PROPTECH CHALLENGE

The PropTech Challenge was born out of the inaugural REBNY Tech Hackathon, part of New York Real Estate Tech Week 2017. The REBNY Tech Hackathon was launched over a 3-day period, bringing together some of the brightest minds in real estate and technology. The objective of the hackathon was to inspire cutting edge solutions solving real world challenges faced by today’s leading real estate companies. Building upon the hackathon’s success, PropTech Challenge aims to remove the geographical boundaries and time constraints commonly imposed through on-site hackathons. The Challenge leverages the wealth of technology talent in New York City and beyond, aiming to be the world’s leading virtual real estate hackathon series. As we cultivate partnerships around the world, the series aims to drive innovation focusing on the needs of New York City’s real estate market.

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In 2022, the Challenge partnered with Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and the Commercial Observer, to identify companies that can help reduce GHG emissions from the building sector – including both owner and tenant – and realize the goals of net zero buildings. Our "Getting to Carbon Net Zero" Challenge was designed to showcase innovative PropTech solutions that can help building owners achieve meaningful emissions reductions in their properties.

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In 2021, the Challenge partnered with NYSERDA and the Building Energy Exchange to address the great Tenant Energy Disconnect.  The Tenant Energy Data category is designed to improve understanding of the drivers of electricity consumption within sub-metered office space in NYC.  The purpose of this effort is to identify new modeling assumptions that account for COVID-19’s impact on occupancy levels.  This category provides real world consumption data from a single large office tenant in Midtown Manhattan along with some building-wide data.

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In 2020, the Challenge partners with Connected Real Estate Magazine's Connected Virtual Event.  Our virtual format will add Showcase and Round Table elements to our Demo Day event.  This year’s PropTech Challenge focuses on helping owners and managers get tenants back into our buildings safely and securely.  We'll be raising awareness to some exciting PropTech uncovered by the REBNY Technology Committee as we reimagine operations, leasing, and development in an ever changing world.

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In 2019,  REBNY's PropTech Challenge was truly global as we joined forces with the MIPIM Startup Competition.  Demo Day was held at MIPIM PropTech, a collaboration between MIPIM and MetaProp NYC.  Category finalist were awarded a grand total of $50,000 in cash and prizes across four challenge categories, with winner entered into the MIPIM Startup Competition. 

In 2018, REBNY's PropTech Challenge was a global success where participants from over 12 countries were awarded a grand total of $50,000 in cash and prizes across four challenge categories.  Winners  had the  will be our unique ability to connect developers with venture capital firms and key real estate decision makers, including C-Level executives, from REBNY’s Technology Committee. ​

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PropTech Challenge was conceptualized by Sandy Jacolow, Duke Long, and Ryan J. S. Baxter. Digital Marketing assistance provided by Alicia Jacolow. The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) is the PropTech Challenge Founding Partner.

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