Property tech 'winter' is over, but climate investment is still struggling, says Fifth Wall CEO

CNBC
CNBC
3M ago
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Property technology faces significant challenges due to high interest rates and a shift away from climate sustainability, yet some optimism remains for future investments.
Property tech 'winter' is over, but climate investment is still struggling, says Fifth Wall CEO
A What happened
The property technology sector has faced significant setbacks due to higher interest rates, a capital market retraction, and a shift in venture capital focus towards artificial intelligence. Brendan Wallace, co-founder of Fifth Wall, described the last few years as an 'extinction event' for many companies in the sector. Despite this, there are signs of recovery, such as the successful IPO of ServiceTitan and the emergence of new unicorns like Bilt. However, climate-related property tech is increasingly challenged by a political shift away from sustainability in the U.S. While national policies may be anti-climate, local governments continue to seek ways to raise capital through initiatives like carbon taxes. Wallace remains optimistic about the long-term potential of property tech, emphasizing the need for decarbonization in an industry responsible for a significant portion of carbon emissions.

Key insights

  • 1

    Impact of Interest Rates: Higher interest rates have severely affected property technology investments.

  • 2

    Climate Tech Challenges: Political shifts have negatively impacted climate-related property technology.

  • 3

    Signs of Recovery: Successful IPOs and new unicorns indicate potential recovery in property tech.

Takeaways

The property technology sector is navigating significant challenges but shows potential for recovery and growth.

Topics

Business & Markets Markets Startups/VC Innovation

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