Construction tech startups fueled by recent investments

When an industry is called out in The Wall Street Journal, investors take notice. Last week, the Journal proclaimed that venture capitalists are “pouring money” into startups that leverage technology to make commercial and residential construction faster and easier. Quoting from a recent report from research company CREtech, the Journal reported that investment in private contech firms increased from $352 million in 2016 to more than $6 billion in 2018. As of the end of June, investments tota…

Airbnb competitor Sonder confirms new investment, $1B+ valuation

Sonder, which rents serviced apartments akin to boutique hotels, has raised $225 million at a valuation north of $1 billion, the company announced this morning. News of the round, which brings Sonder’s total raised to date to more than $400 million, follows an April report from The Wall Street Journal that the business was closing in on its unicorn round. Valor Equity, Westcap and Nicolas Pritzker via Tao Capital Partners have co-led the round with participation from Fidelity, Atreides Capital…

Blockchain Use in Real Estate

Blockchain, an innovative technology which was first developed in 2008, is gaining momentum across industries. According to Investopedia, “blockchain is a distributed, decentralized, public ledger.” Its use cases are rapidly growing and the real estate industry can also benefit from its application.

Who Needs Amazon HQ2? Not New York Real Estate’s Tech Boom

Big technology companies are doubling down on New York City by adding millions of square feet in office space and creating thousands of new jobs, with few aftereffects fromAmazon.com Inc. ’s nixing of a Queens headquarters. Alphabet Inc. ’s Google last week closed a deal to lease 1.3 million square feet in lower Manhattan, part of Google’s plans to add 7,000 in staff to the city over 10 years….

You’re Hired. Now Wear This Headset to Learn the Job.

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — When Toby Bouska Jr. started assembling cabs for Kenworth semitrucks last year, he learned the ropes by observing longtime workers at the factory. But it wasn’t exactly engaging, and he didn’t get much practice doing the job himself.

“It’s them doing the job, and you just have to watch,” said Mr. Bouska, 21, who works at Kenworth’s plant in Chillicothe. “I’m not really good at just sitting there watching.”

Coworking/Co-Retail Combo is the Future of Retail

Amazon is an easy scapegoat for the ever-changing world of retail. Cities, brokers, and retailers are inclined to point fingers at Amazon for their every problem, but this type of blanket blame overlooks many of the significant trends shaping the future of retail. And sure, Amazon likely acted as a catalyst for many key aspects of these trends, but now that the ball is rolling, several futurists, entrepreneurs, and startups that I’ve talked to agree: Mixed-use is the beacon of hope for an indust…

Short-Term Vacation Rental Company To Standardize Guests’ Experience

A new Denver-based company is taking the uncertainty out of short-term vacation rentals by purchasing single-family homes and branding them like boutique hotels. The company, D. Alexander, is the answer to guaranteeing a positive guest experience that companies such as Airbnb, VRBO and HomeAway cannot because they don’t own the homes they rent, D. Alexander co-founder Alex Allison said.

Realogy slams Compass with explosive suit

Compass — the $4.4 billion Softbank-backed brokerage that’s shaken up the real estate landscape over the past seven years — was hit with an explosive and wide-ranging lawsuit Wednesday by a key rival accusing it of price-fixing and collusion, “predatory” poaching and unfair business practices. Realogy, in a 68-page complaint filed in New York State Supreme Court, alleges the firm routinely engages in “illegal schemes to gain market share at all costs and to damage, or even eliminate, competit…

LONG-TERM LABOR SOLUTION DISRUPTS A TIGHT MARKET

Housing is experiencing a labor shortage like never before. According to industry data provider, Metrostudy, the shortage is due to an aging/retiring skilled labor force in construction, a stronger than ever appeal of other industries for younger workers over construction, and new government policies that are weakening the availability of immigrant construction labor.

Formstack Acquires Electronic Signature Software, InsureSign

Leader in workplace productivity expands document management capabilities and increases focus on insurance and finance markets FISHERS, INDIANA – July 10, 2019 – Formstack, a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company with a mission to transform the way people collect information and put it to work, today announces the acquisition of Charleston-based eSignature software provider, InsureSign. With the acquisition, Formstack further enhances its workplace productivity platform to allow users to easi…