Proptech & Innovation Committee: Year in Review

Hello Blueprint community,

Here at NYU Schack, the 2020-2021 school year is coming to a close. Reflecting on these last two semesters as the Chair of the Proptech & Innovation Committee, I’m left with bittersweet emotions. 

I came into the Masters program with the expectation of graduating after two semesters and one Summer session. Given the unique circumstances we all faced, I took the time to reflect on my ensuing future. Ultimately, rather than finishing off in the Summer of 2020, I decided I’d space out the remaining required courses of the program till 2021. With another school year ahead, I recognized a grand opportunity to take on a leadership position. As a self-proclaimed ‘Proptech Geek’, it only felt appropriate to apply as the Chair of the Proptech & Innovation Committee. Fortunately, I won the election. 

Starting my professional career off at Ollie, a co-living startup, and then Currency M, a strategic proptech venture firm, I witnessed the first few innings of the real estate tech space. I’m grateful to be a part of this tight-knit community, one that is rapidly growing. For context, the real estate tech space currently plays in the 3rd inning. Considering the fragile presence of the proptech space, it is of no surprise that the real estate industry is not entirely aware of the landscape. I recognized this sentiment first hand in my classes. The light bulb went off and I instantly realized my mission as Chair of the Proptech & Innovation Committee. I’d help bridge the gap between real estate and proptech to NYU Schack. The committee broke the goal down into 4 buckets:

1. Create a student-led publication centered on real estate innovation + sustainability
2. Host panel discussions with industry leaders on a range of topics
3. Facilitate ties between real estate tech startups and the university
4. Establish a partnership with a proptech venture capital firm and NYU Schack

Under NYU Schack’s REISA, the publication came to life. Blueprint is on mission to bring together perspectives across the real estate ecosystem to share ideas, create new connections and explore opportunities at the intersection of real estate, innovation, and sustainability. With a total of 12 Issues released during the school year, Blueprint continues to grow its list of subscribers + student contributors. Along with the publication, a website came to life to effectively engage our audience and spotlight our student contributors. 

Over the course of the past two semesters, the Proptech & Innovation Committee hosted 3 panel discussions on relevant topics impacting the today and tomorrow of real estate. Alongside my teammate Jess Solley, the committee moderated webinars with industry leaders. Massing over a thousand registrants to our events, topics of discussion included real estate in the post-Covid world, construction technology, and sustainability in the built environment.

Finally, the Proptech & Innovation Committee is committed to joining arms with real estate tech startups + a proptech venture capital firm for the betterment of our university and students. As the committee continues pushing these two initiatives forward, it is of utmost importance to establish everlasting ties with companies moving the real estate needle through technological advancement.

Through a commitment to driving awareness centered on real estate technology + innovation in our industry, the Proptech & Innovation Committee here at NYU Schack is left with a lot more to do. Let us celebrate our accomplishments and learn from our missteps. I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity, and boy, do I look forward to witnessing the milestones hit in 2021-2022!

Best,


Josh