- 'Proptech' is a minority startup category in WA
- Property and tech people collaborated to form new hub
- Located in the centre of Perth's CBD
- A whole floor at 110 William Street
- Rates start at $100/month for first 6 months
The Property Tribune attended a preview opening for the new ‘PropTech Hub‘ located at level 2, 110 William Street in Perth today.
The brainchild of BuilderzWA CEO Cullum Ashton and well-known commercial property owner and angel investor Jeff Leach of the JJ Leach Group, the facility will officially open on 1st of February.
BuilderzWA helps new home buyers traverse the myriad of options on the market, and will be one of the proptechs taking up residence in the new hub.
Of the many tech startups based in Perth and across WA, proptech (loosely defined as any tech that pertains to the property industry) is in minority. A recent survey from Startup News found only 20 in existence, from more than 520 WA-based tech startups in total.
This is perhaps surprising in a town (and nation) well known for its love of all thing’s property. Whereas fintech, mining tech, marketplaces and other forms of tech startups abound, proptechs are few and far between.
Leach and Ashton want to change that.
“This will be a place where proptechs can reside, right in the middle of the city, and benefit from each other’s presence around them,” said Mr Ashton today.
“We will be organising various events to showcase the fantastic proptech companies already in existence, encouraging investors to come in and meet them, see where they can help,” he said.
Some of the events planned in the first few months include a pitch night and a hackathon. For now, some of the local proptechs have already snapped up a desk, for the introductory price of just $400 for the first six months.
After that, prices are just $100/week for a ‘seat’, which includes their own dedicated desk, internet, kitchen, mailbox and reception.
The JJ Leach Group has made several venture capital and property investments across Perth and is also behind other tech centres, including the Tech Hub in Claremont.
