CREtech NYC Coming Back Strong in Weak 2022 Proptech Market

“I am most excited about the extraordinary number of real estate companies that are attending for the first time, which is a wonderful affirmation of the progress we are making collectively in the proptech sector,” said Beckerman. “With five stages at the event we are also covering more areas of real estate tech than ever before, including office, multifamily, retail, logistics, construction, affordable housing, single-family rental, for-sale housing and sustainability.

“I am also proud to be bringing thousands of people back to an in-person event in the greatest city in the world. For CREtech, there is no other location for our conference in the U.S. other than NYC.”

The extensive speakers list is highlighted by Laura Hines-Pierce, co-CEO of Hines, who will be the first-day keynote in conversation speaker interviewed by Max Gross, editor in chief of Commercial Observer.

The second-day’s keynote will be by famed international architect Bjarke Ingels, founder of BIG Bjarke Ingels Group.

In addition to Ingels’ keynote, the second day features Sandeep Davé, chief digital & technology officer at CBRE, who will speak in the afternoon, followed by a conversation between Michael Turner, president of Oxford Properties, and Richard Croft, executive chairman at M7 Real Estate Ltd.

Among the highlights of proptech’s relationship to climate tech will be, “Getting to Net Zero Real Estate Operations,” presented by Sonu Panda, CEO at Prescriptive Data, and a panel on “Top Real Estate Companies Embracing Sustainability,” featuring Jonathan Flaherty, global head of sustainability and building technology innovation at Tishman Speyer Properties; Ben Myers, vice president of sustainability at Boston Properties (BXP); Kelly Soljacich, director of EST Innovation at LaSalle Investment Management; and Rob Simpson, senior director; sustainability at Ivanhoé Cambridge. Tasha Norman, executive editor at ALM Global Newsroom, will moderate.

Among the many other speakers at the conference, Jeffrey Berman, general partner at Camber Creek, will be doing an “Ask Me Anything” spot on topics ranging from the current market environment to tips for entrepreneurs and teams pitching his venture capital firm, to themes and theses within proptech about which the company is excited.

“It’s a thrill to be heading back to CREtech NYC, it’s been too long since we’ve been able to come together as a community, share ideas and learn from one another,” Berman said. “Michael and his team have put together a dynamite program.”

Data is an ever-important component of proptech, as L.D. Salmanson, CEO and co-founder of Cherre, which recently announced a partnership with Dealpath, is well aware.

“We’ve known them for a really long time and I really liked the team,” Salmanson, who will be speaking on a panel about “Driving Innovation: How Leading Real Estate Companies Are Embracing Innovation,” said of Dealpath. “We’ve been doing a lot of work with the other deal platforms, so adding them made sense.”

As for CREtech NYC and other proptech conferences returning in force, Salmanson is all in. He said he especially looks forward to checking in with potential Cherre partners in person and showcasing the company’s wares.

“I love that they’re all coming back,” he said. “I think there’s no replacement for human interaction at the end of the day. It’s hard to make real, meaningful human connections remotely. And then it’s also really great to see a lot of people that you haven’t seen in a long time. It’s really fun.”

Philip Russo can be reached at prusso@commercialobserver.com.