Episodes

  • In this episode, Phil Levin, Founder and CEO of Live Near Friends, shares insights on the importance of proximity in shaping our lives and the potential for multiplayer mode housing. He discusses the benefits of living near friends and family, how transportation influences city design, and the rise of cul-de-sac communities. Phil also touches on the role of ADUs in fostering closer-knit neighborhoods, the loneliness epidemic, and the health impacts of community living. The conversation highlights how proximity to happy friends can boost happiness by 40%, and explores the future of urban planning with self-driving cars.


    More about Phil and Live Near Friends
    LiveNearFriends reinvents residential real estate by focusing on the #1 amenity: people. We address many of today's biggest pain points: loneliness, isolation in raising families, and lack of rootedness in a WFH world. There’s a silver bullet for these problems, and it's living in proximity to people you love.

    Today's product aggregates latent demand for living near friends & family, identifies existing housing supply that is a good fit for groups, and greases the behavioral mechanics. It's been covered by Vox, Guardian, Axios, Bigger Pockets and Business Insider. The vision is to become the marketplace where all "proximate housing" is marketed, developed, financed, and sold.

    Phil is the CEO/founder of Live Near Friends, the social real estate platform that helps people live within walking distance of friends & family.

    Previously, he helped start Culdesac (a developer building walkable, car-free neighborhoods, $200m+ raised).

    Phil started a housing cluster called Radish where he lives near 19 friends and 5 of their kids spread across 10 homes. He writes about this on Supernuclear, the #1 newsletter on living near friends (160K reach).

    Phil’s mission is to create forms of housing which makes us happy, healthy, and connected. And in doing so rebuild the social fabric of our neighborhoods.

    Follow Phil on TwitterConnect with Phil on LinkedInFollow Live Near Friends on TwitterCheck out Live Near Friends
  • Greg Sack, partner and CMO of Pinch, discusses how Pinch is reshaping the multifamily industry's approach to turnover and common area cleaning. Pinch offers centralized solutions for property management companies, bridging the gap and providing efficient cleaning services. The conversation covers topics such as the challenges of finding cleaners, the need for a B2B avenue in the cleaning industry, the role of technology in scaling the business, and the potential for consolidation in the industry. Greg also shares his predictions for the future of Pinch and the real estate industry.


    More about Greg and Pinch
    PINCH is reshaping the multifamily industry's approach to turnover and common area cleaning! We're disrupting the status quo by providing a platform for high-quality home cleaners to seamlessly transition into this space, and solving a number of challenges that existing cleaning teams are facing in the industry. With stringent vendor requirements in place, finding reliable resources has been a challenge—until now. PINCH is bridging the gap, offering a centralized solution for property management companies nationwide. By standardizing processes, pricing, and invoicing, we're driving significant cost reductions and operational efficiencies across the board. Plus, our network ensures swift onboarding of new cleaning teams, replacing them within hours or days, not months.

    Greg is a serial entrepreneur who spent his early career in the logistics industry. In 2014, he sold his e-commerce and logistics business to FedEx, which is the first time in their history that they acquired a start-up technology company. Greg is Partner and CMO for PINCH. He heads up all strategic growth initiatives and helps to drive the direction of the business.

    Connect with Greg on LinkedInCheck out Pinch
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  • In this episode, I chat with Landon Cooley, CEO and Co-founder of Pest Share, about the crucial yet often overlooked role of pest control in property management. Landon highlights the challenges of dealing with specialty pests like bed bugs and cockroaches, which can cause major issues in multi-family settings. H

    Pest Share offers a solution by providing tenants with direct, on-demand access to pest control services, bypassing the need for property manager involvement. This not only improves the resident experience but also helps property managers focus on more pressing tasks. We also discuss how property managers can build trust and add value by responding quickly to maintenance requests, which can lead to better tenant satisfaction and easier lease renewals.

    Finally, we touch on the future of Pest Share and the impact of technology on real estate, exploring how deep integrations and custom solutions can boost operational efficiency.


    More about Landon and Pest Share
    Pest Share is a fast-growing, 4-year-old proptech startup based in Boise, ID. Pest Share’s on-demand pest control technology saves tenants 70% on pest services and allows them to diagnose, request, and receive pest services right from their cell phones - without the involvement of a property manager. For property managers, this means a value-added pest control amenity that provides a better rental experience, operational efficiencies, a new revenue stream, and increased NOI.

    Landon Cooley is the CEO & Co-Founder of Pest Share. Landon has almost 20 years of experience in pest management and is 4th generation in his family to pursue a career within the industry. Landon has a strong belief that, “There is always a better way”. After years of encountering the same, unaddressed pest control paint points in the property management space, Landon and his Co-Founders decided to launch their most recent venture, Pest Share.

    Connect with Landon on LinkedInFollow Pest Share on LinkedInCheck out Pest Share
  • In this episode, I chat with Jason Lewis, co-founder of Parcel Labs, about the evolving landscape of real estate data. We dive into the power of real-time housing data, how it's becoming more transparent, and the impact it's having on the market. Jason shares insights on how Parcel Labs is leading the charge by providing unparalleled access to housing information, making it easier for developers and operators to make informed decisions. If you're curious about the future of real estate data and how it can be your best tool, this episode is a must-listen!


    More about Jason and Parcl Labs
    At Parcl Labs, our mission is to make housing data real-time, transparent, and accessible. We reveal previously hidden aspects of the housing market, including daily price movements and investor activities. All of this valuable information is available directly to you through our easy-to-use API.

    Jason is the Co-founder and Chief Data Officer of Parcl Labs. He brings experience from his time at Microsoft and Deloitte, where he worked on large-scale international data standardization and machine learning projects.

    Follow Jason on TwitterConnect with Jason on LinkedinFollow Parcl Labs on TwitterCheck out Parcl Labs
  • This episode is a bit different. I recorded this as an episode for the Triple Win Podcast with Andrew Smallwood, VP of Revenue at Second Nature. So today, I'll be playing the role of guest and Andrew is host. Enjoy this fun discussion on where proptech is headed.
    --
    From the Triple Win Podcast:

    Few things have changed the property management industry more in the last five years than a growing proptech industry, but that industry continues to go through changes of its own.

    Nate Smoyer, host of the Tech Nest Podcast, joins Andrew Smallwood to cover the state of the proptech industry, where things could be headed, and how it’s all likely to affect you as a property manager.

    More about Andrew and Second Nature
    Second Nature has created a new category with its resident experience platform for professional property managers. They work with 1,200 management companies and are the only 3-time NARPM (National Association of Residential Property Managers) national vendor of the year. Their industry-leading suite of resident rewards, credit building, ID protection, filter delivery, utility connection concierge, insurance, and more are helping professional property managers make resident experience their competitive advantage.

    Follow Andrew on TwitterConnect with Andrew on LinkedInFollow Second Nature on TwitterCheck out Second Nature
  • Join me as I chat with Ben Lerner, Managing Director of Lerner Associates, about M&A in the proptech industry. Ben shares his unique insights from his background in tech and real estate, focusing on the importance of licenses and the evolving dynamics of user licensing. We discuss the differences between M&A and venture capital markets, highlighting the active M&A scene despite tougher capital raising.

    Ben advises founders to prioritize metrics, build relationships with potential acquirers, and remain open to opportunities. He emphasizes customer retention and profitability as key for potential buyers and the importance of a clear scorecard that showcases business value. We also touch on balancing in-person and remote work, owning core technology, and the crucial role of human interaction in real estate. Tune in for Ben's expert advice on navigating the proptech M&A landscape.


    More about Ben and Lerner Associates
    Lerner Associates is a purely proptech focused M&A advisory firm working with founders/owners/leaders of real estate tech companies looking to sell their company or to raise growth capital. We also work buy-side.

    Ben is the Managing Director of Lerner Associates, a London-based boutique M&A Advisory practice, he set up in 2019. Lerner Associates focuses purely on PropTech transactions, global and cross-border, across the spectrum of investment management, corporate, commercial, residential, multifamily, agency, workplace, facilities management, construction and real estate data solutions.

    Ben has over 20 years of experience working in the real estate software space, both strategically and operationally as a seasoned proptech executive, and more latterly within corporate development, M&A and investment. From prior to selling his family business, Qube Global Software, to MRI Software, and throughout his time with MRI and beyond, Ben has been actively involved in M&A on deal sourcing, structuring, due diligence and general advisory.

    Follow Ben on TwitterConnect with Ben on LinkedInFollow Lerner Associates on TwitterCheck out Lerner Associates
  • Kirill Bensonoff, CEO and Co-founder of New Silver, a fintech company that provides loans for fix and flip projects, joins Tech Nest to discuss the current state of the real estate market, the challenges faced by investors, and how New Silver differentiates itself from other lenders. Kirill explains how their technology, including a pricing engine, streamlines the loan process and offers convenience to borrowers. He also discusses their unique approach to sourcing capital, including their partnership with MakerDAO, a decentralized autonomous organization. Kirill shares his predictions for the future of the real estate market and the impact of AI on the industry. New Silver is not your standard lender. Listen in to hear more!


    More about Kirill and New Silver
    New Silver is a fintech company with a mission to improve local communities by providing fast, convenient, and flexible capital to real estate investors. We use data and technology to underwrite and originate investment property loans with more efficiency and predictability. Our pricing engine provides instant online loan approval and a term sheet so that our many happy clients are ready to make an offer in as little as 5 minutes.

    Kirill Bensonoff is an advocate for pioneering fintech solutions, with a career spanning over 20 years across fintech, blockchain, and cloud computing. His entrepreneurial acumen has led to the successful bootstrapping of two high-growth technology companies, culminating in multi-million dollar exits. Kirill's journey exemplifies the synergy between deep industry expertise and entrepreneurial zeal, driving innovation in financial technology.

    As the co-founder and CEO of New Silver, a fintech company that excels in providing loans for fix-and-flip projects, Kirill has been instrumental in steering the company through challenging landscapes to establish it as a leader in its domain. Under his guidance, New Silver has made a mark by becoming the first Real-World Asset to be recognized and approved by MakerDAO, the leading stable-coin community project.

    Follow Kirill on TwitterConnect with Kirill on LinkedInFollow New Silver on TwitterCheck out New Silver
  • Steve Carroll, CEO and co-founder of Fine Diggs, discusses the issue of rental fraud and its impact on the rental application process. He highlights that 25% of all evictions are attributable to rental application fraud and explains how fraudsters use stolen or fraudulent information to lease properties and wait out the eviction process. Carroll emphasizes the need for comprehensive identity verification and a more holistic approach to underwriting that considers factors like income and behavior. He also discusses the importance of fairness in the rental process and how Fine Diggs is working to provide tools for property managers to make more informed and equitable leasing decisions. Findigs is a company that aims to streamline the leasing process by standardizing qualification and underwriting and using automation tools. They focus on removing bias and ensuring that the rules are applied consistently for everyone. The company recently raised a Series B round of funding, which is a significant achievement in the current startup funding environment. In terms of industry trends, Findigs believes that while technology plays a crucial role in real estate, face-to-face interactions and personal connections should not be eliminated. They also anticipate that regulations around tenant screening will continue to evolve, with a focus on fairness and consumer permission. Looking ahead, Findigs aims to grow their business and expand their services to make the rental process seamless and transparent for consumers.

    More about Steve and Findigs
    Findigs is the leading property technology company working to simplify rental screening and leasing decisions. Thanks to Findigs’ proprietary tech, it speeds up the rental decision process from an industry average of one week to an average of less than one day.

    Steve Carrol is the CEO and co-founder of Findigs, aiming to simplify the rental screening process, and sits on the National Rental Home Council. He has deep experience in the proptech VC space as well as being the co-founder and COO of Seated prior to co-founding Findigs.

    Connect with Steve on LinkedInCheck out Findigs
  • Lindsay Liu, Co-founder and CEO of Super, discusses the challenges property managers face with busy work and inefficient communication. Property managers spend a significant amount of time on tasks like email and phone calls, which can be automated and streamlined. Super aims to centralize communications and automate tasks for property managers, allowing them to focus on more important work. The use of AI in property management can boost productivity and provide scalable assistance to property managers. However, it's important for companies to prioritize data security and privacy and be aware of potential biases in AI algorithms. Embracing technology and change will be crucial for property management companies to succeed in the future.


    More about Lindsay and Super

    Property managers are inundated with more and more text messages, emails, calls, and work orders. With Super, they get an AI assistant that centralizes all of these communications into one hub that then automates triage and tracking, saving 6+ hours of weekly manual and repetitive work.

    Lindsay Liu has turned a passion for real estate from a side hustle into an industry she seeks to transform. For over a decade while working in tech, she managed multifamily rentals, vacation rentals, and flips—including three stints on HOA boards. Now, she’s one of the founders and CEO of Super, a company transforming the industry through AI-powered tools for property managers.

    Connect with Lindsay on LinkedInFollow Lindsay on TwitterFollow Super on TwitterCheck out Super
  • In this episode of Tech Nest, I explore commercial real estate auctions with Stephen Jacobs, President of Ten-X. Stephen shares his journey leading Ten-X (which is a really cool story, BTW) and debunks myths about auctions, explaining their strategic advantages beyond just distressed properties.

    Learn how Ten-X leverages data and technology to streamline the auction process, ensuring faster and more certain sales. Stephen also discusses the evolving role of brokers and current market trends, providing valuable insights into the future of commercial real estate transactions. Hint: brokers are still very much relevant in today's transactions.

    Listen in today!


    More about Steven and Ten-X
    Ten-X is the world’s largest, online commercial real estate auction platform. Our platform empowers brokers, sellers and buyers with data-driven technology and comprehensive marketing tools to expand market visibility and decrease time to close.

    CoStar Group’s online property auction platform, Ten-X, is the leading example of the rapid growth of online property auction marketplaces. Each year more and more buyers, sellers, and brokers are using this proptech tool to exchange properties. Events like its Battle of the Bids, which feature thousands of players duking it out for $3.1 million in prizes over 6 rounds to correctly guess how much various properties will sell for on the Ten-X platform, are a way to highlight the innovative ways that CRE marketplaces are drawing attention to their ecosystems. Battle of the Bids is also an example of the notoriously staid industry having a little fun and using gamification tools to drive awareness of new trends.

    Follow Ten-X on TwitterFollow Ten-X on LinkedInCheck out Ten-X
  • Here's a fun one for y'all. Frank Rohde, Founder and CEO of Ownify, a company working to revolutionize homeownership through fractional ownership joins the show.

    Frank shares insights into Ownify's innovative model that helps first-time homebuyers with good income and credit but limited savings gradually build equity in their homes. You'll hear about Frank's diverse background, including his roles at FICO and Nomis, and how these experiences helped shape Ownify. He explains the dual nature of Ownify's operations, balancing PropCo and OpCo dynamics to benefit both consumers and investors.

    We get practical, outlining steps for using Ownify, the challenges and opportunities in the current real estate market, and Frank's predictions for the future of homeownership and proptech. Listen in!


    More about Frank and Ownify
    Ownify is rebuilding the path to homeownership to make it achievable for the next generation of homebuyers. Our fractional ownership platform partners savvy investors with qualified first-time homebuyers to buy their home "brick by brick" - zero debt & no surprises. With Ownify, homebuyers and investors together reap the collective benefits of building equity, creating stability, and investing in the health of local communities for years to come. For our "Ownis", Ownify offers a low down payment of 2%, a powerful cash offer to compete against corporate buyers, no unforeseen costs & surprises, and evergreen equity in their home. For our investors, Ownify offers fractional ownership in a single family home generating income and real estate returns, shared equity & shared purpose with the Owni, and positive community impact by helping first-time homebuyers.

    Frank originally hails from Germany. Early attempts at becoming a child prodigy violinist were unsuccessful which forced his parents to abandon any hope or supervision. Left to his own, Frank quickly became famous for wrestling rattlesnakes and kayaking. His sister meanwhile became the child prodigy violinist. Looking for a brighter future, Frank moved to California where his first job was a choice between watering marijuana plants in the Northern California mountains or building a neural network-based prediction engine for horse racing results. Ever focused on doing the right thing, he built the neural network for horse racing. Several other lucky turns led him to stay in the US and eventually graduate from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a BS in Economics. Since then, he’s been a consultant at Oliver Wyman, started an online insurance company, spent 4 years at FICO, and grew Nomis from <$2M to $25M+ in ARR before selling it. His most recent challenge is building Ownify - a new path to ownership for the ~2M first-time homebuyers each year.

    Connect with Frank LinkedInFollow Frank on TwitterFollow Ownify on TwitterCheck out Ownify
  • In this episode we dig into the side of real estate that seems to be the big, sleeping topic: insurance.

    Valkyrie Holmes, Founder and CEO of Faura, discusses the impact of natural disasters on insurance, the challenges faced by insurance companies, and the innovative solutions offered by Faura. The conversation covers risk assessment, loss control solutions, the impact of climate change, and the future of insurance tech.


    More about Valkyrie and Faura
    Faura provides loss control solutions for insurance companies with high-risk books of business. We specialize in risk assessments in disaster zones on everything from wildfires to hurricanes and are available all over the country.

    Valkyrie is the CEO and Co-founder of Faura, an insurtech startup that creates loss control solutions for insurance companies with high-risk books of business. She began her work as a data analyst and engineering intern at SpaceX before being awarded the 776 Fellowship to work in sustainability. Since then, she's launched both wildfire and wind assessments to add climate resilience data to the insurance market and is now operational across the country.

    Connect with Valkyrie on LinkedInFollow Valkyrie on TwitterFollow Faura on TwitterCheck out Faura
  • We've got a solid interview for y'all this week. Raunaq Singh, Founder and CEO of Roam, comes on the show to discuss their platform for purchasing homes using assumable low-rate mortgages.

    Raunaq digs into the history of assumable mortgages, the potential size of the market, and the challenges and opportunities for buyers and sellers. Raunaq also explains how Roam is working with agents, and is addressing misconceptions about assumable mortgages. We discuss the potential impact on real estate transactions as a whole nationwide—but also how much education is necessary to drive that impact. We also get into the benefits for both buyers and sellers, the underwriting process, and the future trends in the real estate market.

    Listen in!


    More about Ranuq and Roam
    Roam is a platform that enables homebuyers to purchase a home with an assumable low-rate mortgage included and save up to 50% on monthly payments compared to buying the same house with a traditional mortgage. To date, Roam has helped buyers save $12k per year and $350k over the life of their loan compared to taking out a new mortgage. To date, over 500k buyers have used Roam to find their next home with a low-rate assumable mortgage.

    Raunaq Singh is the founder and CEO of Roam, the platform for purchasing a home with an assumable, low-rate mortgage included. Prior to founding Roam, Raunaq spent a decade in various product and operations roles across Uber, Opendoor, and Culdesac. He received a Bachelor's degree in Political Economy from NYU and currently resides in New York City.

    Connect with Raunaq on LinkedInFollow Raunaq on TwitterFollow Roam on TwitterCheck out Roam
  • Have we all been ignoring opportunities to uncover inventory? Amanda Orson, Founder and CEO of Galleon, reveals the hidden potential in the real estate marketplace by exposing inventory not visible on the MLS. She shares insights on industry challenges and opportunities, and how technological advances are revolutionizing real estate transactions.

    Amanda discusses why the traditional 3% buyer's agent fee may soon be obsolete and the need for a pragmatic industry outlook. That's not to say buyer's agents can't or won't be paid in the future—just that it's time to re-evaluate how we're doing things. She addresses the detrimental trend of denying the need for change and emphasizes preparing for a dynamic future.

    Listen in to learn about Galleon's goal to become the largest network of off-market, non-MLS inventory in the U.S.


    More about Amanda and Galleon
    Galleon is reshaping real estate by providing a commission-free, by-owner marketplace where anyone can list their home in minutes and transact on their own terms.

    Amanda Orson is the Founder and CEO of Galleon, the direct consumer-led real estate marketplace. As a serial entrepreneur and tech executive, prior to Galleon, she was the CEO of Curve US, leading the British fintech's expansion in the United States.

    Follow Amanda on TwitterConnect with Amanda on LinkedInFollow Galleon on TwitterCheck out Galleon
  • I'm super excited for this episode's guest, Lior Abramovich, co-founder and CEO of Blanket. Blanket is a property retention platform, designed to help property managers reduce churn and better inform owners.

    Discover how Blanket launched to immediate acclaim and rapidly assembled a team driven by a shared mission. Lior outlines the dual aspects of their service: an owner investment dashboard that offers real-time metrics, educational tools, and AI-driven insights, alongside a marketplace exclusive to property managers. This marketplace not only facilitates property sales, enabling managers to maintain management and earn commissions but also acts as a potent tool for client retention and lead generation.

    Amidst a shifting financial landscape and evolving industry regulations, Blanket's approach redefines property management as investment management, positioning property managers as essential, trusted advisors in the real estate sector.

    More about Lior and Blanket
    Blanket is a Property Retention Platform that helps property managers keep their owners happy and their doors under management so their businesses can thrive.

    Lior Abramovich is the Co-Founder & CEO of Blanket, bringing a decade of experience in the single-family rental market with over $150 million worth of acquisitions for over 1,000 individual investors.
    Lior served for 8 years as Naval Commander in the Israeli Navy and has co-founded a non-profit organization that renovates homes of senior citizens in need, and a foundation that has set on a mission to ensure every child in the world has access to clean drinking water.

    Follow Lior on TwitterConnect with Lior on LinkedInFollow Blanket on LinkedInCheck out Blanket
  • He's back! Nima Wedlake, Managing Director at ThomVest Ventures, about the current state of Proptech and the themes he is tracking for 2024. We focused on an essay Nima penned, covering several topics including control point software, AI's impact on construction productivity, and the rise of home services businesses.

    Nima discusses the challenges and opportunities in scaling tech-enabled service businesses and the potential of AI in the construction industry. The conversation also touches on the impact of COVID-19 on real estate tech investments and the future of venture capital in the space. We also explore the role of real estate agents in a changing market and the impact of technology on the industry (spoiler: uncertainty exists, but so will the agent).


    More about Nima and Thomvest Ventures
    Nima has published his 2024 proptech themes and would love to discuss them with you. Here is the link to the full report: https://blog.thomvest.com/real-estate-technology-themes-were-tracking-in-2024-124a5280c3dd

    Below is a very quick overview of the three key themes that will play a dominant role in 2024 for Nima.

    “Control point” software businesses in real estate: These crucial systems are core to how businesses operate and are difficult to displace. Three strategies for new entrants to compete in this space include targeting new customer segments, building value around existing control points, and selling complete tasks or processes instead of just software tools.AI’s impact on construction productivity: There is growing excitement around startups focused on using AI in various aspects of construction, from pre-development analysis and permitting automation to design cycle shortening and physical robot automation on construction sites.Residential real estate in a post-NAR world: Following the NAR settlement on residential real estate, lower commissions may lead to agents seeking efficiency measures and could pose challenges for existing real estate companies, while also creating opportunities for innovation and competition in the industry.

    Nima Wedlake is a Managing Director at Thomvest Ventures, focusing on investment opportunities across the real estate & financial technology verticals. He spearheaded Thomvest’s investments in Baselane, Blend, Glide (acquired by Compass), Keyway, Maxwell, Mynd, Obie, Pine & Tala.

    Thomvest Ventures is a San Francisco-based $750M evergreen venture capital fund by Peter Thomson (Thomson Reuters).

    Follow Nima on TwitterConnect with Nima on LinkedInCheck out Thomvest
  • This episode is focused on tech providing the means to execute the basics, at a high level, for real estate agents, teams, and brokerages. Vijay Gopalswamy, founder and CEO of Traxy, a deal-tracking tool for real estate professionals, shares his story of why he started Trackxi due to a void in the market for a great transaction coordinating platform. Vijay got into real estate as an agent, so he's very familiar with the pain of transaction coordination and that led him to create a solution.

    Vijay discusses the challenges agents face and how Trackxi aims to simplify transaction management. We also go into some of the trends impacting brokers, as well as touch on AI usage in real estate. Tune in to learn how Trackxi is working to change how agents handle deals and enhance their services.

    More about Vijay and Trackxi
    Trackxi is Real Estate's # 1 Deal Tracker, designed for Agents, Teams & Transaction coordinators. Transparency for everyone else. Demonstrate your value to your buyers & sellers, automatically.

    Essential tool for agents. Designed by a practicing agent team. Simple and elegant user interface packed with powerful features that can truly help your business.

    Follow Vijay on TwitterConnect with Vijay on LinkedInFollow Trackxi on TwitterCheck out Trackxi

  • More about BrainBox AI and Jean-Simon
    Founded in 2017, BrainBox AI was created to address two critical issues currently facing the built environment: carbon emissions and energy consumption. As innovators in the decarbonization movement, BrainBox AI’s game-changing HVAC technology leverages AI to make buildings smarter, greener, and more efficient. Through strategic global relationships, BrainBox AI elevates real estate clients across various sectors from office buildings and hotels to commercial retail, grocery stores, airports, and more.

    BrainBox AI’s tech results in up to 25% reduction in total energy costs, up to 40% decrease in carbon footprint, and up to 60% improvement in occupant comfort, and extends HVAC equipment life by up to 50%. The tech provides intuitive data visualization of automated emissions data collection, tracking, and reporting via dashboard or downloadable documentation.

    In 2020, BrainBox AI was recognized by TIME as one of the Top 100 best inventions and by CB Insights as one of the Top 100 AI start-ups redefining industries in 2021. The company is also a member of the MaRS Discovery District, the largest urban innovation hub in North America. BrainBox AI was selected as the winner for the Tech For Our Planet Challenge from a cohort of ten finalist start-ups at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in 2022.

    Jean-Simon Venne is a co-founder and CTO of BrainBox AI. BrainBox AI’s technology leverages artificial intelligence to improve building operational efficiency while reducing energy consumption and costs. Combining machine learning, cloud-based computing, and self-directed decision-making, BrainBox AI enables the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system in a commercial building to operate autonomously and in real-time, generating up to a 25% reduction in total energy costs, 20-40% reduction in carbon footprint and 60% increase in occupant comfort.

    As a technology expert specializing in the fast and efficient migration of technological innovations to commercial applications, Jean-Simon has over 25 years of experience developing and implementing new technology to solve long-standing commercial issues in the fields of telecommunications, biotechnology, and energy efficiency.

    Connect with Jean-SimonFollow BrainBox AI on TwitterCheck out BrainBox AI
  • Mike Simonsen, President of Altos Research, joins Tech Nest today to discuss real estate data and some of the myths around mortgage rate lock-ins.

    Altos Research offers local and national real estate data to financial institutions, real estate pros, and investors. Simonsen reveals that the lock-in effect started in 2014, not 2022, due to falling mortgage rates making homeowners hesitant to sell. He highlights the importance of viewing data from various angles and explains how Altos Research tracks the active market, focusing on pricing, inventory, and trends.

    Altos Research just recently announced a new product feature, adding pending data to show properties under contract, giving a quick, accurate market snapshot.

    Mike also shares insights as to how the future of real estate data will see more sources and better analysis, though affordability issues will likely remain (sadly). Despite affordability challenges, purchasing a home is expected to get simpler as advances in tech could lead to faster underwriting and quicker closings, streamlining the home buying process.

    More about Mike and Altos Research
    Altos Research tracks the US real estate market in real-time. For over 15 years the company has provided national and local real estate data to financial institutions, investors, and tens of thousands of real estate professionals across the country.

    Altos Research was acquired by HW Media in December 2022.

    Mike Simonsen is the founder and president of real estate analytics firm Altos Research, which has provided national and local real estate data to financial institutions, real estate professionals, and investors across the country for more than 15 years. An expert trendspotter, Mike uses Altos data to identify market shifts months before they hit the headlines and his work has been featured in the New York Times, The Atlantic, Fortune, Bloomberg, and other publications.

    Connect with Mike on LinkedinFollow Mike on TwitterFollow Altos Research on TwitterCheck out Altos Research
  • Chet Kittleson, Co-founder and CEO of Far Homes, shares how the company is simplifying international home buying. Born from the pandemic's remote work trend, Far Homes helps people buy and sell homes abroad, starting with Mexico. They offer a thorough real estate search platform, connect buyers with local agents, and focus on high-demand markets like Cancun and the Riviera Maya.

    Far Homes aims to be the go-to for global cross-border purchase financing, with tools like the Financing Finder making the process easier. One thing Chet points out is that despite all the possibilities with technology, agents remain a vital part of the equation when it comes to buying real estate both abroad and domestically.


    More about Chet and Far Homes
    Far Homes is a real estate company that is making it easier to find and buy homes in international destinations in a world where more and more people can live and work anywhere. Founded by real estate industry veterans in 2022, the company is working to simplify the international home-buying and selling experience through a technology-powered marketplace. Far Homes has built a database of pre and new-construction, and existing homes for sale making it easy to find the home you want. The company has a bilingual customer service team who respond quickly, and a network of local, multi-lingual partner agents with experience helping buyers from outside the country navigate the home buying and selling process.

    Far Homes has raised more than $2 million from PSL Ventures, Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman, and DoorDash co-founder Evan Moore, among others.

    Chet is the CEO of Far Homes, a US-based real estate start-up focused on simplifying the international home-buying experience. Chet started Far Homes in 2022 when the rise of remote work gave more people than ever the opportunity to live and work anywhere in the world, dramatically increasing the need for support in finding and buying a home in another country.

    Prior to starting Far Homes, Chet spent 6 years at Redfin where he first led New Ventures, building off his strong background in partnerships to create millions of dollars in high-margin revenue before becoming the GM of Marketplaces.

    Connect with ChetFollow Far Homes on TwitterCheck out Far Homes