What Is Happening In Real Estate Technology & Investment In Africa? With Sean Godoy and Wayne Berger
Aug 18, 2021
Summary: In this episode The Propcast talks to Sean Godoy from Divercity, and Wayne Berger from iShack, to discuss the emerging PropTech sector in South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. You'll hear of trends, tech, adoptions, and obstacles Sean and Wayne encounter across Africa.
Key Insights From This Episode
- I believe that the real success stories are still on the way in Africa and in South Africa – Wayne Berger
- there's a big focus on investment that can spur that next stage of growth and adoption in the sector – Sean Godoy
- Africa is really a dynamic continent – Wayne Berger
- ESGS, particularly on environmental side, is an area where we'll see a lot more activity going forward – Sean Godoy
- the interest in venture capital as a segment, and then also PropTech as a segment in venture capital has significantly grown – Wayne Berger
- We've seen a lot more seed and angel investment into PropTechs – Wayne Berger
- There's a lot more need and opportunity around investments – Sean Godoy
- There's definitely strong tech talent in South Africa – Wayne Berger
- It doesn't matter if you get things right and you get them wrong, it just matters that you continue – Wayne Berger
About Our Guests
Sean Godoy
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-godoy-6270582a/?originalSubdomain=za
Sean is the Founder & Director at Divercity Property Solutions and EXCO member at the South Africa Chamber of Commerce UK. Divercity Property Solutions is an independent property consultancy which is passionate about property markets and the property industry across Sub-Saharan Africa, and the opportunities they offer. This passion coupled with their forward-looking insight drives our unique and innovation approach to producing meaningful advice and developing solutions tailored to your specific property needs. Their key focuses are advisory around market insight and strategy, training & skills development, and innovation & digital strategy advisory.
Through his passion for South Africa, and role with the South African Chamber of Commerce, Sean supports and promotes promising UK/SA business opportunities and charitable initiatives. Sean firmly believe in Africa and its people, and am excited for the future of this diverse and dynamic continent. He is co-founder of PropTech Africa, which connects the PropTech ecosystem in Africa in order to create meaningful interactions and relationships. PropTech Africa also promotes the PropTech sector to the property industry and related stakeholders as a whole in order to raise awareness and drive growth on the continent.
Wayne Berger
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wayneberger/?originalSubdomain=za
Wayne is an experienced technology entrepreneur with a top international MBA. Wayne currently holds the position of Managing Director of iShack Ventures, a Venture Builder mandated to develop disruptive technologies in the Property industry, FinTech and Big Data. In addition, Wayne is the chairman of iShack Innovation Consultancy (established in 2005). iShack Innovation, a consultancy specialising in advising both local and international corporations on their online advertising and software development initiatives, ensuring maximum ROI on their digital spend. iShack Innovation’s clients include, Internet Solutions, Walt Disney, Warner Bros Growthpoint Property Fund, L’Oréal, Canon, Gareth Cliff and Cliffcentral to name a few.
Wayne is a co-founder of Venture Network South Africa, a non-profit entity with the intention of stimulating the South African start up eco-system. to-date Venture Network has facilitated 8 events, where 5 start-ups have acquired funding from the network (May 2016). Lastly, Wayne is a guest speaker focussing on Entrepreneurship, Business plan, Advanced digital marketing strategy, Gamification & Exponential organisation attributes.
About Our Host
Louisa Dickins
https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisa-dickins-ab065392/?originalSubdomain=uk
Louisa started her career in property working at a well-known estate agency in London. Realising her people skills, she moved over to Lloyd May to pursue a career in recruitment. She now is a Director at LMRE, who are a specialist recruitment firm driven by PropTech and recruitment professionals, and Louisa oversees their 5 core areas. Louisa co-founded LMRE and provides a constructive recruitment platform to the new disruptors in real estate. Louisa is also on the board of Directors at UK PropTech Association (UKPA).
About LMRE
LMRE believe there is a better way to recruit. LMRE focus on a more comprehensive, client led focus delivering exceptional talent to the place at the time. They are passionate about the industry and passionate about people's careers. LMRE spend time with each client to become and an extension of the business, and their transparency and core values help them grow with the sector. LMRE simplify recruitment and innovate with our clients and evolve the people driven, PropTech community.
Resources Mentioned
LMRE website www.lmre.tech
Divercity website www.divercity.co.za
iShack website www.ishack.co.za
South Africa PropTech Association www.saproptech.co.za
PropTech Africa Association www.proptechafrica.com
For full episode transcript head to www.lmre.tech/blog