Announcing the 2024 MetaProp Accelerator at Columbia University

Announcing the 2024 MetaProp Accelerator at Columbia University

“Five Borough” Program and Investment Themes Revealed

New York, NY (Wednesday, October 18, 2024) -- MetaProp announced today the launch of applications for the 2024 MetaProp Accelerator at Columbia University, the world's premier PropTech accelerator program based in the heart of Silicon Alley. For the first time, MetaProp will conduct a “Five Borough” program paying homage to New York City and its budding tech community. The Five Borough program will include tech talks, presentation workshops, education sessions, real estate property tours, and events in cooperation with top industry players across Manhattan (including Roosevelt Island), Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island. 

MetaProp Co-Founder and Managing Partner Aaron Block remarked, “New York City is back. Particularly in tech and real estate. The key industry stakeholders are in offices, at events, and engaged in their communities. The timing is right to open the doors back up to our flagship 22-week Accelerator program and we believe this is a home run for the New York City ecosystem and its tech community.” 

The 22-week boot camp connects up to eight PropTech startups from around the world to award-winning investors, venture capital and industry mentors, and diverse real estate, technology, and institutional partners. Each startup also qualifies for up to $250,000 in financing from MetaProp. This is the ninth program since the Accelerator's inception in 2015 and the first since 2021. To date, out of thousands of applications, MetaProp has had 50 participants admitted to its programs, who have raised more than $200m in combined venture funding, including 6 exits to large industry players like JLL, Comcast, Realtor.com, and Alarm.com.

MetaProp is looking into a number of timely investment verticals to be represented within its 2024 cohort. Co-Founder and General Partner Zach Aarons commented, “Buildings account for two-thirds of the greenhouse gas emissions in New York City. After Local Law 97 was passed in 2019, it’s become imperative for MetaProp to identify and help grow emerging technologies in the decarbonization sector. In addition to climate tech, we’re looking into innovations in the artificial intelligence and affordable housing spaces to be included in our 2024 class.”

The Accelerator provides a direct line into MetaProp’s stakeholders’ collective strength while giving unprecedented access to strategic funding and new enterprise clients around the world. Detailed benefits for PropTech startups participating in the MetaProp Accelerator at Columbia University include:

• Up to $250,000 in financing

• 22-week program focused on driving business growth and accelerated market penetration

• Curated access and introductions to industry decision-makers, technology pilots, premier sources of investment capital, and international media

• Participation in exclusive Pilot Days and Demo Days, as well as discounted or free attendance at dozens of local, national and international industry roundtables and networking events

• Pairing with select C-level mentors from MetaProp’s RE200 industry mentor network 

• MetaProp VC platform services during the program including strategy, fundraising, media relations and PR, in-house recruiting, business development, sales, and digital marketing

• Access to consortium program partners, as well as free goods and services

Historically, MetaProp limited partners Cushman & Wakefield and PGIM have been engaged throughout the 22-week program through mentorship, leading group sessions, and hosting pilot days. Additional past partners of the accelerator program include Colonial, First Republic Bank, Fox Rothschild, MachineQ, Zillow Group, DLA Piper, New York City Economic Development Corporation, Eisner Amper, Real Estate Board of New York, Millenium Partners, and Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

A committee of industry experts will review all applications and selected participants will be announced by MetaProp by the end of January 2024. The application deadline for the MetaProp Accelerator at Columbia University is January 15, 2024. 

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About MetaProp 

MetaProp is a New York-based venture capital firm focused on the real estate technology (“PropTech”) industry. Founded in 2015, MetaProp’s investment team has invested in 175+ technology companies across the real estate value chain. The firm manages multiple funds for both financial and strategic real estate investors that represent a pilot- and test-ready sandbox of 20+ billion square feet across every real estate asset type and global market. The firm’s investment activities are complemented by pioneering community leadership including the PropTech Place innovation hub, MetaProp Accelerator at Columbia University programs, global events including NYC Real Estate Tech Week, and publications Global PropTech Confidence Index and PropTech 101.