Why proptech became an inclusivity bright spot

Female-owned businesses are a significant and growing segment of the economy, yet they continue to face barriers in accessing capital and suitable commercial spaces.

“It’s why female investors often choose to support women-led projects, recognizing the challenges they’re up against,” says Raoul.

The U.S. Trust found 71% of high-net-worth women prioritize giving back to society when making investment decisions, compared to 55% of high-net-worth men.

By using tech for data-driven decisions and aligning offerings with these new socially responsible sources of capital, investment fund managers can help build a more inclusive real estate landscape.

Regardless of gender, all investors can play a role in actively supporting initiatives that promote women's entrepreneurship and diversity in leadership development, says Raoul. She says this may include providing access to flexible financing options, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities tailored to the needs of female entrepreneurs and business leaders.

When it comes to diversity in leadership, the benefits are well documented. Take the findings of global asset manager BlackRock, which examined a decade of real estate lending data and found firms with an equal gender split outperformed less diverse firms by as much as 29%.

Kaushal points out that the built environment serves the entire population. Greater inclusion is not just the right thing to do, but also makes sound financial sense.

“Female and minority led companies are outcompeting others by creating innovative solutions that better connect to their broad stakeholder base,” he says. “This much-needed diversity of perspective has frankly been missing and we must continue encouraging smart, motivated people across a wide range of backgrounds to join the real estate and tech sectors.”