˼ FINANCE
28
ICONIC
Among the first movers AMAVI is one of Europe’s first real estate technology investment funds. They are unique in that they don’t focus on start-ups but on scale-ups – companies that have already proven their worth and have growth potential across national borders.
AMAVI Capital believes in the growth of real estate technology
Early this year, six entrepreneurs founded
— — How do you define real estate
construction methods or reduce energy and
AMAVI Capital. This European investment
technology?
water consumption in buildings. We recog-
fund focuses on real estate technology,
Frederic: “Real estate technology is about
nize that the real estate sector is the next
also known as PropTech. Arne Allewaert,
digitization and innovation in all of the real
one that needs to innovate, so digitization
who helped start up ION and helped it to
estate and construction sectors’ processes.
is almost a no-brainer. We like to compare
grow, is one of them. Although he is making
This ranges from prospecting for land, the
PropTech with the FinTech movement of
a new start with AMAVI, he is sticking by
construction and sales processes through
recent years. After all, online banking and
the same values regarding innovation,
to the management and use of a building.
contactless payments are now the new
entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
One example is a Paris company that collects
normal.”
Together with his partner Frederic Van den
data such as prices, demographics, and per-
Weghe, he explains why they believe in real
missible construction heights and depths.
— What kind of investors are you
estate technology.
They combined these data to develop a tool
aiming at?
that lets you search for the most interest-
Arne: “AMAVI is bringing together real
ing plots of land throughout France. For
estate, technology, and private equity. Our
example, there may be a plot of land with
investors can also be found at that inter-
a three-storied building, but where the law
section, from real estate developers to
allows you to build one with six. This tool
construction companies and technology
will then automatically generate building
companies to more traditional investors.
volumes, make financial feasibility studies,
They are companies that already have a
and also contains the contact details of the
sense of innovation. We don't want to be
landowners.”
a fund that merely raises capital, makes investments, and yields returns. AMAVI
— Where does the idea of investing in
wants to create an ecosystem where the
that sector come from?
old-school real estate world can connect
Arne: “Everyone knows we are not sus-
with the new-school real estate technology.
tainable today. The construction and real
The investors will also test their own invest-
estate sectors are responsible for 40% of
ments, which makes it very relevant.
global emissions. More and more companies realize that it’s time for a change. Real estate technology can help find sustainable
