District Technologies
Founded in March 2017 by Vanessa Butz, District Tech is first of the many UK proptech companies that has made it onto our top 10 list. District Tech one of the most versatile tenant engagement platforms on the market with perhaps the most impressive client base. Not only do they work with all aspects of commercial and residential property, they also give a very high level of support to their clients with weekly calls pre and post launch to ensure the app launch is a continued success.
With access to an open API, integration options are plenty, such as access control (Waltz or HiD), or meeting room booking software such as Condeco, which can all be integrated into a fully white labelled iOS and Android app for employees/tenants to download.
In terms of affordability, District Tech is seem to be very competitive in the market and offer a lot of technology for a very affordable price. The clients that are currently using them include the likes of Cushman and Wakefield, Blackstone, Derwent and WPP to name just a few. You can find the link to the District Tech website below:
https://www.district-tech.com/
Habu
Habu is another one of the UK proptech companies on our top 10 list of proptech companies and startups – founded in 2014 after building customised software for creative and flexible workspaces. Targeting the commercial market, Habu was made for the purpose of supporting flexible workspaces of almost any kind. The most notable sector has been co working, but they are also used in spaces such as private offices and wellbeing hubs who require various capabilities, including meeting room technology.
While Habu does not yet have the iOS capabilities of some other software’s currently on the market, they do provide their customers with a dynamic, responsive and highly customisable web app. The great thing about the web app is that it is built on serverless tech, delivering some of the fastest page loading times in the industry anywhere in the world. The platform also has an intuitive design, allowing users to achieve their goals in the fewest steps possible.
Habu works with mainly niche co working spaces, and in terms of affordability, it offers a fantastic platform for a low monthly cost. Habu is priced for UK, EU, Australian and Canadian markets. You can find the link to Habu below:
Optix
Optix was founded in 2012 and launched in 2015, targeting the commercial market, primarily co-working spaces. Optix was designed to give companies a fantastic user experience, by providing a range of available customisations and 3rd party integrations to fully tailor their digital workspace experiences.
With a fully customisable iOS and android app, Optix can be used on the go by staff members, tenants and employees. Optix have already partnered with a few leading brands and high growth co working businesses including the Coven and Thrive Co working.
Optix pricing model is based on a monthly subscription which depends on the number of users and the number of venues. In terms of affordability, it gives a solid product for a reasonable price. You can find the link to Optix below:
Equiem
Equiem was founded in 2011 in Melbourne, Australia. In August this year, they announced the completion of their largest ever capital raise, securing more than £7 million from several different investors. Their technology primarily serves landlords in the commercial property market, but they are also rolled-out at several mixed-use sites. The Equiem app helps landlords to attract and retain occupiers, deliver seamless tenant communication, supercharge onsite retail and services, and unlock additional asset value.
Equiem has a wealth of clients, including large, forward-thinking landlords (often integrated owner/managers) with Premium and Grade A multi-let or single-let commercial real estate assets. Often, they are owners/managers who see the value in maintaining a direct relationship with their customers and building a brand to differentiate and create loyalty and stickiness. Some of the features that Equiem can deliver to their clients (including the likes of Knight Frank, Nuveen and Lendlease) are tracking engagement of events, space bookings and e-commerce to name a few.
In terms of pricing, we couldn’t measure affordability as the pricing structure for Equiem is based on so many different factors such as size, amenity, population and strategy. You can find the link to Equiem’s website below:
HQO
Incorporated in January 2018, HqO’s mission is to help landlords create places people love by enabling a premium tenant experience through software. Their first client was the Innovation and Design Building in the Seaport District of Boston, Massachusetts, a 1.4 million square foot mixed-use complex owned by Jamestown L.P.
HqO targets Commercial real estate companies to allow them to strengthen relationships with current and prospective tenants. Their clients include the likes of Blackstone, Nuveen, Skanska to name a few. HqO offers a white label ability for their clients, available on both iOS and Android and believe that building in feedback loops allow people in a building to feel heard, understood, and valued.
Pricing for HqO is based on an annual subscription, with prices based on the total sq ft being used. You can find the link to the HqO website below:
Savvy
Founded in 2018, Savvy is a smart building platform and a tenant engagement app providing a combined insight for both landlords and occupiers. With clients such as Derwent London, Great Portland Estate, Workman and Palm Capital, Savvy primarily focuses on the Commercial side of property, more specifically traditional offices.
Savvy’s primary focus is to create strong communities within and around an office, empower companies, and give greater control to building managers. In many of the buildings they work with there are multiples organisations/offices.
In terms of the pricing of Savvy, the fees depend on the level of data that the client would like within the mobile phone application, which also can be white labelled. You can find the link to the Savvy website below:
Lane
Founded in 2015, Lane was built to handle the entire workplace ecosystem for both the modern professionals in the office space and property managers. Lane targets primarily the commercial market, along with mixed use and retail spaces. They aim to enable all inhabitants of a workspace to have access to the buildings, perks, information, and tools
Lane offers clients a fully white labelled iOS and android app which includes features such as unique URLs, emails, and push notifications. They are also bringing out version 5.0 of the platform in 2019. The clients that they work with can range from multi-tenant offices, to malls and brick and beam buildings. Their client base includes the likes of Brookfield Properties, Dream, Colliers, and more.
Lane’s pricing is based on square feet and integrations can be added into this price as well to give an individual feel of the application to each client. You can find the link to the Lane website below:
Locale
Founded in 2005, Locale provides a well-rounded solution, delivering great customer experience and facilities management. Their platform has been described as making up the DNA of a building – seamlessly integrating and improving existing processes and creating happier places to live & work. They also have a strong focus on providing human support, with a highly trained customer services team.
The completely white labelled app has been rolled out to companies such as MAPP, The Shard, BNP Paribas, CBRE, Cushman & Wakefield, and is used by Residential, Commercial, Mixed-Use, Retail & Industrial companies.
Locale’s pricing structure is modular and is calculated per building or client portfolio. You can find the link to the website below:
Nexudus
Founded in 2012, Nexudus is primarily focused on the commercial market, more specifically co-working spaces. With 2 apps, Nexudus passport and Nexdelivery, clients are spoilt for choice when it comes to white labelling. Nexudus is constantly developing new features and researching into new opportunities for their platform.
The charging is based on a monthly subscription, with no cancellation fees, making it an affordable piece of technology. You can find the link to the Nexudus website below:
What Is Proptech?
Short for property technology, Proptech is a term used to describe companies that offer innovative technological solutions for the real estate sector. Proptech companies essentially create tools and solutions by leveraging tech to increase the efficiency of a service in the real estate sector.
As explored throughout our top 10 list, examples of Proptech companies can vary considerably, ranging from tenant engagement platforms to management systems for co-working spaces.
Proptech is helping to disrupt the the real estate industry, offering innovative new ways to manage its various different challenges. Whilst now an established and well-known part to our digital landscape, Proptech has only recently developed into the disruptor it is today, funding for the sector reaching a staggering $13.85 billion in 2019.
How Are UK Proptech Companies Changing Real Estate?
UK Proptech companies are helping to transform a variety of different areas in the real estate sector, from how landlords manage their tenants to supporting flexible work spaces.
However, one of the most notable ways Proptech is changing real estate is by assisting in its major digital transformation. Through this transformation, the sector has begun to embrace new digital changes to a predominantly analogue industry.
Proptech has called for an influx of new technological skills, revolutionising the sector to become more compatible with the increasingly digital world we live in, subsequently adhering to consumer demands and improving overall efficiency.
What Are the Best UK Proptech Companies to Use?
The best UK Proptech companies to use will depend on what you need them for. As listed above, there are a variety of different UK Proptech companies available, all offering a whole host of different services. For example, those involved in workspaces would benefit more from Proptechs working in the commercial property sector as opposed to residential areas.
It’s best to have an look around at the different UK Proptech companies out there before deciding on the most suitable options for you. One key thing to consider during this process is your budget, as companies will range in both the services offered and the cost of them.
The Top UK Proptech Companies London Has to Offer
Unsurprisingly, the capital city is known as one of the most prominent tech hubs in the UK. But what top UK proptech companies does this hub hold? Above, we’ve explored our top 10 list of fantastic proptech startups operating throughout the country and beyond – below are the UK proptech companies from this list that are headquartered in London:
- District Technologies
- Savvy
- Nexudus
Whilst these are all fantastic UK proptech companies London’s tech hub boasts, they are far from the only ones – explore more UK-based proptech startups to watch.
How to Start a Proptech Company
With new technologies only just beginning to seriously disrupt the real estate sector, it’s no wonder that so many companies are wanting to get involved. However, as with starting up any type of company, there are a variety of different things to consider when getting involved in the Proptech business.
Below is a list with some important things to consider when starting up a Proptech company:
- The launch – as with any startup, the launch is key in creating buzz and gaining interest in your services. For Proptech companies, getting the launch publicised by a tech magazine can help to generate interest amongst a target audience (those interested in tech).
- Highlight your edge – one of the most important things in launching a startup is defining your edge, what makes you stand out from the other Proptech companies out there? Finding your edge and promoting this via the launch and subsequent advertising campaigns can help to distinguish your business from the rest, attracting clients and increasing sales.
- The cost – it’s also vital to understand how much the company will cost to start up. Planning out the finances ahead of anything else can help to prevent your business from running into financial struggle. If you’re young or just graduated from university, there’s a range of different loan and funding options available to apply for.
