Dave Miller

Technology is disrupting commercial real estate, offering new solutions that drive efficiency, support growth and meet the ever-changing demands of tenants. To further develop that technology, ULI Boston/New England recently launched a new program modeled after the TV series “Shark Tank” to help land use professionals connect with the tech startups that are delivering innovation to commercial real estate.

At the inaugural Tech Shark Tank competition, four real estate technology companies pitched their products to industry leaders and the broader ULI Boston/New England membership. With David Provost of Boston Properties as moderator, “sharks” from Synergy Investments, Tishman Speyer and HFF evaluated pitches from four companies: Comfy, HqO, Starry and WiredScore. Each contestant had to demonstrate how they were disrupting the industry. Here is a chance for you to evaluate their pitches.

Comfy, a smart building solution provider, is on a mission to create exceptional workplace experiences through climate control. Their hardware/software combo allows individual tenants to make adjustments to the temperature of their workspace in real time via an app. Because they are comfortable, they don’t have to call their building owner or manager to complain about the temperature. The company has deep roots in advanced computing and exists at the nexus of the digital world and physical space.

HqO is a tenant engagement platform with the goal of creating a community tenants don’t want to leave. HqO partners with leading landlords, property managers and brokers to procure amenities and experiences tailored to their tenants’ needs. HqO will craft experiences for tenants and reward them with local perks. The result helps landlords optimize and increase overall asset value.

Starry believes connecting people and things to high-speed, broadband Internet should be simple, effortless and affordable. Using its proprietary technology to deliver gigabit capable speeds wirelessly, Starry is offering a low-cost, high-quality alternative to “last-mile” broadband connections and delivering affordable, high-speed Internet service capable of scaling to meet new demand. They also offer easy installation for building owners and premium customer service to tenants.

WiredScore is the organization behind Wired Certification, the internationally recognized digital connectivity rating system for commercial real estate that helps landlords design and promote their buildings’ digital connectivity. Wired Certification helps office owners understand their digital infrastructure and empowers them to use this information in a digestible way to leverage in leasing and marketing of their assets.

Winner Will Have Significant Impact

While all the companies had relevant offerings to the field of CRE, Starry was chosen as the winner of the competition. The judges believed the company’s solution could have the most significant impact on the broader real estate industry. Starry is expanding into new markets and scaling into other asset types.

Just as it has in other industries, technology is altering how commercial real estate works. As we learned from the recent Tech Shark Tank competition, new tools to improve building operations and tenant experiences are constantly coming online. Commercial developers and property managers are becoming more tech savvy and realizing how they adapt to changes will affect how they perform in our ever-changing marketplace.

Dave Miller is the director of WiredScore in Boston.