2020) —CREtech (cretech.com), the leading global conference, content and research company devoted to innovation in the built world, has announced that it will return to New York for its fall event to be held at Pier 36 on September 31st and October 1st. Entitled “Reimagining Real Estate”, the event will highlight the impact of technology on virtually every aspect of this massive industry through new ideas, new players, new solutions and new models from around the world.
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REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR EUROPE 2030: SHAPING THE FUTURE OF THE BUILT WORLD IN LONDON ON JULY 1, 2025