Investing with a Learning Mindset, Part 3

Breton Birkhofer discusses the importance of technology in creating a solution for affordable housing, and why he’s concerned that the industry is not moving fast enough to address climate change.

SoftBank-backed Indian start-up Oyo files for $1.2 billion IPO

Indian hotel chain Oyo is planning to raise about 84.3 billion rupees ($1.16 billion) in an initial public offering, according to draft papers submitted to the country’s market regulator. Oyo plans to issue new shares worth up to 70 billion rupees while existing shareholders could sell shares worth up to14.3 billion rupees. Some of the start-up’s prominent backers include SoftBank Vision Fund, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Sequoia Capital India.

Report: Investors put more capital into proptech companies

Property technology (Proptech) startup companies are currently on the rise, Crunchbase News reports. Venture capital-backed real estate companies have raised approximately $11 billion in 2021—a 22% boost from last year, according to recent Crunchbase data. Low interest rates, a good construction market and government spending have all played key roles in the uptick in proptech investment dollars. The flood of institutional money into the real estate industry has been the biggest factor, however….

Construction Fintech Startup Built Nabs $1.5 Billion Valuation

Built Technologies, a construction industry-focused financial-technology startup, has more than tripled its valuation to $1.5 billion after raising $125 million in an equity funding round led by TCV. Brookfield Technology Partners, 9Yards Capital, HighSage Ventures and XYZ Venture Capital participated in the fundraising, Chase Gilbert, chief executive officer of Nashville, Tennessee-based Built, said in an interview. Existing investors including Lee Fixel’s Addition, Fifth Wall and Index Vent…

Why Smart-City Tech Startups Are A Smart Investment

A DoorDash driver, an Amazon delivery van, and a commuter—stressed and running behind schedule—have all been circling the same block or double parked for 15 minutes when, finally, a parking spot opens up. The dangerous and unregulated parking jam that ensues belongs in “The Hunger Games,” not a modern American city.

Wellness Real Estate Market Nearly Doubles In Last Few Years

Wellness real estate is well on its way in moving from elective to essential, according to New Global Wellness Institute (GWI) research that revealed the sector grew 22% during the pandemic year, particularly as it relates to residential projects. Three years ago, “wellness real estate was a concept not well understood by consumers, builders, developers or investors,” according to GWI senior research fellow Ophelia Yeung.

Sharing mobility data without compromising privacy

In recent years, rows of electric scooters and bikes lining sidewalks have become a common sight in cities around the United States.

The size of the e-scooter market alone is expected to surpass $40 billion by 2025, and Americans have taken more than 342 million trips on shared bikes and e-scooters since 2010.

New Demand for Office Space Highest Since Pandemic Onset

The Delta variant has had nowhere near the negative effect on office space occupancy as COVID-19 initially did, according to the newly-released VTS Office Demand Index (VODI), with data through August. Nationally, new demand for office space rose to a 15-month high in August and is now just 13 percent below pre-COVID-19 levels. This year, only July showed a negative trend for office demand.

Move Over, Elon Musk: Autonomous Shuttle Company Jockeys For Position As Mass Transit Solution

In June, Elon Musk’s The Boring Company opened one of two mass transit projects in Las Vegas whereby passengers are ferried in Teslas through a 1.7-mile tunnel that is 40 feet underground….

Startup wants to demystify real estate tax breaks

REDIST, a proptech startup seeking to demystify real estate tax breaks, completed a round of seed funding and soft-launched a platform to show developers and brokers how to make better use of tax incentives.