Ivo van Breukelen

The Proptech Connection

With offices in Sydney, Chicago, Riyadh, Amsterdam and Bangkok, The Proptech Connection ("The PTC") is the world's only global independent Proptech advisory specialist. 

The Proptech Connection is dedicated to the world of property related technologies and innovations.

-We help Real Estate + AEC companies to source the right technologies for their business.
-We help CVC’s + institutional investors understand and invest in technologies that match their portfolio aspirations.
-We help proptechs to position themselves in market, so that their value is understood and translatable to business + strategic international growth.

Our reach is global, and with over 18,000 Proptechs within our sourcing network, we have the insights and the perspective to bring the best solution for every real estate, construction or engineering use case.

We are the knowledge source for global Proptech inquiry.

The PTC in #s:
•	Largest database of global Proptech’s (18,000+) with > 2,700+ founders interviewed or companies assessed from a potential investment lens. 
•	> 130,000+ people in the PTC network. Globally situated with Real estate, Technology or Investment lens
•	Extensive global Investor + TechBuyer network of decision-makers within the converging worlds of Proptech, Cleantech and Urbantech
•	Proptech’s largest LinkedIn Newsletter following (>52,000+). Our newsletter is the market leader in Proptech and how Real Estate is evolving globally

Keynote presentations & Guest lectures by our management team:
•	World Economic Forum (April 2022 NYC)
•	Realcomm (July 2022 Orlando): 150+ CIOs/CTOs global leading real estate companies
•	Guest lectures Harvard + MIT
•	Monthly insights on Proptech for "Property Chronicle" (2,000+ senior capital deployers)
•	Keynotes: Urban Land Institute, Realcomm, IREI, CoreNet etc.

www.theproptechconnection.com

Managing Partner (US/UK/EU) + Head of Origination 

Advanced Architectural Products, a 2019 Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Company

Advanced Architectural Products delivers SMARTci, which is an innovative, simple and complete system designed to address the inadequacies of other traditional installations. 

A2P has created an incredibly innovative and necessary solution in today's energy saving construction environment and combines decades of real-world, multidisciplinary design and engineering experience with proven materials to create an easy-to-use, patent-protected, potentially game-changing product.

A2P main focus is pushing the boundaries around the future of the built environment with regards to  sustainability and how that plays into corporate ESG strategies to address some of the most urgent challenges of (commercial) developments.

Managing Director

Sempergreen Group

Storm water is one of the largest polluters of our US waterways.
Policy changes driven by EPA rules continuously create and widen potential market. 

Sempergreen offers sustainable solutions to create instant green roofs focused on storm water retention in a dynamic and relatively new segment of the construction and design industry. 

Sempergreen mature sedum mats have been grown in an outdoor environment for more than twelve months which makes them as hardy as possible once they are installed on a rooftop. 
This is also the most cost effective way to create instant plant coverage on your green roof project with the lowest possible maintenance requirements while enduring the highest wind uplift situations.

The products are part of green roof programs offered by waterproofing membrane companies in North America and have been installed on hundreds green roof projects

Take advantage of 21 years of international know-how and experience in the European, Asian and North America markets.

Global Business Development

Connaxis

I led Connaxis global operations across all business units in the Americas (7 countries).

As country manager I led our teams and was ultimately responsible for optimizing ROI, executing sales strategy and expand business development team with channel partners. 

It has given me the opportunity to travel across S-America and develop in-depth understanding of different cultures and business practices.

Winel B.V.

Appointed by the CEO of Winel B.V. as deputy director of Winel Vietnam. In that role I was responsible for starting a factory in Vietnam, an equivalent of the dutch factory, headquarted in Assen (the Netherlands). I had to report directly to the Board Of Management in the Netherlands. My tasks consisted of, but were not limited to, being responsible for the daily process, maintain and improve relations with external parties (i.e. bank, accountant and public officials/institutions), business negotiations with local and regional suppliers/customers (Vietnam, China, Singapore, Malaysia, South-Korea and Japan) recruiting and contracting employees, manage the capital request and budgeting processes, and implement the (general) strategy that was set by CEO and provide monthly management reports. 

After successfully expanding the factory from 0 to 65 FTE (within 3 years) I decided to relocate to S-America to undertake another/new big challenge.

Director Winel Vietnam

Managing Partner (US/EUR/UK) at The Proptech Connection, the world's only global independent proptech advisory firm. I lead origination, investor relationships, network and strategic partnership function. Our team prides itself with an extensive network of decision-makers across the entire Proptech ecosystem, including Fortune 500s and other strategics.

I am a strong believer in the role of technology and innovation as a means to deliver growth in real estate and construction + believe we are just at the start of the cycle. 

We also provide access, strategic advice and market intelligence to proptechs, real estate companies and investors.  

The Proptech Connection is dedicated to the world of property related technologies and innovations.

-We help Real Estate companies to source the right technologies for their business.
-We help Corporate VCs to understand and invest in technologies that match their portfolio aspirations.
-We help proptechs to position themselves in market, so that their value is understood and translatable to business.

Our reach is global, and with over 18,000 Proptechs within our sourcing network, we have the insights and the perspective to bring the best solution for every property use case.

I have presented guest lectures at both Harvard and MIT. 

Our firm has collectively interviewed + evaluated 3,400+ Proptechs/Cleantechs + have the most extensive (and industry first) market intelligence platforms to deliver insights to our clients.

We work with some of the leading global real estate entities + VC funds on their tech execution or sourcing strategies, where our unique insights + position, deliver tangible results. 

Events engage with us for market research and (unbiased) data-led keynotes on how tech is transforming real estate fundamentally.

Managing Partner

With offices in Sydney, Bangkok, Amsterdam and Chicago the PTC is the world's only global Proptech advisory specialist. We help all actors (Proptechs, Investors and Tech Buyers) navigate the Proptech ecosystem allowing them to source and find the right technology for their commercial plans. In short, the PTC is:

An Innovation/Technology sourcing resource for Real Estate companies,
An Origination source for Proptech Investors.
A Business Development resource for Proptechs &
A Capital introduction and Advisory resource for Proptechs.

www.theproptechconnection.com

Dubai is launching an enormous $35 billion initiative to construct what will be the world’s largest #airport, equipped with an unmatched 400 gates.

This bold project is intended to accommodate hundreds of millions of travelers each year, reinforcing Dubai’s status as a major global aviation and transportation center.

It’s anticipated to transform the landscape of international air travel, drive major economic growth through new jobs, expanded trade, and increased tourism, and further enhance #Dubai’s image as a leader in building groundbreaking infrastructure.

Our firm advised several clients with significant (indirect) exposure into the aviation space, to understand + lever technology for their operations.

I’m currently en route to Dubai, should you wish to meet please do DM.

Follow The Proptech Connection for more content & insights about tech in the built environment + stay up-to-date by joining 58,000+ others that receive our weekly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/g_e4QVDH

Japanese innovators have developed a revolutionary plastic designed to combat marine pollution by dissolving completely in seawater within hours.

This groundbreaking material leaves behind no toxic residue and uniquely transforms into a substance that enriches the soil, offering a potential end to persistent plastic waste.

The invention heralds a new era of eco-conscious packaging that not only eliminates harm but actively contributes to the health of the planet.

Origination Lead | Venture Capital + M&A | 1,400 Investor Relations | Data intelligence | MIT + Harvard Lecturer | RE Innovation & Tech Sourcing (Independent) | CVCs Investment | Keynotes |120k+ network, 59k+ newsletter

Ashoka Reddy

Just beautiful...

Enjoy!

Follow The Proptech Connection for more content & insights about tech in the built environment + stay up-to-date by joining 59,000+ others that receive our weekly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/g_e4QVDH

Australia is deploying drones to replant trees in areas devastated by bushfires, with each drone capable of sowing up to 40,000 seeds per day—far surpassing traditional reforestation methods and supporting ecosystem recovery as climate-fueled wildfires intensify.

These drones release biodegradable seed pods containing native seeds, nutrients, and protective coatings. Guided by GPS and AI, they accurately target ideal planting locations, reducing the need for human labor in dangerous terrain.

This innovative, scalable approach speeds up forest regeneration, enhances carbon capture, and helps restore wildlife habitats—demonstrating how cutting-edge technology can work in harmony with nature to repair environmental damage.

Follow The Proptech Connection  for more content & insights about tech in the built environment + stay up-to-date by joining 59,000+ others that receive our weekly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/g_e4QVDH

A huge balcony craze has started in homes in China…

What do you think?

China is transforming traffic management through the use of drone technology, enabling real-time monitoring of congestion and pinpointing its causes with precision. 

In major urban centers like Shenzhen and Guangzhou, traffic police are deploying drones to survey roads and intersections from above, capturing live video that helps map out accidents and traffic jams in detail.

This bird’s-eye view allows officials to quickly identify whether delays are due to crashes, breakdowns, construction work, or sudden increases in traffic flow. 

Offering a broader and faster overview than traditional street-level cameras, the drones support quicker emergency responses—helping clear roads faster and reducing delays for commuters.

What do you think about this development?
Thoughts?

Feedback in the comments.

Pretty cool stuff, don't you think?

This system flips the script:
 ✅ Identifies and sorts waste automatically
 ✅ Delivers real-time feedback
 ✅ Generates insights to cut waste and costs
 ✅ ROI in under 2 years


Question for builders and innovators:

How can you design products or habits that remove friction entirely?

Because when effort disappears, adoption explodes. Imagine every bin as a node in a global circular economy.

Could this kind of “invisible innovation” transform the way we live and work?

#GreenTech #AI #Innovation #Sustainability #CircularEconomy

In Chile’s arid Atacama Desert, communities are addressing severe water shortages with fog catchers—large vertical nets that harvest moisture from the coastal fog known as camanchaca.

As the fog passes through, water droplets condense on the mesh, trickle into collection troughs, and are stored in tanks. This low-tech system can produce up to 15 liters of water per square meter each day—without using electricity—helping supply water for drinking, farming, and hygiene while reducing pressure on overdrawn aquifers.

It's a simple yet effective and sustainable solution to a pressing environmental challenge in one of the driest places on Earth.

Global infrastructure investment is expected to reach $94 trillion by 2040, according to McKinsey & Company, highlighting the massive demand for advanced construction techniques. 

Caisson sinking, which can safely reach depths of 30–50 meters in waterlogged soils, is vital for building underwater structures like bridge piers. 

Meanwhile, underpinning shafts reinforce foundations beneath existing buildings in crowded urban areas without disrupting the surroundings. 

How do engineers tackle tough soil and space challenges to create strong, lasting foundations for our rapidly growing world? 

These innovative methods offer part of the answer.

Follow The Proptech Connection for latest tech in the built environment. #proptech 

Credit to David Jasinski

#engineering #construction #realestate #proptech

A #Humanoid Robot is 70% cheaper...

CEO's question: What will be the hourly cost of work of a humanoid robot?

- Production cost: $30,000. A humanoid is ~5% the mass of a passenger car. The costly parts are actuators and gearboxes

- Operating cost: $30,000 per year, of which $18,000 is human oversight and coordination. This is likely way too high.

- Operating time: 6,600 hours per year (330 days × 20 hours/day). That equals the yearly working time of more than three people.

- Work speed vs. humans: 100% initially. As with industrial robots, later generations will likely reach 200%+.

- Business model: Most manufacturers will offer Robot-as-a-Service (#RaaS) rather than selling units, because it drives far higher revenue and margin. Expect an initial one-time fee roughly equal to manufacturing cost plus a usage fee per year, month, day, or hour.

- Service life (incl. repairs): 8 years.

- Market dynamics: Because humanoids will be highly profitable to use (see below), demand will ramp quickly. But many suppliers will enter, so sustained overly high monopoly pricing is unlikely.

Result: Based on these assumptions, a humanoid work hour will cost at most $14.

That’s the highest realistic value. With learning effects and scale, the hourly cost will drop below $10 and likely below $5. 

By comparison, a skilled worker’s fully loaded hour is $42.53. 

Strategic consequence: In competitive markets, companies will have no real choice: first to replace labor shortages, and soon to replace existing roles. Even at $14/hour, the financial advantage vs. human labor is close to $200,000 per robot per year.

Insights from twitter Dr Pero Micic.

Which tasks would you deploy humanoids for first?

Follow The Proptech Connection to stay ahead of latest insights + news in the #proptech space.

#AI #automation

Love this!

Zapier ($5B) now scores employees on AI literacy

This is the new baseline. Every tech company will follow: 

Great self-assessment tool btw. 

Where do you land on the grid?

Japan’s Kansai #Airport sets new record by going 30 years without losing a single piece of luggage.

There's a lesson to learn there...

We are seeing a lot of interest from developers understanding how to drive more foot traffic to their #realestate #retail projects or #aviation assets.

Cooling accounts for 40-50% of total energy use in many data centers. As AI workloads intensify and rack densities rise, thermal management is no longer just a technical concern, it's a strategic imperative.

With growing scrutiny from regulators, ESG funds, and tenants, cooling technology is emerging as a top priority. The industry is rapidly shifting toward advanced solutions such as immersion + rear-door liquid cooling, air-side economization, and waste heat reuse systems.

This is not just an engineering challenge, it’s a license to operate. Cooling strategies now influence permitting, investment decisions, and tenant selection. Sites that fail to innovate risk falling behind in a market where sustainability and efficiency are non-negotiable.

Forward-looking operators are integrating cooling into their power planning, ESG reporting, and tenant engagement strategies. As AI continues to reshape infrastructure demands, those who treat cooling as a core competency, not a cost center, will lead the next generation of data center development.

The pressure to reduce carbon is real, but so is the opportunity.

Get the latest insights here: https://lnkd.in/ejemd5DE

By The Proptech Connection, alongside: Stephen Macdonald CA, Stuart Daun and other colleagues

Cooling in data center

Blackstone COO Jon Gray highlighted the next major growth areas in three key sectors:

Semiconductors
Data centers
Energy supply

According to their projections, #electricity demand in the U.S. is expected to surge by 40% over the next decade. 

Since both the chip and data center industries are heavily reliant on power, the rising need for electricity is seen as a fundamental force shaping the future.

Subscribe to The Proptech Connection's newsletter for the latest industry updates: https://lnkd.in/g_e4QVDH

Access our latest data center market insights here: https://lnkd.in/ejemd5DE

Lots happening in the Middle East and look already forward to returning again in 3 weeks.

Excellent meetings with clients, partners and industry contacts.

Exploring to enter Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Saudi please get in touch.

Powered by The Proptech Connection

Wonderful to spend time in #Dubai and #AbuDhabi with clients, strategic partners, investors, real estate + construction companies and other industry contacts.

One of my personal + business (long) term friends is Samit Sheth, we share an equal passion for #realestate #technology and he’s heavenly involved in this space with JLL (MENA region).

Great office + location (and fantastic views) from ICD Brookfield Place

I’m really excited to participate at Cityscape Global 2025 in #Riyadh next month on behalf of The Proptech Connection.

After some incredibly interesting days in #Dubai + #AbuDhabi now en route to Riyadh.

The higly anticipated “Future Investment Initiative" taking place. If in Riyadh and wanting to meet, please DM.

Register here https://lnkd.in/e4qztG56 to join me and global developers, award-winning architects, tech innovators, and the world's leading funds redefining how we live, work, and invest.
 
Hope to see you there!

#CityscapeGlobal2025 #RealEstateSaudiArabia #ConferenceSpeaker #MeetMeAtCITYSCAPEGLOBAL2025 Cityscape Global Stephen Macdonald CA, Stuart Daun

Great to be back in #Dubai with colleagues meeting clients, partners and other industry contacts.

We’ll be in #AbuDhabi Thursday morning.

If around / want to meet to explore synergies, please send DM.

The Proptech Connection

In the first six months of 2025, China showcased its dominant role in the renewable energy sector by adding an incredible 256 GW of solar power—surpassing the combined total of all other countries.

This massive achievement, which far exceeds the 21 GW installed by the United States (ranked third), underscores China's rapid move away from coal and toward clean energy sources.

China's unprecedented solar expansion is not only transforming its own energy mix but also establishing the country as a global leader in the push toward sustainable energy and the fight against climate change.

Follow The Proptech Connection for more content & insights about tech in the built environment + stay up-to-date by joining 59,000+ others that receive our weekly newsletter: https://lnkd.in/g_e4QVDH

The rate at which China are constructing 15 Minute Digitally Managed Cities is truly something....

It seems desire to move people out from "rural" China into these cities.

Taplio

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