The UrbanTech VC

Today we are happy to welcome Bernd Oswald, Co-Founder of GROPYUS, a tech-company with a Building Operating System that is the central hub for a fully connected smart home system for both residents and asset holders. Bernd is responsible for Business Development and M&A, and he is shaking up the construction industry.

In this episode you’ll learn:

- number one reason to move out is noise

- product touching whole value chain needs a lot of expertise in the team

- the role of research and degree of customization

- why MVP should not always fulfil the pure minimum requirements

Today we are happy to welcome Juergen Fenk, CEO of Primonial Reim, a key player in the European real estate asset management sector. They are fully aware of the impact of real estate on the planet and society. Primonial integrates Environmental, Social and Governance issues in the company’s operations and in the investment solutions that they manage.

In this episode you’ll learn:

- What the general impact of the high inflation environment means for urbantech stakeholders and the real estate industry in particular with Juergen Fenk being an advocate or ESG

- We will also discuss the opportunities that the current market environment poses for ESG focused market participants

Today’s episode is a special one, as we welcome you to the hosts themselves as guests. Listen to 2bX‘s two GPs reflect on the launch of their podcast, including learnings about being a podcast host but more importantly including an essence of learnings about the first five episodes, urban challenges and possible solutions. Enjoy being part of a very honest conversation between two co-founders and get to know their pure dynamic.

In this episode you’ll learn:

- There is a shared understanding of urban challenges of various stakeholder

- Collaboration and interaction between stakeholder is needed to solve all problems

- But there’s no best practice yet how to tackle that to make it work

- Recording and producing a podcast is so very valuable for hosts themselves

- Having no guest creates a quite intimate environment leading to very open conversations (or how self-absorbed, sarcastic and brutally honest the hosts talk without having a guest)

Today, we're happy to welcome Caspar Schmitz-Morkramer, Founder and CEO of the internationally active, multiple award-winning architecture studio from Germany that is named after himself.

In this episode you’ll learn:

- about major paradigm shifts in what and how to build in urban environments
- what a "no-aliens policy" means in the urban context
- why the "classic European city" serves as a model for modern developments
- the importance of balancing all three sides of the sustainability triangle

Today, we're happy to welcome Luisa Haxel, co-founder and COO of Evernest, a Tech-Broker that is changing the german real state scenario, combining start-up culture with many years of industry expertise. Luisa is the head of business operations, finance and personnel in Hamburg.

In this episode you’ll learn:

– that buying a pizza via app you usually get more notifications than buying an apartment

– how important the image of stakeholders is to create trust and foster collaboration

– what is key in stakeholder management

Today we are happy to welcome Fabio Haebel, Founder and CXO of CIRCUS, a ghost kitchen operator. We will be talking about public spaces in urban areas, not the obvious topic for a Michelin star chef and entrepreneur, right? Tune in for more insightful ideas from this amazing guest.

In this episode you’ll learn:

– Why everyone should have an experience officer

– Why the use of public spaces is major issue all over the world and what are the implications of moving big companies to the outskirt of cities

– How sustainability can play a key role in new projects of public funding

– How it is possible to bring classic restaurant food without opening an actual classic restaurant, using ghost kitchens

Today, we're happy to welcome you to Tanja Potezica, an urban planner and researcher with a focus on long-term strategic planning, spatial-economic development and questions around the social vitality of cities. The last few years she has worked for the Municipality of Amsterdam in the R&D department with the most important work being the Metropolitan Plan Amsterdam 2050.

In this episode you will learn:

- The strategy for innovation districts and why developing research is vital for neighbourhoods

- The current urban challenges and why stakeholders involvement can help solve them

- The role a CTO (Chief Technology Officer) has within a Municipality

Today, we're happy to welcome you to Thibault Chavanat, Senior Project Manager at the SIGNA Group. He is in charge of the development project ‘Karstadt am Hermannplatz’ in Berlin and shared some super interesting insights about the project, Circular Construction and sustainable buildings.


In this episode you’ll learn:

– Why “waste” in old buildings is of surprising high value

– How challenging it is to find architects who don’t see the re-use of materials from the building itself as limitation, but as opportunity

– How discussions about future regulations like the outlook of the CO2 tax coming can lead to creating something new beyond known paths

– How the availability of historical, detailed plans of a building can come with both advantages and disadvantages for developers

Hi and welcome to The UrbanTech VC, the go-to podcast for urban leaders shaping the cities of tomorrow.

Presented by Katharina Junglass and Mark Harré from 2bX.

Every two weeks we will be inviting UrbanTech experts, such as architects, urban planners, urban researchers, NGOs & civil movements, district administration, among others who can provide an expert view on the field.

Stay tuned for episodes coming soon!