Press Release
REBNY’s 2022 PropTech Challenge Demo Day Showcases How Technology Is Moving Real Estate to Carbon Net Zero
REBNY Press
April 20, 2022
In partnership with NYSERDA and Commercial Observer, 6th annual event showcased 13 finalists advancing innovative ideas that will reshape the built environment
NEW YORK, NY – The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), New York City’s leading real estate trade association, hosted its 6th annual PropTech Challenge Demo Day on April 19 at Convene’s 151 West 42nd Street location. Thanks to the support of REBNY Technology Committee, lead partners New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Commercial Observer, supporting sponsors Brookfield Properties and The Durst Organization, along with all participants, this year’s event generated over 50 submissions with 13 finalists presenting in front of over 200 building owners, tenant representatives and investors watching the Demo Day event.
REBNY's PropTech Challenge puts the focus of a wide range of stakeholders at the intersection of the technology and real estate industries on solutions to help solve the greatest challenges that cities are confronting in the 21st century. With submissions ranging from early-stage startups to scaleups to major enterprises, this year’s event spotlighted technologies helping the real estate industry get to Carbon Net Zero. This included a focus on sustainable development and ongoing efforts by the real estate industry to reduce carbon emissions throughout the built environment.
In addition to finalist presentations, Demo Day featured discussions with public and private sector leaders at the forefront of the real estate industry’s quest for a more sustainable future. This includes NYSERDA Director of Market Development Patrick O’Shei, Brookfield SVP of Operations Michael Daschle, RXR Realty SVP of Property Management Michael Aisner, Tishman Speyer Head of U.S. Engineering Paul Rode, Durst Organization Senior Engineering Manager Ed Bricker, Jaros, Baum & Bolles Director of the Deep Carbon Reduction Group Molly Dee-Ramasamy and REBNY SVP of Policy Zachary Steinberg.
2022 PropTech Challenge Finalists
(More information on the PropTech Challenge can be seen here and more information on the finalists can be seen here.)
Category 1: Carbon Measurement, Verification, Reporting, & Accounting
Category 2: Building & Tenant - Energy Management & Optimization
Category 3: Energy Storage
Category 4: Embodied Carbon & Carbon Capture
“Our goal is to transform the real estate experience, leveraging innovative technology solutions, for generations to come,” said Sandy Jacolow, member of REBNY’s Technology Committee and a co-founder of the PropTech Challenge “Building a collaborative environment between owners, tenants, vendors and governmental agencies is the only way we will accomplish our lofty goals and we are extremely grateful for their leadership, dedication and enthusiasm.”
“Thank you to all participants in this year’s challenge and congratulations to finalists,” said NYSERDA Director of Market Development Patrick O’Shei, “We are extremely pleased to partner with REBNY for this event for four straight years. Energy efficiency, carbon reduction, resiliency and indoor air quality are paramount to NYSERDA’s work, and the technology and real estate firms here today have provided services that will help advance the region move toward our shared environmental goals.”
“The focus of this year’s PropTech Challenge, ‘Getting to Carbon Net Zero,’ is of special interest to our team, as our coverage of ESG and PropTech has significantly expanded over the last two years,” said Editor-in-Chief of Commercial Observer Max Gross. “Green development is mission critical for real estate and urban planning and we are in desperate need of the ingenuity and creativity demonstrated by all the finalists presenting at this year’s event. Congratulations.”
“Our hope is to spark important conversations between the real estate and technology industries that begin at demo day and continue for years to come with a wide range of stakeholders,” said REBNY Chief Technology Officer Chris Beach. “There is no easy fix to getting to carbon net zero but we believe through ongoing research, innovation and collaboration we can position the built environment for a better future.”
Coverage of Demo Day by PropTech Challenge media partner Commercial Observer can be seen here.
# # #
