Sep 13, 2022
Summary: On the 2nd episode of Season 10 of the Propcast, host Louisa Dickins is joined by Taylor Wescoatt, General Partner at Concrete VC and Guy Grainger, Global Head of Sustainability Services and ESG at JLL.
They discuss why global real
estate leaders are refocusing their investment strategy and turning
to venture capital to help reach net zero. Taylor Wescoatt shares
Concrete VC’s big plans with the sustainable fund and how they
managed to get some huge real estate names to invest. Guy talks
about JLL’s strategy around net zero and their involvement in the
fund. Taylor and Guy share with Louisa how technology, both
internally and externally, will help businesses reach their
sustainability goals.
Resources:
Companies Mentioned:
Shout Outs:
Key Insights From This Episode:
- We're out recruiting and looking at how we can grow our capabilities in multiple countries to give clients the silver bullet of seamless integration of strategies across multiple geographies, which is really hard to do. - Guy
- There is a direct link between transitioning a building to net-zero, and creating economic value and we need to prove that much more clearly. - Guy
- We've created an investment platform that helps large real estate organisations see more clearly into the early stage tech space so they understand what will be creating and driving change in their industry. - Taylor
- As we see more consistent data coming out of the sector, new artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities will evolve. - Taylor
- According to a JLL report, the value of green certifications on buildings results in a rent premium of 6% and a sales premium of 8% - Louisa
- If we wait for the government to set the regulation it will be too late. - Guy
About Our Guests:
Taylor Wescoatt:
Taylor’s career in technology product management spans 20 years of startups and larger pioneers like eBay and AOL. He started Concrete in 2016 with Starwood and JLL as founding partners out of a recognition that the coming wave of change in Real Estate would be primarily driven by technology. Concrete’s mission remains to help leading players in the Real Estate sector see better into the future by engaging with the most compelling and visionary founders in the technology sector to drive revenue, operational efficiency, and net-zero environmental goals.
Guy Grainger:
Guy Grainger is Global Head of Sustainability Services and ESG at NYSE-listed real estate services company JLL. He has overall responsibility for sustainability services, products and strategy, and for JLL's corporate sustainability program.
Previously, Guy led the EMEA
region since June 2016, also serving as a member of JLL’s Global
Executive Board. Prior to that, he was CEO of the UK business
between 2013 and 2016, having originally joined as a senior leader
of the Churston Heard business acquired by JLL in
2008.
Outside of JLL, Guy is Chair of the Circular Economy Taskforce at responsible business organisation Business in the Community and Vice President at the British Property Federation.
An alumnus of the London Business School Senior Executive Programme, he is also an established media commentator on sustainability, the built and natural environment, and amateur triathlete in his spare time.
About Concrete Ventures:
Concrete Ventures is a venture capital investor working closely with leading global real estate partners to understand their key challenges and identify and invest in the technology startup founders delivering real impact.
About JLL:
We’re here to create rewarding opportunities and amazing spaces around the globe where people can achieve their ambitions. In doing so, we are building a better tomorrow for our clients, our people and our communities.
We’re a world leader in real estate services, powered by an entrepreneurial spirit. We want the most ambitious clients to work with us, and the most ambitious people to work for us. It’s as simple as that.
We buy, build, occupy and invest in a variety of assets including industrial, commercial, retail, residential and hotel real estate. From tech startups to global firms, our clients span industries including banking, energy, healthcare, law, life sciences, manufacturing and technology.
About Our Host
Louisa Dickins
Louisa is the co-founder of LMRE, which has rapidly become the market leading global PropTech recruitment platform and search consultancy with operations across North America, United Kingdom, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
To promote the industry she is so passionate about, Louisa set up the Global podcast ‘The Propcast’ where she hosts and invites guests from the built environment space to join her in conversation about innovation.
About LMRE
LMRE is globally recognised for leading the way in Real Estate Tech & Innovation talent management.
From the outset our vision was to become a global provider of the very best strategic talent to the most innovative organisations in PropTech, ConTech, Smart Buildings, ESG, Sustainability and Strategic Consulting.
At LMRE we are fully committed at all times to exceed the expectations of our candidates and clients by providing the very best advice and by unlocking exclusive opportunities across our global network in the UK, Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific.
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