Momentum matters!
FIRE Summit is designed to spark new ideas, strengthen relationships, and bring together people who are passionate about shaping the future of the built environment. But the real impact happens after everyone goes home.
June was a month of carrying that momentum forward.
Across our programs, partnerships, podcasts, and community initiatives, we’ve continued investing in the people and relationships that make innovation possible. We’re seeing more founders connect with operators, more students discover opportunities in our industry, more emerging managers collaborate with peers, and more organizations finding ways to work together.
That’s the platform we’re building at FIRE—not events, but a connected community that helps move the industry forward.
Thank you for being part of it.
Here’s what we’ve been working on:
Academia
Why it Matters
FIRE’s Academia initiative strengthens the connection between higher education and industry. Through university partnerships, mentorship, educational programming, and the Intercollegiate PropTech Club, we’re helping prepare future leaders while creating stronger connections between universities and the built environment.
This Month
As we prepare for the fall semester, we’re expanding our programming with partner universities including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Columbia, Dartmouth, Notre Dame, and NYU. Through virtual sessions, on-campus events, industry speakers, free conference tickets, and networking opportunities, our goal is to expose more students to careers in housing, real estate, and built environment technology thereby strengthening the talent pipeline in our industry. We continue growing this initiative alongside our faculty partners and the Intercollegiate PropTech Club.
How to Get Involved
We’re actively looking for companies and industry leaders to partner with us for both virtual and in-person programming. Whether you’re interested in sponsoring campus events, sharing your expertise as a guest speaker, hosting students, or helping create meaningful career pathways, we’d love to connect. If your organization believes in investing in the next generation of innovators, let’s build something together.
Partners & Sponsors: JLL Spark and DIVCO West, plus Stackpoint and Building Ventures.
EMTC: The Catalyst Network
Why it Matters
The Emerging Manager Tech Council (EMTC) is FIRE’s community for growth-minded owners, operators, and sponsors building the next generation of real estate organizations. Members gain access to trusted peer relationships, industry leaders, emerging technologies, and practical insights that help them navigate growth, evaluate innovation, and scale with confidence.
This Month
Our June conversation continued to bring together emerging managers tackling many of the same operational and technology challenges. We heard from the fabulous Kelley Brine of Rose Valley.
As the community grows, so does the opportunity for members to learn from one another, share implementation experiences, and accelerate innovation together.
We’re also planning curated pre-show executive tours at OPTECH, CRETech, and Blueprint this Fall. The goal is to give owners, operators, and investors a curated opportunity to experience emerging technologies in a small-group setting before the exhibit hall opens. Email us if you would like an invite to one of these tours.
We have our free pilot document here, thanks to Goodwin Law.
How to Get Involved
Help us continue building the industry’s most trusted community for emerging managers. If you know a growth-minded owner, operator, or sponsor who would benefit from trusted peer relationships, practical insights, and candid conversations about innovation, we’d love an introduction.
Partners & Sponsors: Stackpoint, Goodwin Law, Cardinal Group, White Oak Partners, Common Residential, Griffin Partners, Red Pill RE, Midwood, JVM Realty, JAB Real Estate, Burns Management, Infinity Development, Peak XV Realty.
Thanks to our newest sponsor - Collective Residential
Physical Innovation Showcase (Petting Zoo)
Giving physical, tangible innovation the visibility it deserves.
Why it Matters
The Innovation Showcase, known as the Petting Zoo, brings physical innovation into spaces traditionally focused on software. By showcasing robotics, hardware, advanced materials, construction technologies, AI-enabled devices, and other built-environment solutions, we create opportunities for industry leaders to experience innovation firsthand and physically engage with technologies in real estate.
Partners + Sponsors - All event partners + RADV and Zacua Ventures
This Month
We’re excited to continue expanding the Innovation Showcase through partnerships with Blueprint, CRETech, and OPTECH, bringing hands-on innovation directly to some of the industry’s premier events.
We’re actively seeking companies developing technologies that people can see, touch, and experience—not just software demos. Think robotics, autonomous equipment, drones, construction technologies, advanced building materials, smart hardware, IoT devices, sensors, energy and sustainability solutions, safety technologies, modular construction, space technology, and other breakthrough tech transforming how buildings are designed, built, operated, and maintained.
How to Get Involved
If you’re building a physical product that’s changing the built environment—or you’re interested in sponsoring/hosting an Innovation Showcase—we’d love to connect. Help us bring the next generation of innovation directly to the industry’s decision-makers.
Job Board
Why it Matters
Through our Job Board and industry network, FIRE helps connect innovative organizations with emerging and established talent across the built environment. By creating pathways for discovery and connection, we support both workforce development and industry growth.
This Month
Our network continues to grow with thousands of open opportunities spanning startups, operators, investors, and service providers.
Whether you’re hiring your next leader or searching for your next opportunity, we’re proud to help connect great people with great organizations.
How to Get Involved
Share your open roles, encourage candidates to join the talent network, and help us continue growing the industry’s largest innovation-focused job board.
Parters & Sponsors Alate Partners, JLL Spark
Mental Health
Why it Matters
FIRE’s Mental Health Initiative supports the well-being of the people driving innovation. Through education, awareness, and access to confidential resources, we help founders, operators, and industry professionals prioritize mental health while fostering a stronger and more resilient community.
Partner: PropTech IQ
This Month
Throughout June, we continued highlighting members of our mental health network and sharing resources designed specifically for founders and innovators. Because building healthy companies starts with healthy leaders.
As always, confidential support remains available at no cost through FIRE.
How to Get Involved
If you or someone in your network could benefit from speaking with one of our licensed professionals, we’re here to help. We are looking to expand this program - more to come.
“Into the FIRE” Podcast
Why it Matters
Innovation is driven by people and stories. Into the FIRE gives founders, operators, investors, and industry leaders a platform to share the lessons shaping the future of housing.
This Month
Stephanie stepped in as host for our latest episode featuring Skyler Chan, Founder of GRU Space.
From lunar construction to innovation across industries, the conversation explored how challenging assumptions often leads to the biggest breakthroughs.
How to Get Involved
Let us know who you’d like to hear from next, or if you’re interested in being a featured guest.
Industry Pulse
A few developments we’re watching:
Entrata continues preparing for its public market journey.
Investment and acquisition activity remains active despite a challenging capital environment. Revyse, Cobblestone Labs, Cadastral
Coming Up
FIRE Virtual Co-Working Hour 7/15 (recurring every 2 weeks)
EMTC: The Catalyst 8/6
FIRE City Session - Happy Hour followed by an invite only executive dinner ((TBD date and location))
Steph and Matt at RealPage Real World Conference 8/10-8/12
View the full calendar and join us.
Thank you for being part of the FIRE community.
Every introduction, conversation, mentorship opportunity, and partnership helps strengthen the innovation ecosystem we’re building together.
We’ll see you in July.