Pi Labs selects next cohort of proptech start-ups

Property technology venture capitalist Pi Labs has launched its seventh pre-seed growth programme. This year’s group of start-ups spans a broad range of trends and sectors, but in response to an increasingly difficult market for first-time buyers, a large proportion of the cohort are focusing on developing products that will challenge traditional forms of home ownership and finance models. The cohort includes: CRIBZ: helping real estate developers automate and optimise their sales process. The platform sends the right message, to the right buyer, at the right time by using artificial intelligence and conversational design to guide buyers through each step of the real estate process. Decology: a personalised home design platform centred around a 3D digital twin of a client’s home. The platform provides consumers with the tools and expertise to design their homes and enables retailers to market and showcase their products in situ. GroupLadder: empowering friends to buy homes together. GroupLadder not only provides the mortgages needed, but also takes care of the complexity of transacting and owning as a group. Groups typically consist of friends who have been in a job for a year, have income coverage to pay the mortgage, but individually don’t have the capital for a deposit. Pop & Rest: offering people in large cities peaceful and private spaces that allow them to disconnect from busy places such as airports, train stations, and workplaces. Pop & Rest is the first wellbeing and hospitality start-up to offer users private and peaceful spaces to recharge or meditate in the UK. RenterBuyer: helping renters become homeowners without a large mortgage deposit or traditional credit scoring. A unique rent-to-buy solution allows buyers to buy an affordable fraction of their home upfront; pay rent on the portion not yet owned, whilst purchasing more equity monthly (part-buy, part-rent) until they own outright. All the benefits of the Government Help to Buy, without any of the limitations. Track: the mobile dashboard for homeowners that tracks property finances simply, all in one place. The personalised dashboard will provide instant valuation and projections for the property, real-time value of the owners’ financial stake, value of the mortgage balance, and ownership breakdown. As part of the programme, Pi Labs provides each company in the chosen cohort seed funding. However, the programme goes further than just funding, with strategic mentorship, office space, community collaboration and the opportunity to network with the wider proptech community, Pi Labs’ alumni, and investors during the four months. Pi Labs managing partner Dominic Wilson said: “Each year I’m impressed by the diversity of applications we receive, but this year has seen a huge increase in global interest. While the UK has always been a hotbed for proptech start-ups, Pi Labs is now looking at investing in a number of companies founded as far away as Australia and New Zealand. With hundreds of applications to join the cohort this year, it was an incredibly difficult task to narrow down the applications to just six. The next three months will be incredibly exciting as our new cohort look to develop their products and join our alumni network of over 100 founders and mentors.”   To send feedback, e-mail samantha.mcclary@egi.co.uk or tweet @samanthamcclary or @estatesgazette