Brave Ideas Season 15, Episode 8

This episode is made possible by ReturnSuite:”Complex Cash Flow Modeling Simplified.”

📺 Watch the full episode EXCLUSIVELY on  (incl. behind the scenes and bloopers)

Structuring equitable landlord-operator deals

In this episode, Brave Corp CEO, Caleb Parker, and ReturnSuite Cofounder, Sam Gamble tee up a deep dive with Andy Igoe from New York City.

We unpack how to replace desk-based pricing with licensable SqFt, how to build empirical comps from live market quotes, and how to model real ramps that reflect sales cycle times, seasonality, lead generation capacity, and customer size mix.

Andy shares how his teams presented full upside and downside scenarios to landlords, how to align incentives across management agreements and hybrid leases, and why he believes private offices anchor the P&L while amenity areas support, not dilute, EBITDA.

We close with when flex should be treated as a building-level amenity that lifts asset value even if modeled rent trails the headline rent number.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

* How to price by licensable SqFt and translate competitor quotes into revenue per SqFt

* Why the classic 30 percent to 90 percent ramp can mislead, and how to model local, operational reality

* How sales cycle times, seasonality, and lead generation capacity shape a defendable ramp

* How to align fees and waterfalls so site profitability comes first in owner–operator structures

* When flex as an amenity improves whole-asset outcomes even at sub-headline rent

Key Takeaways for Operators

* Present pricing in SqFt with clear inclusions, move away from desk price for serious comparisons

* Build empirical comps from local quotes, position your product inside the true market range

* Size amenity areas to support sales and retention, protect breakeven and NOI

* Use scenario ranges and mitigation levers to manage underperformance with owners

Key Takeaways for Real Estate Investors

* Demand auditable underwriting with apples-to-apples pricing and real operational inputs

* Align incentives to site profitability, avoid fee structures that reward revenue without cost discipline

* Treat flex as a building amenity when it lifts leasing velocity, occupancy, and overall value

* Benchmark models against market rent and realistic ramps that fit the floor plate

CONNECT

* Connect with Andy Igoe

* Connect with Caleb Parker

* Connect with Sam Gamble

* Learn about ReturnSuite

Behind the Scenes

(Keep scrolling for bloopers)

Recorded remotely between London and New York City in the Brave Ideas virtual studio.

BLOOPER REEL

💡 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 licensable SqFt, empirical comps, and transparent scenarios make your flex model auditable, then drop a comment below with your favourite soundbite.

Brave Ideas Season 15, Episode 7

This 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 location

In 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 comparisons

Key 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 buyers

Key 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 occupancy

CONNECT

* Connect with Amy Taylor

* Connect with Caleb Parker

* Connect with Sam Gamble

* Learn about ReturnSuite

Behind the Scenes

Recorded 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.

Brave Ideas Season 15, Episode 6

This 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 choice

In 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 Highlights

00:00 – 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 Techspace

What 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 estate

Key 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 to

Key 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 predictability

CONNECT

* Techspace website

* Connect with Jonathan Bevan on LinkedIn

* Connect with Caleb Parker

* Connect with Sam Gamble

* Learn about ReturnSuite

Behind 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.

Brave Ideas Season 15, Episode 5

This 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-cycles

Key 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 Watch

Office 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 ReturnSuite

For 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 Conversation

What 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.

📺 Watch the full episode EXCLUSIVELY on BraveIdeas.media

This episode is made possible by ReturnSuite:”Complex Cash Flow Modeling Simplified.”

Why Hospitality Matters More Than Ever

Melissa 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 stickiness

Why You Should Watch

Whether 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 Parker

For 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.

📺 Watch the full episode EXCLUSIVELY on BraveIdeas.media

Turning volatility into strategy in office real estate with Sam Gamble, CoFounder of Return Suite

This 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 income

Who 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 Newsletter

For 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.

Brave Ideas Season 15, Episode 3

This episode is made possible by ReturnSuite:”Complex Cash Flow Modeling Simplified.”

Was This 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 MIPIM in Cannes 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.

🎧 To listen as a podcast FOR FREE,follow Brave Ideas on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

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 income

Who 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

Continued Learning

* Watch Caleb & Sam’s Walk Through Times Square

* Watch Sam’s London Presentation

Behind 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.

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and drop a comment with your take on this episode.

📺 Watch the full episode EXCLUSIVELY on BraveIdeas.media

Featuring CoFounder & CIO, Joaquin Castellvi Lopez, on scaling OpRE strategies across Europe’s office markets

This 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 time

Who Should Listen

Landlords, 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

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.

Season 15 of Brave Ideas is here

And this time, we’re going deeper into the operational future of office real estate.

📺 Watch the full episode EXCLUSIVELY on www.BraveIdeas.media

Office 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 structures

Guests 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 SNAPS

Let’s build the future of work, together!