Kristjan Byfields’ proptech ‘The Depositary’ gets top level accolade from numerous industry bodies
The Depositary has just announced that they are thrilled to have been ranked 5th in BusinessCloud’s highly anticipated PropTech 50 for 2024. This annual ranking highlights the most innovative startups, scaleups, and established firms creating technology for the UK’s real estate, construction, built environment, and building management sectors. The UK is home to over 900 proptech companies, many of which are located in London. The UK is a global hub for proptech companies and is leading the way in integrating sustainable initiatives into the sector.
An Deckers, Co-Founder, said “This is a fantastic validation of what we have built so far, but we have so many exciting plans in store. This includes new features, functionality and integrations making the platform even more effective and seamless. Excitingly, we plan to release our first Reapit integration in early 2025 and our long-awaited adoption of AI shortly thereafter. The future is exciting’.
Meanwhile, Carla Burnett, The Depositary’s Flight Engineer said “With over 51,000 tenancies now concluded through our platform by our amazing agent community, we have now comprehensively proven our platform delivers to agents, tenants and landlords alike. This is a huge validation of our work over the last four years and it is exciting to see what the next 12 months holds in store”.
The final ranking was determined by a combination of public votes and selections from an expert judging panel, including representatives from the UK PropTech Association (UKPA), the British Property Federation (BPF), Real Estate Women & Cambridge Finance, OBI Property and, of course, BusinessCloud.
The Depositary made the initial shortlist of 127 companies containing over 20 well-known suppliers to the residential agency sector, with many companies which had had multi-million investment and were long admired not mading the final cut. To be recognised as the most innovative proptech company serving their marketplace is incredible when you see Rightmove, Fixflo, Inventory base, Reposit, Sprift, Plentific, Homesearch and Helpthemove in the same list. It really is a standout Netflix Vs Blockbuster moment that shows that great tech shines through because users need and use it.
Agency membership body reveals the top three pillars to success
The Guild of Property Professionals has announced the results of a recent customer survey conducted with their network of independent agents. The survey was designed to uncover which tools and services Members found the most useful, allowing The Guild to identify the ‘hero’ products that are making the greatest impact within its community.
The results revealed that compliance advice and support, along with The Guild’s Compliance Toolbox, are the most valued services among Members. Other top-rated services included market analysis and planning, as well as The Guild’s Learning Platform, The Guild Referral System, The Associate Training Scheme, Professional Indemnity (PI) Insurance, Life Magazine and Ezine, and the Digital Hub.
Iain McKenzie, CEO of The Guild, (picture above) commented on the findings: “Understanding what our Members value most is vital in ensuring that we continue to provide the right tools and services to support their success. It is no surprise that compliance advice and support, in particular, has emerged as a hero product, as well as market analysis and planning. The property industry is constantly evolving, and the burden of navigating complex regulations and legislation is a significant challenge for agents. At The Guild, we are proud to offer the expertise and resources that allow our Members to meet these challenges confidently.”
100 Announces a £2.38M funding round & Partnership with CLEAR to Launch Verified Renter Network
100, a groundbreaking multifamily rental software platform, has secured a $5.2 million pre-seed funding round and announced a strategic partnership with CLEAR, the secure identity company, to introduce the Verified Renter NetworkTM. This innovative platform is set to streamline rental application and screening processes by incorporating advanced, fraud-resistant security features.
The global rental market, valued at billions annually, faces persistent issues of fraud and debt. According to a recent survey by the National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), over 93% of property owners reported experiencing fraud in the last 12 months, and 70% encountered identity theft. The Verified Renter NetworkTM aims to address these concerns by offering a secure, efficient, and seamless application process.
The platform identifies renters who pose minimal fraud risks, enabling property owners and operators to save time and reduce costs. Renters, in turn, benefit from a quicker, smoother application process. To join the Verified Renter NetworkTM, individuals must undergo background checks and meet standards set by a consortium of real estate owners and operators.
“100 provides much-needed relief for multifamily operators grappling with unprecedented levels of fraud and debt,” said Caren Maio, Co-Founder and CEO of 100. “Partnering with CLEAR allows us to set a new standard for efficiency and security in the rental market, and this collaboration is truly transformative.” (Picture Vishal Patel & Caren Maio).
CLEAR Members can now enrol in the Verified Renter NetworkTM with ease, and for a limited time, can access the service free of charge. The 100 team, which includes veterans in multifamily technology, has been instrumental in developing leading solutions in the industry over the past 15 years, creating billions in enterprise value.
Andrew Stanton Founder & Editor of 'PROPTECH-X' where his insights, connections, analysis and commentary on proptech and real estate are based on writing 1.3M words annually. Plus meeting 1,000 Proptech founders, critiquing 400 decks and having had 130 clients as CEO of 'PROPTECH-PR', a consultancy for Proptech founders seeking growth and exit strategies. He also acts as an advisory for major global real estate companies on sales, acquisitions, market positioning & operations. With 100K followers & readers, he is the 'Proptech Realestate Influencer.'
