

Tangent 💚 Proptech
Edward Cohen, Jeff Berman & Zach Aarons
A podcast community for Proptech and Real Estate leaders, investors, operators and innovators.
A new era is upon us. Tangent💚Proptech unites Proptech founders💡, Real Estate investors and operators🏢, Venture Capital investors, urban leaders🏙 and passionate creators🌎 who are improving our communities and cities. Join us to learn how we can solve present day challenges with innovative technology and greater collaboration.
Join VC investors Jeffrey Berman and Zach Aarons, and Proptech entrepreneur Edward Cohen, to learn about housing innovation, the future of work and climate tech. We examine these themes through interviews and conversations with Proptech CEO's, real estate owners and operators, and venture investors, and how we can leverage tech and collaboration to help solve the housing crisis, figure out the future of work and how to decarbonize the built environment.
If you would like to get your company’s or organization’s mission featured on Tangent, email us at community@tangentproptech.com.
Stay curious and always be learning! 🤓
A new era is upon us. Tangent💚Proptech unites Proptech founders💡, Real Estate investors and operators🏢, Venture Capital investors, urban leaders🏙 and passionate creators🌎 who are improving our communities and cities. Join us to learn how we can solve present day challenges with innovative technology and greater collaboration.
Join VC investors Jeffrey Berman and Zach Aarons, and Proptech entrepreneur Edward Cohen, to learn about housing innovation, the future of work and climate tech. We examine these themes through interviews and conversations with Proptech CEO's, real estate owners and operators, and venture investors, and how we can leverage tech and collaboration to help solve the housing crisis, figure out the future of work and how to decarbonize the built environment.
If you would like to get your company’s or organization’s mission featured on Tangent, email us at community@tangentproptech.com.
Stay curious and always be learning! 🤓
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 8, 2024 • 32min
How Berkadia's BeEngaged Helps Proptech Startups Redefine Commercial Real Estate, with Berkadia's VP Bryce Nyberg
Bryce Nyberg is the VP, Corporate Development at Berkadia and the Head of BeEngaged. Bryce focuses on advancing innovation in our industry through BeEngaged, partnerships, investments, and acquisitions. His influence in and out of Berkadia, business acumen, and effective program leadership skills lead to remarkable outcomes for the organizations he works with. Startups that have gone through BeEngaged include Esusu, Propexo, Rabbet, Market Stadium, Symmetre, Reffie and Embue.(2:00) - What is Berkadia's BeEngaged(6:58) - What startups are ideal candidates for the program(11:13) - Real Estate no longer a tech laggard?(14:56) - Feature | Berkadia's BeEngaged - Learn more: Ecosystem of founders, industry professionals, and capital providers dedicated to redefining the commercial real estate space.(16:33) - Berkadia's BeEngaged's case studies(21:12) - Feature | CREtech NY Conference & Expo - Learn more: Tangent listeners get a 20% discount using code PARTNERTANGENT20 at checkout.(22:45) - Role of collaboration & integration in the Proptech ecosystem(28:16) - Collaboration Superpower: Warren Buffett (Chairperson of Berkshire Hathaway) 💚 Learn more:➡️ Berkadia's BeEngaged site➡️ Bryce Nyberg on LinkedIn💚 Feature:➡️ Berkadia's BeEngaged - Learn more: Ecosystem of founders, industry professionals, and capital providers dedicated to redefining the commercial real estate space. ➡️ CREtech NY Conference & Expo - Register now: Tangent listeners get a 20% discount using code PARTNERTANGENT20 at checkout💚 Connect with Tangent:➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on LinkedInDisclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.

Sep 11, 2024 • 50min
Future of CRE | Rudin Co-CEO Michael Rudin on CRE Amenities for Today's Workforce, Profitable Ops & Proptech's Dirty Little Secrets
Michael Rudin joined Rudin in 2008 and, together with his sister Samantha, represents the fourth generation to work at the family business founded in 1925. Michael focuses on new developments, capital markets, commercial leasing, sustainability and technology. He also helps lead the family’s alternative investing business, Rudin Ventures, where they've invested in companies like Bilt, Jones, VTS and Nantum OS. Rudin Management oversees the daily operations of 32 properties in New York City. The portfolio is comprised of 17 residential buildings totaling 4.7 million square feet and 14 commercial office buildings totaling approximately 9 million square feet.(1:19) - Amenities for today's workforce(9:50) - Feature: Blueprint Vegas 2024(10:50) - Making buildings profitable(14:19) - 3 Times Square case study(18:42) - CRE leasing & financing(22:34) - CRE Ops & risk mitigation(29:50) - Proptech's dirty little secret(37:45) - Lessons from Latch / Door.com(42:43) - Bilt Rewards: Fintech's hottest Proptech(47:20) - Collaboration Superpower: Michael's cousin Carlton💚 Learn more:➡️ Rudin's site➡️ Rudin Ventures' site➡️ Michael Rudin on LinkedIn➡️ Proptech 101 (book) - Turning Chaos Into Cash Through Real Estate Innovation by Zach Aarons & Aaron Block➡️ ProSentry's site - Smart building monitoring platform for CRE & Condos, including water leak detection recommended by insurance.💚 Feature:➡️ Blueprint Vegas 2024 - Tangent listeners get a $300 discount at BlueprintVegas.com/Tangent💚 Connect with Tangent:➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on LinkedInDisclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.

Jul 17, 2024 • 50min
Housing Crisis | Revolutionizing Build-to-Rent Development, with a16z-backed Mosaic CEO Salman Ahmad
Salman Ahmad is the CEO and Co-founder of a16z-backed Mosaic, a construction technology company that builds software that makes homebuilding more scalable and efficient. Mosaic was founded in 2017 by Salman and Sep Kamvar, whom were two computer scientists working together at MIT and Stanford developing machine learning algorithms applied in the real world. Together, they developed a bold vision for the home building industry: construction as code. Mosaic uses their software themselves to manage construction on behalf of homebuilders, enabling them to build more homes. Salman has 20 technical publications and patents in the areas of software systems, programming languages, machine learning, human-computer interaction, and sensor hardware. He also worked with Microsoft developing virtualized datacenter solutions. (3:33) - Mosaic's & Salman's origin story(8:35) - Feature: Blueprint Vegas 2024 - Tangent listeners get a $300 discount at BlueprintVegas.com/Tangent(9:30) - Housing construction pain points(12:40) - Construction productivity issues(15:12) - Mosaic's business model (23:26) - Aligning Contech with VC timelines & incentives(30:37) - Mosaic's biggest challenges(35:26) - Macro & micro factors of construction labor shortage (43:19) - Collaboration Superpower: Christopher Alexander (Co-author of A Pattern Language)💚 Learn more:➡️ Mosaic's site➡️ Salman Ahmad on LinkedIn💚 Feature:➡️ Blueprint Vegas 2024 - Tangent listeners get a $300 discount at BlueprintVegas.com/Tangent💚 Connect with Tangent:➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn➡️ Edward Cohen on X➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn➡️ Jeff Berman on X➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on XDisclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.

Jun 18, 2024 • 38min
Housing Crisis | The Rise of Home Equity Investments, with Point Co-founder Eoin Matthews
Eoin Matthews is the Co-founder at Point, a home equity investment company making home equity wealth accessible to homeowners without creating a monthly debt obligation. Homeowners get upfront funds from Point in return for a portion of your home’s future appreciation. Point recently announced an oversubscribed $141M securitization, which marked it's second rated securitization and third overall, with its collaboration with Atalaya Capital Management. Eoin previously served as the VP of Business Development at Rakuten and has an extensive background in education.(2:20) - Point's & Eoin's origin story(5:43) - Potential HEI benefits for investors(9:20) - Point's securitizations strategy(11:42) - Capital stack evolution(14:17) - M&A activity in Housing tech companies(17:00) - Feature: Blueprint Vegas 2024(17:54) - State of the Housing Market(24:07) - Affordability of owning vs. renting a home(29:47) - Underwriting Proptech in the current rate environment(32:28) - Collaboration Superpower: Steve Wozniak (Apple Co-founder)💚 Learn more:➡️ Point's site➡️ Eoin Matthews on LinkedIn💚 Feature:➡️ Blueprint Vegas 2024 - Tangent listeners get a $300 discount at BlueprintVegas.com/Tangent 💚 Connect with Tangent:➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn➡️ Edward Cohen on X➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn➡️ Jeff Berman on X➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on XDisclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.

May 7, 2024 • 35min
Climate Tech | Sustainability & Economic Benefits From Decarbonizing Real Estate, with Cortex CRO Lisa Rockefeller
Lisa Rockefeller is the Chief Revenue Officer at Cortex Sustainability Intelligence, the decarbonization platform built for commercial real estate, where she's driving the go-to market strategy. Cortex's advanced AI helps CRE teams amplify operational effectiveness, make informed decisions about capital investments, and tactically address regulation risks. Lisa has spent over 15 years in the regulated and unregulated Climate Tech space, including at EnerNOC's, a leading provider of cloud-based energy intelligence software, and at Palmetto Solar. (0:25) - Lisa's origin story(1:18) - Quantifying the real estate decarbonization problem(5:40) - Defining sustainability goals for CRE players(10:25) - Cortex's data stack(13:23) - Types of asset classes & building sizes working with Cortex(20:11) - Feature: Blueprint Vegas - The Future of Real Estate Is Here. Tangent listeners get a $300 discount at BlueprintVegas.com/Tangent(21:02) - Driving Cortex's adoption & estimating ROI(23:33) - Has Real Estate done enough to cut carbon emissions? (32:04) - Collaboration Superpower: Neil deGrasse Tyson (Wiki)💚 Learn more:➡️ Cortex Sustainability Intelligence's site➡️ Lisa Rockefeller on LinkedIn💚 Feature:➡️ Blueprint Vegas 2024 - Tangent listeners get a $300 discount at BlueprintVegas.com/Tangent💚 Connect with Tangent:➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn➡️ Edward Cohen on X➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn➡️ Jeff Berman on X➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on XDisclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.

Apr 11, 2024 • 44min
The New Generation of Real Estate Tech Venture Capital, with RE Angels GP & Founder Alon Gorbonos
Alon is the Founder and General Partner of RE Angels, a real estate technology angel fund solely composed of real estate experts with deep and diverse industry expertise focused on early stage startups. Alon also owns and manages several multifamily portfolios throughout the southeast (FL, NC & VA). Alon was the co-founder and managing partner of DTI Holdings, a vertically-integrated private equity real estate fund, which was established in early 2017 and successfully divested in 2021 - achieving 20% IRR. Previously, as a senior investment manager at MIO Partners, McKinsey & Company’s Investment Office. Prior to MIO Partners, Alon worked as a strategic consultant for McKinsey & Company, managing private equity client engagements.(0:32) - RE Angels & Alon's origin story(2:27) - Is Real Estate slow to adopt tech(4:49) - Early-stage Proptech VC criteria(10:02) - Proptech VC challenges(13:25) - RE Angels investment criteria(17:49) - Feature: Housing Trust Silicon Valley(19:00) - RE Angels Real Estate Tech framework(25:00) - Driving behavioral change through innovation(30:24) - Feature: Blueprint Vegas - The Future of Real Estate Is Here. Tangent listeners get a $300 discount at BlueprintVegas.com/Tangent(31:16) - RE Angels PortCo's: Paraspot.AI (AI-powered inspections for real estate) & Waltz (Enabling foreign investors to invest in US Real Estate) (39:08) - Collaboration Superpower: Warren Buffett💚 Learn more:➡️ RE Angels' site➡️ Alon Gorbonos on LinkedIn💚 Feature:➡️ Blueprint Vegas 2024 - Tangent listeners get a $300 discount at BlueprintVegas.com/Tangent ➡️ Housing Trust Silicon Valley's site - Housing finance & public-private partnerships to create more equitable & affordable communities.💚 Connect with Tangent:➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn➡️ Edward Cohen on X➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn➡️ Jeff Berman on X➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on XDisclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.

Mar 26, 2024 • 36min
Future of Office | Coworking is Dead, Long Live Coworking: The New Flex Office Generation, with a16z-backed Codi CEO Christelle Rohaut
Christelle Rohaut is the Founder and CEO of Codi (backed by a16z), where she's building the walk-to-work revolution. Codi offers turnkey, private office spaces with the most flexible terms on the market. In a matter of days, any company can find a space for their team, with full and part-time options, outsourced office management, and flexible leases. Codi has also created a Relief Fund to help businesses impacted by WeWork's struggles. Christelle is an Urban Planner who aspires to achieve positive social and natural impacts for happier livelihoods. She seeks to innovatively rethink urban systems to help cities be a happier place for all.(2:11) - State of Office market(13:58) - Feature: Housing Trust Silicon Valley(15:10) - What's wrong with traditional Coworking(21:43) - Types of buildings partnering with Codi(23:56) - Codi's WeWon't marketing campaign(29:34) - Collaboration Superpower: Brian Chesky (Airbnb CEO & Co-founder) & Conchita Martinez (Spanish tennis champion & coach)💚 Learn more:➡️ Codi's site➡️ Christelle Rohaut on LinkedIn💚 Feature:➡️ Housing Trust Silicon Valley's site - Housing finance & public-private partnerships to create more equitable & affordable communities.💚 Connect with Tangent:➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn➡️ Edward Cohen on X➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn➡️ Jeff Berman on X➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on XDisclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.

Mar 13, 2024 • 41min
A New Way to Finance Tech-Enabled Real Estate Co's & Lessons from the Proptech Boom Cycle, with Cherry Lawn Capital Managing Partner Robert McDonald
Robert McDonald is the Managing Partner at Cherry Lawn Capital, on a mission to provide businesses with the real estate capital necessary to scale and the operational capital needed for a successful next venture round. Robert joins Edward, Jeff and Zach to also discuss lessons and takeaways from the previous Proptech boom cycle, and how should founders and investors think about structuring, financing and scaling tech-enabled and data-driven Real Estate business in the post-ZIRP era. (1:19) - State of Proptech VC(9:56) - Proptech finance incentives (14:24) - Feature: Housing Trust Silicon Valley(15:36) - Cherry Lawn Capital's & Robert McDonald's origin story(20:04) - Cherry Lawn solution(31:38) - 'The Great Transition' for Proptech valuations(36:01) - Collaboration Superpower: David F. Swensen's wiki & Paul Annacone's wiki💚 Learn more:➡️ Cherry Lawn Capital's site➡️ Robert McDonald on LinkedIn💚 Feature:➡️ Housing Trust Silicon Valley's site - Housing finance & public-private partnerships to create more equitable & affordable communities.💚 Connect with Tangent:➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn➡️ Edward Cohen on X➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn➡️ Jeff Berman on X➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on XDisclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.

Mar 5, 2024 • 46min
Climate Tech | How to Solve Real Estate's Greatest Challenge, with Measurabl CEO Matt Ellis
Matt Ellis is the CEO of Measurabl, the world’s most widely adopted ESG solution for real estate. Customers use Measurabl to measure, manage, report, and act on ESG data on more than 15 billion square feet of commercial real estate across 92 countries. Measurabl empowers customers to optimize ESG performance, assess exposure to physical climate risk, drive decarbonization, and secure sustainable finance opportunities. Matt is responsible for overall company operations, product vision and investor relations. Before founding Measurabl, Matt spent 5 years with CBRE, where he led CBRE’s Sustainability Practice Group. In this Climate Tech episode, Jeffrey Berman and Edward Cohen are joined by guest co-host Nina Mesalles, Climate Tech investor at Decarbonization Partners, a BlackRock and Temasek JV investing in next generation innovative decarbonization businesses.(3:40) - What is Real Estate supposed to measure in ESG(6:37) - Use cases across the Real Estate cycle(10:12) - Feature: Housing Trust Silicon Valley(11:24) - Players driving ESG impact(14:33) - Impact on market behavior(17:49) - Defining success in Real Estate Sustainability(22:02) - Building usage impact on efficiency & certifications(24:45) - Measurabl's Real Estate Sustainability data stack(27:19) - Levers for Real Estate investors & operators to improve sustainability(29:45) - Challenges to adopting energy optimization solutions(35:20) - Climate change impact on coastal Real Estate(37:42) - Where will Measurabl be in 5-10 years?(40:05) - Cities & countries leading Real Estate Sustainability(43:05) - Collaboration Superpower: Taylor Swift💚 Learn more:➡️ Measurabl's site➡️ Matt Ellis on LinkedIn➡️ Matt’s debut book From Green to ESG, available here➡️ Nina Mesalles on LinkedIn💚 Feature:➡️ Housing Trust Silicon Valley's site - Housing finance & public-private partnerships to create more equitable & affordable communities.💚 Connect with Tangent:➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn➡️ Edward Cohen on X➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn➡️ Jeff Berman on X➡️ Nina Mesalles on LinkedIn➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on XDisclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.

Feb 22, 2024 • 30min
Future of Office | The Boring Building Amenity That Makes CRE Investors Money, with Stuf CEO Kat Lau
Katharine Lau is the CEO and Co-founder of Stuf, a self storage startup delivering modern, tech-enabled storage to consumers and businesses. Stuf partners with real estate owners to monetize basements, garages, and other spaces in commercial buildings as storage, creating new cash flow opportunities for landlords while providing neighborhoods with a new amenity. Stuf was recognized by Fast Company as one of The World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2022. Previously, Kat led the supply-side business of Industrious, the nation's leading premium workplace and coworking provider, where she pioneered an industry shift to asset- and liability-light agreements with property owners.(1:42) - Stuf origin story(5:46) - Target markets and type of buildings suited for conversions(10:00) - Business model & scaling CRE conversions(11:32) - Stuf's tech stack(15:02) - Feature: Housing Trust Silicon Valley(16:14) - Industrious transition from asset-heavy to asset-light(20:44) - WeWork's tumultuous office lease renegotiations(22:34) - Future of office uses(25:44) - Office-to-art space conversion(27:22) - Collaboration Superpower: Marie Kondo💚 Learn more:➡️ Stuf's site➡️ Katharine Lau on LinkedIn💚 Feature:➡️ Housing Trust Silicon Valley's site - Housing finance & public-private partnerships to create more equitable & affordable communities.💚 Connect with Tangent:➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn➡️ Edward Cohen on X➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn➡️ Jeff Berman on X➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on LinkedIn➡️ Tangent on XDisclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.


