Brave Ideas

Brave Ideas Season 15, Episode 7This episode is made possible by ReturnSuite:”Complex Cash Flow Modeling Simplified.”📺 Watch the full episode EXCLUSIVELY on BraveIdeas.Media  (incl. behind the scenes)Brand fit is the new locationIn this episode, Brave Corp CEO, Caleb Parker, sits down with Amy Taylor from Cushman & Wakefield in the Workplace Creations London office to unpack how enterprise customers choose flex, why long-term partnerships beat one-off placements, and how the whole building experience drives outcomes.Amy explains how she matches occupier brands to operator brands, how advisors stay close after move-in to protect renewals, why clients still need to feel the space in person, and why operators should stop selling desks and start presenting value in SqFt with clear inclusions.🎧 To listen as a podcast FOR FREE,follow Brave Ideas on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen.What You’ll Learn in This Episode* How to align occupier brand with operator brand so members stay* Why partnership thinking improves renewals and portfolio decisions* How to show total value by counting shared amenities and hospitality, not just private SqFt* When stakeholders need a physical tour, and how to stage a show-and-feel experience that converts* Why quoting in SqFt with inclusions beats price per desk for serious enterprise comparisonsKey Takeaways for Operators* Present availability in SqFt, list what is included, and disclose the SqFt of shared amenities for fair comparison* Lead with brand alignment, match your vibe and service level to the customer’s identity, then prove it post-move-in* Create a physical proof point, show suites and walk-throughs remain decisive for many enterprise buyersKey Takeaways for Real Estate Investors* Enterprise demand expects quality hospitality, brand alignment, and amenity access alongside private demise* Advisory-led narratives that quantify whole-building value lead to better decisions and stickier occupancyCONNECT* Connect with Amy Taylor* Connect with Caleb Parker* Connect with Sam Gamble* Learn about ReturnSuiteBehind the ScenesRecorded in London at Workplace Creations’ studio on a sunny day that made the walk from the station an easy choice.💡 This episode is part of Brave Ideas Season 15, exploring brave ideas shaping the future of office real estate, Space-as-a-Service, and workplace experience.Join the Conversation🎧 Listen now and see how brand fit, partnerships, and outcome-led pricing help enterprise customers choose flex with confidence, then drop a comment below with your favourite soundbite. Get full access to Brave Ideas at www.braveideas.media/subscribe

Brave Ideas Season 15, Episode 6This episode is made possible by ReturnSuite:”Complex Cash Flow Modeling Simplified.”📺 Watch the full episode EXCLUSIVELY on  (incl. behind the scenes)Specialisation isn’t just a marketing choiceIn this episode, Brave Corp CEO, Caleb Parker, and ReturnSuite Cofounder, Sam Gamble, visit Techspace’s flagship 50,000 SqFt location in Farringdon, London to sit down with Jonathan Bevan, CEO of Techspace — a flexible office / coworking platform built specifically for high-growth technology companies.Since joining in 2019, Jonathan has expanded Techspace across London and Berlin while sharpening its member profile, brand values, and operational discipline.His approach shows how specialisation isn’t just a marketing choice — it’s a business strategy that creates a competitive moat with customers. By being selective about who joins their community, delivering services tailored to that niche, and structuring deals that balance long-term commitments with flexible revenues, Techspace has built a defensible position in one of the world’s most competitive flex office markets.For operators, this episode is a blueprint for how to stand out in a crowded field.For investors, it’s a case study in why niche brand differentiation can translate into more predictable performance and stronger asset value.🎧 To listen as a podcast FOR FREE,follow Brave Ideas on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen.Episode Highlights00:00 – Caleb & Sam episode intro from Techspace Farringdon studio02:05 – Techspace origin story: how Techspace grew from a digital agency subletting space to a 50,000 SqFt flagship in London06:20 – The power of a niche: only admitting companies where tech is core to the business09:45 – How selective member acceptance fuels organic community and relevance13:10 – Lessons from outdoor advertising: balancing long-term commitments with short-term revenues in flex office17:30 – Why the commercials matter more than whether it’s a lease, management agreement, or hybrid21:15 – Differentiation as a competitive moat in London’s crowded flex market24:50 – The investor perspective: why niche positioning attracts institutional confidence28:35 – GP partnership and bank financing — how the right operator track record unlocks deals33:40 – The role of industry benchmarking (WIN) in building stronger cases to landlords, lenders, and investors38:20 – Long-term vision: scaling without losing brand DNA41:00 – Closing thoughts and next steps for TechspaceWhat You’ll Learn in This Episode* Why Techspace only admits companies where tech is core to the business* How a tight customer focus fuels organic community and relevance* The parallels between outdoor advertising economics and flex office underwriting* Why the right commercials matter more than the legal deal structure* How differentiation becomes a competitive moat as the sector matures* Why institutional investors are starting to warm to flex-backed real estateKey Takeaways for Operators* Specialise with discipline — the clearer your niche, the easier it is to market, serve, and retain members* Live your values — openness, care, and thoughtful pace aren’t slogans; they guide decisions and member experience* Underwrite before you negotiate — pick the deal structure after you’ve matched risk and return* Differentiate now — build a brand DNA before competition forces you toKey Takeaways for Real Estate Investors* Flex can lift valuations — strong operators can enhance occupancy, market positioning, and NOI* Track record reduces risk — connected PropCo–OpCo deals with proven operational data attract financing* Institutional appetite is emerging — early transactions will set benchmarks for valuing flex-heavy assets* Alignment matters — niche focus and brand discipline improve operator performance predictabilityCONNECT* Techspace website* Connect with Jonathan Bevan on LinkedIn* Connect with Caleb Parker* Connect with Sam Gamble* Learn about ReturnSuiteBehind the Scenes💡 This episode is part of Brave Ideas Season 15, exploring brave ideas shaping the future of office real estate, Space-as-a-Service, and workplace experience.Join the Conversation🎧 Listen now and see how niche brand differentiation can become your strongest competitive advantage, then drop a comment below with your favourite soundbite. Get full access to Brave Ideas at www.braveideas.media/subscribe

Brave Ideas Season 15, Episode 5This episode is made possible by ReturnSuite:”Complex Cash Flow Modeling Simplified.”📺 Watch the full episode EXCLUSIVELY on BraveIdeas.media (incl. behind the scenes)Should Offices Transact Like Hotels?What if office space was sold like hotel rooms, priced by the hour, dynamically re-skinned for each occupant, and managed by tech that plays Tetris with demand?Rogier Braakman believes that is the future.In this episode, Brave Corp CEO Caleb Parker travelled to Amsterdam to tour Mr. Green and chat with their Chief Exec, Rogier Braakman, who breaks down Mr Green’s “properator” strategy—owning and operating buildings—plus the NetOS platform that lets companies share the same SqFt on different days, boosting NOI while slashing wasted space.🎧 To listen as a podcast FOR FREE,follow Brave Ideas on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen.Episode Highlights* 00:00 - Caleb & Sam episode intro* 03:15 - Rogier’s hospitality roots (Ritz-Carlton, Pillows Hotels) and the empty-office “aha” moment* 10:45 - Why utilization, not rent roll, is the only truly green metric* 18:20 - Pay-for-time pricing replaces SqFt leases — “No use, no pay”* 25:40 - Defining a properator (prop-co + op-co under one roof)* 32:10 - Inside NetOS: the tech stack that swaps brand identities and books space automatically* 41:05 - Building a “super flex” lung floor landlords can lease to multiple corporates on alternating days* 47:50 - How sharing drives a 2-3× revenue uplift even in down-cyclesKey Topics:* Empty desks are the real carbon sin. A fully utilised office is the only sustainable one, so pricing must follow actual occupancy, not fixed leases.* Time-based memberships beat long-term leases. Companies choose the exact days they need and pay only for the hours used.* Properator power. By owning buildings and operating them through NetOS, Mr Green captures both real-estate upside and hospitality margin in one structure.* Landlord win-win. Hand back under-used floors, let NetOS resell them on a super flex basis, and watch yield per SqFt rise.* Super Flex DNA. Think electric-vehicle equivalent for offices: lower base cost, higher performance, and a lighter environmental footprint.Why You Should WatchOffice vacancy is your biggest risk. Rogier Braakman reveals, with numbers and live examples, how time based pricing, owner operator alignment, and smart utilisation tech can turn dark desks into a revenue engine—essential viewing for anyone who signs, sells, or services office deals.CONNECT* Connect with Rogier Braakman* Visit Mr. Green’s website* Inquire about Net OS* Connect with Caleb Parker* Learn about ReturnSuiteFor behind the scenes, visit:https://www.braveideas.media/p/will-this-super-flex-model-make-empty?r=d1yie&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false💡 This episode is part of Brave Ideas Season 15, exploring brave ideas shaping the future of office real estate, Space-as-a-Service, and workplace experience.Join the ConversationWhat would super flex mean for your portfolio or team culture? Drop a comment below, share the audio with a landlord who still loves ten-year leases, and subscribe so you never miss a #PlusNotVersus insight. Get full access to Brave Ideas at www.braveideas.media/subscribe

📺 Watch the full episode EXCLUSIVELY on BraveIdeas.mediaThis episode is made possible by ReturnSuite:”Complex Cash Flow Modeling Simplified.”Why Hospitality Matters More Than EverMelissa Ansley has seen the flex office market evolve from every angle:Operator, Advisor, and now as Head of Flex Solutions & Partnerships for JLL across EMEA.In this episode, Melissa joins Brave Corp CEO Caleb Parker and ReturnSuite Cofounder, Sam Gamble, in person from MIPIM in Cannes to discuss what today’s customers really want from office space, why hospitality matters more than ever, and how flex is changing landlord strategies.Key Topics:* Why more occupiers are shifting from traditional leases to managed solutions* The growing demand for hospitality-infused, amenity-rich experiences* How to match the right operator brand to the right building* What landlords need to know about spec suites and short-form leases* The role of flex in creating leasing velocity and tenant stickinessWhy You Should WatchWhether you're a landlord, operator, broker, or investor, this episode is full of practical insights and behind-the-scenes intel from one of the industry’s most respected flex advisors.CONNECT* Connect with Melissa Ansley* Visit JLL’s website* Connect with Sam Gamble* Learn more about ReturnSuite* Connect with Caleb ParkerFor behind the scenes, visit:https://open.substack.com/pub/bravecorpideas/p/what-flex-office-customers-really?r=d1yie&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true 💡 This episode is part of Brave Ideas Season 15, exploring brave ideas shaping the future of office real estate, coworking, and workplace experience.👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and drop a comment with your take on Sam's ideas for modeling risk in operational real estate. Get full access to Brave Ideas at www.braveideas.media/subscribe

📺 Watch the full episode EXCLUSIVELY on BraveIdeas.mediaTurning volatility into strategy in office real estate with Sam Gamble, CoFounder of Return SuiteThis episode is made possible by ReturnSuite:”Complex Cash Flow Modeling Simplified.”Maybe this was the only "Monte Carlo" chat at MIPIM...How do you model risk when your revenue isn’t fixed,and your building no longer fits traditional valuation models?In this data-rich episode, Sam Gamble, CoFounder of ReturnSuite, joins Brave Corp CEO Caleb Parker live from Cannes, France to unpack why the future of office investing needs a whole new underwriting playbook.As flexible workspace, hybrid leases, and service-led operations reshape how buildings generate income, the old ways of modeling risk just don’t cut it. Sam explains how ReturnSuite’s probabilistic forecasting tools — including Monte Carlo simulations — can help owners, investors, and operators make smarter decisions, even in uncertain markets.They also reflect on what they heard (and didn’t hear) at MIPIM, and how the capital stack needs to evolve to support operational real estate.Key Topics:* Modeling volatility in office with Monte Carlo simulations* Why traditional underwriting no longer fits flex models* Replacing static assumptions with dynamic forecasts* Structuring leases to align incentives and reduce risk* Building investor confidence in operational incomeWho should watch:Landlords, developers, asset managers, investment analysts, brokers, flex operators, capital partners, and anyone rethinking how to underwrite, fund, or scale flexible office models.CONNECT* Connect with Sam Gamble* Learn more about ReturnSuite* Connect with Caleb Parker* Subscribe to the Brave Ideas NewsletterFor behind the scenes, visit https://open.substack.com/pub/bravecorpideas/p/how-to-model-office-risk-when-income?r=d1yie&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true💡 This episode is part of Brave Ideas Season 15, exploring brave ideas shaping the future of office real estate, coworking, and workplace experience.👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and drop a comment with your take on Sam's ideas for modeling risk in operational real estate. Get full access to Brave Ideas at www.braveideas.media/subscribe

📺 Watch the full episode EXCLUSIVELY on BraveIdeas.mediaFeaturing CoFounder & CIO, Joaquin Castellvi Lopez, on scaling OpRE strategies across Europe’s office marketsThis episode is made possible by ReturnSuite:”Complex Cash Flow Modeling Simplified.”What happens when you apply a logistics-and-hospitality operating playbook to offices?In this episode, Joaquin Castellvi Lopez, CoFounder & CIO of Stoneweg, Brave Corp CEO Caleb Parker and ReturnSuite Cofounder, Sam Gamble, live from MIPIM in Cannes to unpack Stoneweg’s headline-making takeover of Cromwell’s €3.9 B European platform and how an OpRE framework drives a £2B office portfolio buy.Read the deal announcement before you press play.Key Topics* Platform Acceleration: How Stoneweg absorbed Cromwell’s €3.9 billion European platform to reach ~€8 billion AUM overnight* Office as Experience: Stoneweg believes offices should live in “urban mixed-use, highly amenitized districts,” where workspace is “integrated into a full experience,” not treated as an island* Hospitality-Infused Offices: Leveraging hospitality and flex-living expertise—partnering with best-in-class operators and internal teams—to layer amenity-driven service bundles onto traditional leases* Leasing Flexibility: They’re layering mid-term leases, short-term flex and hospitality-inspired services on top of long-term covenants to create a hybrid income profile* District-Level Strategy: Their underwrite starts at the micro-market or district level, ensuring each asset fits into a broader ecosystem of retail, residential and leisure* Mixed-Use Districts: Focusing on how each office integrates into a 15–25 acre urban community—retail, residential and leisure synergies that attract the right customers* Asset Prioritization Roadmap: Zeroing in over the next 18 months on which properties need “smart capex” today, before scouting new acquisitions* Smart CapEx Discipline: Instead of “fancy lobbies or underutilized art pieces,” capex is focused on targeted amenities—wellness rooms, collaborative spaces, food & beverage activations and community programming—with a disciplined ROI lens* Long-Term Outperformance Thesis: Stoneweg’s conviction that OpRE-driven, district-scale offices will outperform European markets over timeWho Should ListenLandlords, institutional investors, operators, brokers and PropTech founders seeking to:* Underwrite offices with both base-rent and service-stream revenue models* Reposition assets using a proven OpRE playbook* Leverage mixed-use masterplans for higher yield, footfall and customer stickiness* Connect with Joaquin on LinkedIn* Learn more about Stoneweg* Connect with Sam Gamble* Learn more about ReturnSuite Get full access to Brave Ideas at www.braveideas.media/subscribe

This episode is made possible by ReturnSuite: ”Complex Cash Flow Modeling Simplified.” The Future of Being Changes Everything What if the office was designed like a city? In this season-opening episode, Bedeir Rizk, CEO of Paragon Developments, joins Brave Corp CEO Caleb Parker and ReturnSuite Cofounder, Sam Gamble, live from MIPIM in Cannes to explore Paragon’s $1.5B plan to redefine office real estate across Cairo, Riyadh, and beyond. At the core of Bedeir’s vision is the belief that the office should be a regenerative ecosystem—not just a floor plan. That means blending coworking, corporate HQs, wellness, culture, retail, and hospitality into a vertically integrated model that serves the future of being. From AI and robotics to crowdfunding office assets and selling future space off-plan, Bedeir unpacks how Paragon is reimagining buildings around user experience, output, and community—not just square meters. Could this be the blueprint for a more sustainable, profitable, and human future of work? Key Topics: * Designing buildings from the customer outward, not just for leasing * Paragon’s three-part real estate product: corporates, startups, and the “hub” * Selling office space off-plan—like residential condos * Smart capex and programming that boosts productivity * Creating regenerative ecosystems with art, culture, and PropTech * Expansion into Saudi Arabia: blending Riyadh’s ambition with Berlin’s creativity * How hospitality-level service and flexibility boost NOI and brand equity Who should watch: Landlords, PropTech founders, flex operators, developers, institutional investors, and anyone passionate about redefining the purpose of the office. * Connect with Bedeir on LinkedIn * Learn more about Paragon * Connect with Sam Gamble * Learn more about ReturnSuite For behind the scenes, visit https://www.braveideas.media/p/whats-behind-paragons-15b-vision 💡 This episode is part of Brave Ideas Season 15, exploring brave ideas shaping the future of office real estate, coworking, and workplace experience. 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and drop a comment with your take on Bedeir’s full-stack model. Get full access to Brave Ideas at www.braveideas.media/subscribe

Season 15 of Brave Ideas is hereAnd this time, we’re going deeper into the operational future of office real estate.📺 Watch the full episode EXCLUSIVELY on www.BraveIdeas.mediaOffice real estate is changing. Are you evolving to keep up?In this trailer episode, Host Caleb Parker previews what’s coming this season: the people, the ideas, and the investment strategies reshaping how office assets are being repositioned, operated, and valued.”Complex Cash Flow Modeling Simplified.”This Season is made possible by ReturnSuite.🎧 Brave Ideas Season 15 was recorded onsite in Cannes, France… London, England…and Amsterdam, Netherlands AND in the virtual studio to travel to Copenhagen, Denmark…as well as NYC & Boston, USA, and features special co-host, Sam Gamble.This season, we’re diving into:* Hospitality-led repositioning strategies* Utilization-based pricing and membership models* How capital markets are adapting to operational real estate* Flex space underwriting and financial modeling* Landlord-operator partnership structuresGuests this season include:* Bedeir Rizk (Paragon Developments)* Joaquín Castellví López (Stoneweg)* Melissa Ansley (JLL)* Sam Gamble (ReturnSuite)* Amy Taylor (Cushman & Wakefield)* Jonathan Bevan (Techspace)* Rogier Braakman (Mr. Green Offices)* Andy Igoe (JLL)* Bryan Koop (BXP)* Carl-Johan Collet (Urban Land Institute)If you're a landlord, fund manager, operator, investor, developer, or workplace strategist — this season is for you.📺 Watch full episodes EXCLUSIVELY on BraveIdeas.media🎧 To listen as a podcast, follow on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen.BEHIND THE SCENES SNAPSLet’s build the future of work, together! Get full access to Brave Ideas at www.braveideas.media/subscribe

Special Brave Ideas Deep DiveFeaturing Sam Gamble, CoFounder of ReturnSuiteFor decades, office real estate has operated in a stable—but rigid—ecosystem built around the long-term lease. I often joke that it’s a Lost World—a closed system that evolved under specific, isolated conditions. The lease shaped everything: how buildings were financed, how risk was underwritten, and how value was calculated.But the issue with Lost Worlds is that while they’re highly specialized, they’re also fragile. Even small changes can break the system.If the office market is a Lost World, then flexible leasing is its First Contact event—the moment when an isolated system encounters something fundamentally new and incompatible. Tenants are demanding more flexibility and better amenities—and they’re often willing to pay a premium for it.But owners, stuck in legacy systems, struggle to meet that demand.The Problem: How Flex Is ValuedThe challenge lies in how we value flexible leasing. Standard models like Direct Capitalization are designed to handle leases—not licenses—and assume predictable, fixed income. Because valuers rely on comparable sales, and comps reflect what investors are underwriting, we’re stuck in a loop:No one underwrites flex differently, so nothing trades differently. If nothing trades differently, nothing gets valued differently.It’s a Catch-22.📺 Watch: Circular Reference – CRE Valuations & Sale PricesThe Solution: A New Model (From Other Industries)The good news? This is a solved problem—just not in real estate.Other sectors like insurance have been here before.Take mining for example. Mining involves big upfront investments followed by uncertain, variable cash flows over time.Sound familiar? Swap out commodity prices and ore grades for desk rates and occupancy levels, and you have the same core valuation challenge.The valuation method all the industries facing potential volatility have adopted?The Expected Value Method—a probabilistic approach that models cash flow volatility directly, rather than papering over it with crude discount rate adjustments.What We Need: Data + ToolsOf course, this is easier said than done. There are two major challenges:1. Better dataWe need to shift from relying solely on market transaction data to using real operational data. But that data is fragmented:* Operators understand costs and occupancy patterns.* Service providers can track utilization and performance.* Platforms and tools can help benchmark and analyze.2. Better toolsOnce we have the data, we need the tools to model it. That’s why I co-founded ReturnSuite—to give landlords and investors a way to build and understand probabilistic cash flow models that reflect reality and unlock capital.Our Future is in Our ControlValuers won’t lead this shift—and they shouldn’t. Their job is to follow the market. But we—the landlords, operators, and investors—are the market. If we start underwriting differently, valuations will follow.This was the focus of the Brave Ideas talk I gave in London earlier this year:“The New Era in Office Valuations: A Collaborative Approach.”As always, if you’re curious about the models or want to chat, I’d love to hear from you.About the authorSam Gamble is the co-founder of ReturnSuite, a modern cash flow modeling platform for commercial real estate. A former landlord and flex space operator, he now helps owners, investors, and lenders model flexible income, justify value, and unlock financing.👉 Connect with Sam on LinkedIn to continue the conversation. Get full access to Brave Ideas at www.braveideas.media/subscribe

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