PropTech 101

AARON BLOCK has been co-founder and managing director of leading PropTech venture capital firm MetaProp since its inception in 2015. Previously, Aaron was an executive running the Chicago region of global commercial real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield before serving as the chairman of Chicago-based BayRu, the US-Russian e-commerce company and eBay’s exclusive drop-shipping partner for Russia/CIS consumers. Aaron has served on a number of leadership boards and committees including the Young Presidents Organization, ULI New York, Manhattan Community Board Five, Friends of the Chicago River, and United Way Russia. ZACH AARONS was one of the top angel investors in before co-founding MetaProp, where his team has funded more than sixty start-ups. Previously, he worked as a commercial real estate developer with Millennium Partners; an investor at ENIAC Ventures; and the founder of Travelgoat, a walking tour company. He is a professor of PropTech at Columbia University and serves on the board of trustees for the Tenement Museum. Zach is also the 2017 recipient of the NYC Real Estate Tech Week’s “Investor of the Year” award and has been featured in dozens of international media publications and conferences.

FOREWORD ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Location, Location, Innovation PropTech Is Remaking Real Estate Why PropTech Now? The Benefits of a Brave New Real Estate World Defining and Exploring PropTech Start-Up Strategies for Engaging with Industry Industry Strategies for Engaging with PropTech Investment and PropTech The Future of Real Estate Embrace Tomorrow’s Real Estate Industry GLOSSARY RESOURCES DIRECTORY