Post-Covid Networking: Reflections from CREtech London 2021
Image courtesy of CREtech

Post-Covid Networking: Reflections from CREtech London 2021

Elly Higgins, Marketing and Communications Executive at Bloxspring, shares her thoughts from CREtech London, the first major PropTech event since lockdown eased.

What to expect, I wasn’t sure. This was the first time post-pandemic that most of us attending would be meeting in the flesh! Much to my delight, the event proved engaging and insightful - here’s a little summary...

Venue 

Upon entering the venue, it was fantastic to see such a diverse and welcoming range of providers. On my left was HqO, bubbling with joy after their recent $500m acquisition of Office App. It was lovely to see both parties meeting over coffee after forming the majority of their relationship virtually.

To my right, were the steps to the innovation stage featuring numerous speakers throughout the two-days and a tech networking lounge. The lounge catered to the hundreds of meetings over the two days, booked via the CREtech app. It was great to hear the constant hum of conversation, networking and discussion - a sign of the positivity and energy as the real estate market finds its feet again post-Covid.

Finally, the networking lounge itself overlooked a sway of other technology booths, behind which was the main stage - the hub of on-trend conversation.

Notable Speakers

In the looming light of COP26, Theo Blackwell appeared on the main stage equipped with a fresh perspective on the importance of sustainability and climate tech. Theo spoke specifically of the London mayoral goal, pledging a net zero carbon city by 2030 as a focal point for real estate technology innovators. It was great to hear Theo and so many other speakers acknowledge the urgency of ethical obligations.

Another noteworthy talk was given by Alexander Gabauer from Allianz Real Estate. Talking on previously disconnected relations between real estate managers and their assets, Alexander pointed towards an increasingly personal approach as an ideal. Within this, data will play a pivotal role in informing decisions and their efficiency, but not at the expense of personal touch.

Climate Tech

Leading on from Theo Blackwell’s discussion of real estate sustainability, the CEO of CREtech, Michael Beckerman shared his views. 

Michael expressed understandable levels of dismay in finding out that the built world is the single biggest contributor to carbon emissions. According to research by Fifth Wall, 41% of global energy is used by buildings which then emit 28% of RE emissions.

There seems to be genuine progress in areas of real estate innovation as companies strive toward their own net zero carbon goals. Having spoken with an array of VC’s at the conference, they were all pointing towards climate tech as one of their most desired investment areas for 2022, with one group outlining that climate tech will soon comprise up to 50% (if not more) of their investment portfolio.

Worth your while? 

At a pivotal time for the real estate industry, gauging market sentiment at CREtech London was perhaps more interesting than ever before. With the future of the workplace, automation, data and the environment all hot topics right now, hearing what real estate technology has to offer in response was encouraging and exciting.

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