Latest news with #FifthWall
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proptech firms pull in funding to ramp up AI tools
This story was originally published on Facilities Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Facilities Dive newsletter. The proptech sector has been busy this month, led by notable fundraises, products and service announcements — all underpinned by the promise that artificial intelligence will change the way buildings are managed. Three main needs are driving investment in proptech: better building data management, operational efficiencies and tenant experiences, Jason Smith, executive vice president of property management at JLL, said during a Building Engines webinar earlier this year. 'Some of the technologies are so advanced that they'll connect into the building operation systems, which lead to real-time monitoring of energy. They can tell you when to start up your large equipment, leading to cost reductions and other efficiencies for the building team,' Smith said. 'Technology [also] leads to reduced manual tasks, because you can set up automation for emailing, updating tenants on their service request, and ultimately, all this leads to the tenant experience enhancement.' AI in particular is expected to improve underwriting, asset selection and risk modeling for real estate investors, with the most investable proptech companies being those that solve challenges in real estate operations, according to a podcast featuring CBRE Head of Global Digital Partnerships Connor Hall and Fifth Wall CEO Brendan Wallace. Funding provided by commercial service firms is especially notable, as investing in proptech can give them early access to innovations that can help them enhance asset performance, reduce costs and create competitive differentiation, per the report. Here's a look at three proptech companies and how their technology is working to change facilities management. Runwise completed a $55 million series B financing round that it will use to support innovation, expand its team and enter into new core markets, the company announced June 9. The company's smart operating system for buildings is installed in more than 10,000 buildings across the U.S., and it has over 1,000 customers, including real estate owner-operators like Related, MTA, Port Authority, National Grid and Douglas Elliman. The firm's vertically integrated platform combines proprietary hardware, wireless connectivity and cloud-based software to automate and optimize building operations, featuring rapid deployment and a typical payback period under five months, Runwise said. "More than 150 of our buildings have installed Runwise, and in most buildings we have seen up to 30% in energy savings, while making the buildings more comfortable, and easier to manage,' John Skipper, director of energy management at First Service Residential, said in a statement. Since its seed funding round in 2020, Runwise says in its release that it has 'grown over 30X and is on track to nearly double again this year, driven by demand for solutions that deliver tangible ROI, operational simplicity, and environmental impact.' The newest financing round was also twice oversubscribed, 'underscoring investor confidence in Runwise's category-defining approach to making buildings smarter, more efficient, and cost-effective,' it said in the release. Cove, a commercial property management software that aims to unify tenant experience and building operations to connect the entire property ecosystem, announced an investment from Lead Edge Capital in June. The capital, which follows previous funding by Nuveen Real Estate in 2024 and Blackstone Innovations Investments in 2022, comes at a time of major transformation in the commercial real estate industry marked by shifting tenant expectations and rising operational costs, Cove said in a June 2 release. The company says its platform simplifies operations for stakeholders — including property managers, owners and engineers — by consolidating communication, task management and insights into a single interface. This eliminates the need for multiple disconnected tools and supports a range of property types, including office buildings, life science campuses, retail centers, industrial facilities and medical offices, Cove said. MRI Software introduced new AI-enhanced finance and accounting capabilities that will ensure its clients 'remain at the forefront of PropTech innovation,' the company said in a June 2 release. These new capabilities, made possible through the firm's MRI Agora platform, include an agentic AI-based workflow that is expected to shorten the time spent on month-end close processes while ensuring that finance and accounting teams can maintain human oversight and control, MRI Software said. An AI chatbot, Ask Agora, will help users to interact with their real estate data in natural language. The tool features an in-page AI assistant that can provide contextual insights, recommendations and guidance that can boost productivity and drive decision-making, per the release. For example, an operator could use Page Assistance to understand a tenant's outstanding debts and then prompt it to create and send a communication reminding the tenant to pay, MRI Software says. Recommended Reading Vendors streamline integrations as operators seek unified systems: Realcomm IBcon
Finextra
18-06-2025
- Business
- Finextra
Juniper Square completes $130 million Series D
Juniper Square, the pioneer of connected fund software and services for private markets, today announced it closed its Series D round and secured $130 million in new funding led by Ribbit Capital, with significant strategic investment from Fifth Wall, and additional participation from Redpoint Ventures, HighSage Ventures, Blue Owl Capital and others. 0 Juniper Square will use the capital to accelerate investment in JunieAI—the first enterprise-grade AI built specifically for the needs of private markets GPs. JunieAI combines the power of modern large language models (LLMs) with critical enabling components—Juniper Square's fund system of record for GPs and LPs, a scaled data model, comprehensive workflows coupled with managed services, industry integrations, and robust measures for security, control, and permissioning—to help GPs move faster, work smarter, and operate more efficiently. Juniper Square announces $130 million Series D financing round and the launch of JunieAI As an agentic AI platform, JunieAI provides: Agents supporting the work of investor relations, fund administration, portfolio management, and investment decisions Model-agnostic orchestration across agents, tools, workflows, and systems Precision tools for the accuracy demands of accounting and reporting, fused with the ease of use and power of generative AI Secure, enterprise-grade permissioning and control Deep domain expertise in private markets AI workflows wrapped with full service solutions Unified structured and unstructured data—including from emails and documents Seamless integration with existing GP tools Fine-grained agent governance, empowering GPs to define how AI agents behave, respond, and defer across use cases "The private markets are undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation driven by two tsunamis of change: the rise of the retail investor and the breakthrough potential of AI," says Alex Robinson, CEO and Co-Founder at Juniper Square. "Our mission is to equip GPs with the technology and services they need to thrive in this new era. With JunieAI, we're helping our customers stay ahead—turning disruption into opportunity across every facet of work inside of the modern GP." "Juniper Square is uniquely positioned to lead the private markets into the AI era," says Nick Shalek, General Partner at Ribbit Capital. "Few companies have the combination of enterprise-grade trust, enabling infrastructure, deep domain expertise, and structured data at scale that Juniper Square brings to bear. With JunieAI, they're harnessing these strengths to build AI solutions that are purpose-built for private markets—not just bolted on. We're thrilled to support Juniper Square as it sets the standard for how this industry will evolve." This fundraise follows a period of rapid growth for Juniper Square including >100% 3-year CAGR in its fund administration business, which today manages over 2,000 fund entities globally across an extensive range of strategies and complex fund structures. Growth has been especially strong in the private equity and venture capital verticals, which now represent four of the five largest customers by revenue. In May, Juniper Square expanded into Luxembourg, unlocking integrated fund administration and efficient cross-border operations for private markets GPs at a global scale. "Juniper Square stands out as a frontrunner to lead the private markets as the world moves toward an AI-driven future," says Jay Maher, Global Chief Operating Officer at H.I.G. Capital. "Juniper Square's focus on AI innovation will deliver transformative benefits across the industry—empowering organizations to better serve investors and drive long-term growth." Over the past decade, Juniper Square has built the connected infrastructure that powers private markets, helping make the industry more efficient, transparent, and accessible. With retail investors reshaping the landscape and the market on track to exceed $60 trillion within a decade, GPs need innovations like JunieAI to keep pace and capture new opportunities.
Bloomberg
16-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Unicorn Juniper Square Sells Picks and Shovels of Private Market Boom
Venture capitalists are betting on a product that's close to their hearts: software for venture capitalists. Juniper Square Inc., a software provider for VCs and other private investors, has raised $130 million in a deal that values the company at $1.1 billion. The new funding round, which the company plans to announce Monday, was led by Ribbit Capital, with participation from Fifth Wall, Redpoint Ventures and others. The cash infusion will go toward expansion, and building out the startup's artificial intelligence capabilities.
Associated Press
03-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
FifthWall Solutions Rebrands as UKON
DENVER, CO - June 2, 2025 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - FifthWall Solutions today unveiled its new corporate identity: UKON. The move marks a strategic evolution from wholesale broker to cyber insurance marketplace. Our mission is simple: every business has the right to survive a cyber attack. 'UKON is more than a name. It is a signal,' said Cole Knuth, Chief Executive Officer. 'We're charting a new path in cyber protection, one that simplifies insurance, quantifies risk, and restores confidence.' Originally founded in 2015 by Doug Wright following a severe cyber breach, FifthWall grew into the first dedicated cyber-only wholesaler in the United States. Its purpose was clear: help brokers and partners secure better coverage through streamlined access to more than 50 top carriers. Built on trust, speed, and strategic depth, that foundation still fuels the company today. UKON is the next chapter. 'This isn't a departure - it's an evolution,' said Gene Stevens, Chief Technology Officer of UKON. 'FifthWall pioneered wholesale cyber insurance, establishing unmatched discipline, speed, and depth of relationships across the carrier ecosystem. UKON carries this DNA forward, strategically bridging cyber risk expertise from the technology and insurance industries into one unified platform that reimagines how risk is communicated, valued, and reduced.' This rebrand introduces more than a name. It introduces an identity aligned to a larger strategy. The new logo features a magnetized needle, a direct reference to the compass instruments used to navigate the unchartered wilderness of the Yukon Territory. Like the Yukon River, one of the most powerful and previously uncharted rivers in the world, cyber insurance has long been difficult to map and move through. UKON sets out to change that. Chief Marketing Officer Matt Hightower led the creative and brand development alongside UK-based creative agency Vida Creative, beginning in November 2024 with an in-person branding workshop. 'Vida helped us reconnect to our 'why' and gave us the strategy and language to bring our brand vision to life,' said Hightower. 'They understood the parallels between the Yukon Territory and the unchartered world of cyber risk. What they delivered was more than branding material or strategy. It was clarity.' 'We're thrilled to have partnered with the FifthWall team to shape and launch UKON's new brand and website,' said Ellen Hedley, Director of Vida Creative. 'As a breakthrough platform in the cyber insurance space, UKON represents a bold step forward and we're proud to have played a role in helping the team define their positioning and share it with the world.' Hedley and Vida Creative led the complete rebrand initiative including the website redesign, brand positioning, and visual language. Vida's Design Director, Chris Stephenson, crafted UKON's new brand elements, drawing from raw geography and navigational iconography to produce a visual identity rooted in precision and strength. The result is now live: a new name, a new logo, a new mission, a new purpose. UKON, as a platform, was first introduced to the MSP community at XChange in March of this year. It will formally launch at Pax8 Beyond on June 8, where UKON is a Platinum Sponsor. Attendees can experience live demonstrations at Booth 314 and hear directly from the team during a main stage presentation on June 10. The UKON Founders Club, a limited early-access program for MSPs aiming to drive revenue as Cyber Risk Advisors, remains available by invitation. About UKON is a cyber insurance marketplace that helps businesses assess risk, access coverage, and build resilience through embedded distribution and real-time underwriting. Designed for MSPs, agencies, and enterprise partners, UKON simplifies the insurance process with automated quoting, financial-grade risk intelligence, and direct access to top carriers. Vendor-agnostic and execution-focused, UKON is redefining how cyber insurance is delivered in today's digital economy. Social Links X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn Media Contact Full Name: Jon Gomez Title: Director of Communications Strategy Company Name: UKON Phone Number: 310-508-2880 Website:
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FifthWall Solutions Rebrands as UKON
DENVER, CO - June 2, 2025 (NEWMEDIAWIRE) - FifthWall Solutions today unveiled its new corporate identity: UKON. The move marks a strategic evolution from wholesale broker to cyber insurance marketplace. Our mission is simple: every business has the right to survive a cyber attack. "UKON is more than a name. It is a signal," said Cole Knuth, Chief Executive Officer. "We're charting a new path in cyber protection, one that simplifies insurance, quantifies risk, and restores confidence." Originally founded in 2015 by Doug Wright following a severe cyber breach, FifthWall grew into the first dedicated cyber-only wholesaler in the United States. Its purpose was clear: help brokers and partners secure better coverage through streamlined access to more than 50 top carriers. Built on trust, speed, and strategic depth, that foundation still fuels the company today. UKON is the next chapter. "This isn't a departure - it's an evolution," said Gene Stevens, Chief Technology Officer of UKON. "FifthWall pioneered wholesale cyber insurance, establishing unmatched discipline, speed, and depth of relationships across the carrier ecosystem. UKON carries this DNA forward, strategically bridging cyber risk expertise from the technology and insurance industries into one unified platform that reimagines how risk is communicated, valued, and reduced." This rebrand introduces more than a name. It introduces an identity aligned to a larger strategy. The new logo features a magnetized needle, a direct reference to the compass instruments used to navigate the unchartered wilderness of the Yukon Territory. Like the Yukon River, one of the most powerful and previously uncharted rivers in the world, cyber insurance has long been difficult to map and move through. UKON sets out to change that. Chief Marketing Officer Matt Hightower led the creative and brand development alongside UK-based creative agency Vida Creative, beginning in November 2024 with an in-person branding workshop. "Vida helped us reconnect to our why' and gave us the strategy and language to bring our brand vision to life," said Hightower. "They understood the parallels between the Yukon Territory and the unchartered world of cyber risk. What they delivered was more than branding material or strategy. It was clarity." "We're thrilled to have partnered with the FifthWall team to shape and launch UKON's new brand and website," said Ellen Hedley, Director of Vida Creative. "As a breakthrough platform in the cyber insurance space, UKON represents a bold step forward and we're proud to have played a role in helping the team define their positioning and share it with the world." Hedley and Vida Creative led the complete rebrand initiative including the website redesign, brand positioning, and visual language. Vida's Design Director, Chris Stephenson, crafted UKON's new brand elements, drawing from raw geography and navigational iconography to produce a visual identity rooted in precision and strength. The result is now live: a new name, a new logo, a new mission, a new purpose. UKON, as a platform, was first introduced to the MSP community at XChange in March of this year. It will formally launch at Pax8 Beyond on June 8, where UKON is a Platinum Sponsor. Attendees can experience live demonstrations at Booth 314 and hear directly from the team during a main stage presentation on June 10. The UKON Founders Club, a limited early-access program for MSPs aiming to drive revenue as Cyber Risk Advisors, remains available by invitation. About UKON is a cyber insurance marketplace that helps businesses assess risk, access coverage, and build resilience through embedded distribution and real-time underwriting. Designed for MSPs, agencies, and enterprise partners, UKON simplifies the insurance process with automated quoting, financial-grade risk intelligence, and direct access to top carriers. Vendor-agnostic and execution-focused, UKON is redefining how cyber insurance is delivered in today's digital economy. Social Links X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn Media ContactFull Name: Jon GomezTitle: Director of Communications StrategyCompany Name: UKONPhone Number: 310-508-2880Website:
