United Kingdom and Germany PropTech - Canadian Technology Accelerator

The United Kingdom (UK) and Germany Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) teams are thrilled to announce the opening of the recruitment for our upcoming property technology (PropTech) CTA program!

The UK Proptech sector is a powerhouse in Europe, valued at over $11 billion and expanding at an impressive 13% annually. London is the hub of innovation and home to a thriving ecosystem of startups and global players. Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol are also emerging as key tech centers. The sector is transforming real estate with innovative artificial intelligence (AI) tools for property valuations, blockchain for secure transactions, and smart building tech aimed at optimizing energy efficiency. PropTech in the UK is also at the forefront of sustainability, as firms increasingly adopt environmental, social, and governance (ESG) driven solutions to meet global green goals. Backed by a strong investment environment, the UK is widely regarded as a trailblazer in Europe, setting the pace for the future of real estate technology.

The German PropTech market is highly appealing due to its size, innovation potential, and increasing demand for digital transformation in real estate. As one of Europe's largest and most mature real estate markets, Germany offers opportunities for PropTech solutions to streamline processes, improve sustainability, and enhance the customer experience. Venture capital (VC) and corporate venture capital (CVC) activity is on the rise, with more than $2.71 billion raised during the first half of 2024. However, Germany's relatively slow adoption of digital technologies, new legal requirements for monitoring and optimizing energy usage in buildings, and the need to modernize heating systems in half of the residential buildings built before 1977 offer substantial disruption potential for companies offering solutions in areas like property management, smart buildings, and Internet of Things (IoT). Additionally, Germany's real estate sector needs to cut at least 50 million tonnes of emissions by 2030 to meet Germany's Climate Change Act.

There are unparalleled growth opportunities for Canadian companies looking to expand into these exciting markets, particularly if you have innovation and innovative technology in any of these areas:

• Residential sector, including,
  • listings
  • marketing and sales tools
  • agent tools
  • alternative financing
  • property data and appraisal
  • digital mortgage providers and lender technology
  • legal tech
  • transaction management
  • property management
  • home improvement and maintenance
  • asset utilization
  • tenant screening
  • payment and insurance
• Commercial sector, including
  • property data and appraisal
  • equity financing platforms
  • lending technology
  • building automation and IoTs
  • property management, including energy management and sustainability
  • tenant engagement and amenities
  • co-working and office space
  • parking
  • electric vehicles (EV) and mobility
  • storage and logistics
  • retail
  • hospitality and short-term rentals
  • indoor navigation & occupancy analytics

Our CTA program will be instrumental in helping selected participants navigate these two vibrant European markets and connect them to relevant stakeholders to achieve their goals.

Apply now

Important dates

Benefits of joining

The UK-Germany PropTech CTA will give you:

• strategic guidance on entering the UK and German market through tailored mentoring from local industry experts
• curated meetings with target clients or partners in the local market, following your 1:1 mentoring sessions
• access to potential investment, pilot projects, and partnerships in the UK and Germany
• extensive market briefings on doing business in the UK and Germany, with deep-dive sessions presented by sector experts on topics such as the local landscape, opportunities and challenges of the market, regulatory framework and progressive initiatives, funding and support available, and business case design
• networking opportunities through participation and attendance at events such as PropTech Connect (the largest PropTech event in Europe), allowing successful candidates to present to potential buyers, strategic partners, and investors

Who should apply

High-potential, scale-up stage PropTech companies who are interested in expanding into the UK and Germany. Applicants must be able to commit to both the virtual (mentoring and masterclass sessions) and the in-market components of the programming. The latter will require selected participants to travel to Germany and the UK in the first week of September for in-person activities such as the PropTech Connect event in London and other networking opportunities.

Your company must have:

• a revenue-generating business with existing market traction and a fully built validated technology
• a passionate team fully committed to participate in the virtual and in-market program
• a clear go-to-market strategy, specific growth goals, and sufficient resources to enter the UK and German market

The Trade Commissioner Service supports equity, diversity, and inclusion in trade. We strongly encourage companies led by Canadians of all backgrounds to apply.

What you need to apply

How the program works

The UK-Germany PropTech CTA will be a hybrid program beginning in February 2025, with most sessions delivered online. The program includes:

• virtual on-boarding: introductions to the CTA supporting team, program partners and fellow cohort members
• needs assessment: analysis of the company's status and knowledge base in the UK region, as well as program goals
• participation in the upcoming year's PropTech Connect event on September 3 and 4
• virtual market briefings, mentor match-making and coaching sessions
• strategic business-to-business (B2B) introductions with relevant stakeholders

CTA participants will be invited to join us in the UK and Germany, to attend events that will allow them to build and grow their in-market presence and network. Participants will have opportunities to showcase their value proposition to key market players, investors, and potential customers through pitching and networking sessions. More details will be shared during an information session on December 4, 2024, at 11am EST/8am PST. If interested, please register here.

Testimonials

"We were thrilled to be selected for the UK Fintech Accelerator. For start-up companies looking to explore, enter or expand operations in the UK, this is a fantastic opportunity provided by the Canadian government working in conjunction with established business leaders and growth engines in London/UK to promote networking and trade relations. What a fantastic support they have been!"

"The CTA Blue Economy Accelerator program exceeded all my expectations. The preparation meetings were extremely informative, giving us clear insights into doing business in Germany and helping us orient ourselves to the unique landscape of German industry. We left with a strong understanding of key players in the blue economy- from government to research and private sectors- ensuring that every session was tailored specifically to the Canadian companies involved. The in-country experience was nothing short of amazing. Not a second was wasted, and the contacts we made were invaluable. The program was a perfect mix of high-quality networking, connections with German industry leaders, and opportunities to collaborate with other Canadian companies participating in the program. It was a highly relevant, high-impact experience that left a lasting impression. I loved every moment."

Contact us

Learn more about the CTA by contacting:

Jason Kee
Trade Commissioner: Infrastructure
High Commission of Canada in the UK
Canadian Technology Accelerator
Canada's Trade Commissioner Service
jason.kee@international.gc.ca

Alexander Watson
Trade Commissioner: Infrastructure and Transportation
Embassy of Canada to Germany
Canadian Technology Accelerator
Canada's Trade Commissioner Service
alexander.watson@international.gc.ca