From freelancers to corporate teams, workers everywhere have embraced coworking spaces. The trend has many implications for how companies operate, but even more interesting is its impact on the world of commercial and office real estate. — Over the past decade, e-commerce offerings and home delivery services have flourished as traditional retail has declined. This has largely been the result of changes in consumer preferences — and that same phenomenon is driving shifts in the commercial and office real estate industry too.

Since receiving investment from Pi Labs, FalconDHQ has shaped a bold vision for the future of private security. We spoke to their chief exec Benjamin Weld about how digital tools can be used to improve everyday security and what this means for the proptech industry. — At Pi Labs, we seek out disruptive startups and imaginative entrepreneurs with the drive to reshape industries. Our focus is typically on innovation in the property sector, but our approach is wide and deep when looking at the full value chain around real estate. Some of the most exciting ideas…

Accommodation operators worldwide are already experimenting with shared urban housing solutions for the future — but there’s still plenty of scope left for startups and investors to seek out opportunities. — Over the past decade, the co-working trend has disrupted traditional approaches to buying and leasing office space. The rise of remote work has facilitated new ways of doing business and redefined what it means to be an employee. As a result, fresh business models and interesting new players have emerged…

From remote-monitoring systems to on-site robots, new technologies are benefiting care home residents, staff and operators alike. The speed of change and the future potential for tech to make an even greater difference are generating opportunities for investors and startups alike. — Technology is transforming care for older people. A 2016 report on care homes in the UK found that the daily physiological monitoring of residents, assisted by telehealth, resulted in an overall efficiency gain of more than +£33,400 a year for the nursing home studied. This level of financial benefit gives…

As the proportion of older people in populations around the world grows, so too does demand for age-appropriate housing. But today’s older generations want and expect more out of life, which creates opportunities for investors that are willing to break with tradition. — In 2016 a UK study found that while many older people want to downsize, they often find they can’t. Of 19.1 million households, 9.2 million had already moved to a smaller home, were currently considering downsizing or were expecting to buy a more modest property in the future. According to…

Since joining Pi Labs’ first cohort three years ago, Airsorted has grown from bedroom startup to leading global proptech player. We caught up with co-founder and COO Daniel Scott to find out what they’ve learned along the way — and what comes next. — When Pi Labs first launched in 2015, our mission was simple: to identify and grow the best new technology companies seeking to disrupt the property industry. Today, one of the most rewarding aspects of our work is seeing these ambitious startups succeed through sheer hard work. Airsorted was among the…

Micro-fulfilment is transforming the way logistics work across cities. Paying attention to this trend and the demand for last mile delivery offers some interesting opportunities for investors and startups alike. — The logistics sector is undergoing enormous disruption. In the near future, consumers will be able to receive their items as little as one hour after they place an online order. This might sound like madness, but if you think about it, rapidly-delivered services are already familiar to most urban consumers…

As high street retailers face unprecedented challenges, the logistics networks that power online shopping are doing everything possible to streamline their global operations. — Last month, clothing retailer New Look announced its decision to close the doors of 60 of its shops in the UK, including its flagship London store at Oxford Circus. Traditionally, Oxford Circus and London’s West End have been viewed as insulated on the wider issues facing British retail, but the…

Governments around the world are beginning to register land deeds on distributed ledgers. Since the rise of cryptocurrencies, the blockchain has been hailed as a generation-defining technology that’s set to transform everything from finance to retail. But is it enough to resolve some of the longest standing problems in conveyancing? …