One of the most critical—yet often overlooked—factors in the success of a startup is “time to value” (TTV). It’s a straightforward concept: how fast can your customer realize the benefit of what you’re selling? TTV is both quantifiable (e.g., the number of days from implementation to ROI) and qualifiable (e.g., how smooth and satisfying the process is). In the proptech space, TTV is more than a buzzword—it’s existential. Real estate is notoriously conservative when it comes to technology adoption, and here’s the kicker: it often takes 6–9 months for real estate companies to successfully integrate new software into their tech stacks. Let that sink in. A six-month timeline isn’t just slow; it’s a deal killer in an industry where time equals money, and patience is thin. This is where proptech founders need to be hyper-focused. If you’re building in this space, your single biggest lever for success is shortening that timeline. Every extra day your customer spends wrestling with setup or trying to see results is another day their enthusiasm wanes—and another chance they drop it entirely. Here’s how you win: 1. Nail the Onboarding: Your first job is to eliminate friction. This means out-of-the-box integrations with legacy systems, where possible. It means crystal-clear instructions and exceptional customer support that doesn’t leave anyone guessing. 2. Deliver Quick Wins: Early momentum is everything. Find the low-hanging fruit—whether it’s streamlining lease management or automating tenant communications—and make sure your customers see value immediately. Success breeds success. 3. Relentless Iteration: Your early adopters are your best teachers. Sit down with them. Understand where they get stuck. Then fix it. Ruthlessly. Remember, you’re not just competing with other startups. You’re competing with inertia, skepticism, and decades of “the way we’ve always done things.” The name of the game is to show value fast—so fast that there’s no turning back. At the end of the day, startups live and die by their ability to create momentum. Optimize for “time to value,” and you’re not just delivering a better experience—you’re giving yourself a seat at the table in an industry poised for transformation. #proptech #realestate #contech #construction #vc #venturecapital #startups #tech

PERE's annual proptech rankings were published earlier this month. Camber Creek is #2 for firms with a primary focus on proptech and in the top 5 for firms with some proptech focus. Real estate is a massive asset class that in many ways is still technologically far behind. Innovation is occurring at an accelerated pace, and it is great to see the capital interest in the best companies in the category. "PERE’s Proptech 20, ranking the top fundraisers for the strategy over the last five years, hit a new milestone in 2023, surpassing $10 billion in fundraising."

Nearly 30% of title agencies reported encountering seller impersonation fraud last year. Are your in-person closings secure? Join our upcoming webinar to learn how Proof fortifies in-person transactions against fraud. Register now: https://lnkd.in/gVttFKH5 ✅ Strengthen workflows without developer support 🔐 Built-in security through every step of the transaction 💻 Live demo & interactive Q&A

Founders, pay attention: the valuation you set in your first institutional VC round will ripple through every step of your journey. Right now, the market's a tale of two extremes: while Seed valuations have surged over 11% to nearly $15 million this year, Series A and beyond are facing a harsher reality. Volumes and valuations at later stages have dropped sharply—Series A rounds are down 17% in deal size since last year. Why does this matter? Because overvaluing your early rounds might feel good today, but it could make you the last person at the table in a down market tomorrow. Once you’re off the ground, maintaining momentum requires scaling under a framework investors can believe in. Avoid the temptation to over-optimize for today’s valuations, and instead think about the fundraising journey as a marathon, not a sprint. This is especially relevant for proptech founders, where the industry’s average Series A valuations have seen a 20% contraction from their pre-2022 highs. In proptech, asset-heavy business models and slower scaling cycles mean that sustaining high early-stage valuations can quickly become a double-edged sword if market conditions tighten. Securing a realistic valuation from the start is essential not only to attract follow-on investment but also to align with the capital-intensive, long-term growth patterns that characterize proptech. Get that initial valuation right—it’s not about what it lets you claim now; it’s about keeping the doors open and your options alive when it counts. #vc #venturecapital #startups #founders #proptech #realestate #contech #construction #tech

Camber Creek portfolio company Bridgit's industry-leading construction workforce planning platform is now available in Europe. “Bridgit ... today announced the launch of its flagship product, Bridgit Bench, into the European Union (EU) and United Kingdom (UK). This expansion, following Bridgit’s first million-dollar quarter last year and five consecutive quarters of revenue growth since, marks a critical milestone in our commitment to empower construction leaders with tools that optimize workforce utilization, enhance project visibility, and support team collaboration across regions.” https://lnkd.in/eXEiHgMT #proptech #contech #venturecapital #expansion

Institutional real estate investors are spending more time thinking about cyber risks and protecting tenant and resident data. I recently discussed this trend and the need for both capital allocators and operators to get smarter on these risks and potential solutions.  Here is the article with Kyle Campbell from Private Equity Real Estate News (PERE) if you are interested in the discussion: https://lnkd.in/erFcJged

Unacast helped researchers at the University of Florida Transportation Institute analyze movement in evacuation zones following the 2019 Kincade Fire in California. “The results,” the scientists write, “can help to advance the research of modeling and analyzing evacuation behaviors during natural hazards." It’s another example of what Unacast’s platform can do. This work appears in the journal Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment. https://ow.ly/ZAgt50U0OKg

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has just released its National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI), a comprehensive effort to expand access to safe, affordable, and effective financial services for all Americans. This is a pivotal development for the financial sector, especially for renters who often face challenges living paycheck to paycheck. At Flex, we’re committed to supporting these goals, not just through our products but also by expanding our research efforts to better understand and address the financial challenges renters face. Here’s how our upcoming research initiatives align with the NSFI’s core priorities: 🔍 Upcoming Research Initiatives: 1️⃣ Evaluating Credit Impact: We are launching a rigorous econometric study to assess how Flex influences renters’ credit outcomes, such as credit scores, utilization rates, and access to safer credit alternatives. This research will help us identify the broader impact of rent flexibility on financial well-being, a central aim of the NSFI. 2️⃣ Understanding Financial Well-being: We’re also planning to conduct surveys to capture how Flex affects renters' subjective financial well-being, focusing on stress levels, budgeting habits, and overall financial control. These insights will inform not only our product design but also contribute to the national conversation about financial health. 3️⃣ Exploring Barriers to Financial Access: Our research will dig deeper into the financial obstacles renters face, including late fees and high transaction costs. We aim to understand how Flex’s features can mitigate these barriers and promote greater financial inclusion in alignment with NSFI goals. While this research is still in its early stages, we believe it will provide critical insights to help shape policy discussions and drive meaningful change in the multifamily rental sector. We’re excited to contribute to the NSFI’s vision through data-driven findings that elevate renters' voices and experiences. Stay tuned for updates as we share more about our journey toward financial equity! #FinancialInclusion #RenterResearch #PublicPolicy #DataDrivenInsights #TenantRights #FinancialWellbeing #GetFlex

Historically, even many Fortune 500 companies have not been able to confidently forecast their utility costs. This partnership between Camber Creek portfolio company Arcadia and Verse can unlock millions in cost savings. https://ow.ly/34lk50TVVGV

Too many US renters are cost-burdened. Ryan Metcalf explains how Flex is partnering with multifamily building owners to ease that burden. https://ow.ly/ZL0p50TVVFv