What CREtech does

CREtech (legally operated as The News Funnel LLC) is a privately held, New York-based events and media business founded in 2013 that operates the leading global community for technological innovation in commercial real estate. The company's core product is the CREtech New York conference, an annual two-day flagship event at the Javits Center attracting 3,000+ attendees (72% VP or above), 200 sponsors, and 150 speakers from enterprise real estate owners, developers, investors, occupiers, and proptech vendors. A second annual conference runs in London, and the company has expanded into UK/European markets through the April 2023 acquisition of PlaceTech. Backed by formal partnerships with major industry associations including NAIOP (21,000+ members), SIOR (3,900+ members across 50 countries), CoreNet NYC, REBNY, AFIRE, and RETTC, CREtech holds an institutionalized position as the default gathering venue for real estate technology dealmaking.

The technical foundation is a Personatech-powered event platform that runs the CREtech Meetup program — the largest meetings program in real estate, facilitating 20,000+ pre-scheduled, double opt-in 1:1 meetings per flagship event. AI-driven recommendation (AI Target-Finder) matches attendees using a model trained on hundreds of thousands of historical meeting selections and adapts in real time. Adjacent product modules include Hosted Meetings (pay-per-meeting access for tech vendors with up to $800 travel reimbursement for qualified buyers), TableTalks (curated peer roundtables), Founders + Funders Meetup (startup-investor pairing), Women in CREtech programming, and the CREtech+ subscription platform (launched October 2025) for on-demand webinar and session recording content. Distribution combines enterprise field sales for sponsorships and hosted buyers, self-serve online ticketing, association referral channels, and media partnerships with Commercial Observer, Bisnow, and Connect CRE.

The business model is multi-stream: tiered conference ticket sales ($645-$1,795 with discounts up to 42%), enterprise sponsorship packages, pay-per-meeting Hosted Meetings revenue, CREtech+ subscription, and digital advertising (webinars, email, banners, video). Revenue is anchored by the live event calendar but is being deliberately diversified into recurring subscription and always-on media revenue. The company has 11-50 employees, is led by CEO Michael Beckerman, is founder/management-controlled with no disclosed institutional investors, and has completed three acquisitions (RE:Tech 2019, FUTURE PropTech 2019, PlaceTech 2023) as part of a measured roll-up of proptech media assets.

Name

CREtech

Legal name

The News Funnel LLC

Website

https://cretech.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CREtech operates the leading global conference and media platform for real estate technology innovation, hosting flagship annual events in New York and London, a 20,000+ meeting AI-powered dealmaking program, and a CREtech+ subscription content platform serving real estate owners, developers, investors, occupiers, and proptech vendors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Conferences & Events

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Venue Sourcing & Contract Negotiation Specialists (THAHACAH)

Keywords

• Real estate conferences
• Proptech events
• Meetings programs
• Real estate technology
• B2B conferences

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Tickets: CREtech generates revenue through tiered ticket pricing for conference attendance, ranging from complimentary for qualified Hosted Buyers to $1,045-$1,795 for general attendees, with discounts for early registration and team purchases.
2. Sponsorship Packages: Technology companies, service providers, and professional services firms purchase sponsorship packages including expo hall booths, speaking opportunities, and brand visibility across the event. Sponsorship tiers vary with different levels of booth placement, meeting slots, and stage time.
3. Hosted Meetings: Technology and solution providers pay per meeting for prioritized matching with qualified real estate decision-makers. Pay-per-meeting model ensures focus and measurable outcomes with zero risk for unbooked meetings.
4. CREtech+ Subscription: Subscription-based access to on-demand webinar content and session recordings from CREtech events, providing recurring revenue from content monetization.
5. Advertising & Media: Digital marketing opportunities including webinars, dedicated email blasts, banner ads, email takeovers, and video production/distribution on CREtech+ platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

CREtech operates the world's premier real estate AI conference (CREtech New York at Javits Center) and the industry's largest structured meetings program facilitating 20,000+ pre-scheduled, double opt-in 1:1 meetings between enterprise real estate decision-makers and proptech vendors. The company also offers CREtech+, a subscription content platform for on-demand webinars and session recordings, along with premium add-ons like Hosted Meetings (pay-per-meeting access) and the Hosted Buyers Program (complimentary tickets plus up to $800 travel reimbursement for qualified buyers).

Product overview

CREtech is a conference and events company operating as a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offering is the CREtech New York annual conference (flagship event), which is supported by the CREtech Meetup meetings program as its central hub for dealmaking. The platform includes premium modules: Hosted Meetings (pay-per-meeting access for tech vendors with buyer reimbursement), TableTalks (peer roundtables), Women in CREtech (gender-focused programming), and the Hosted Buyers Program. The CREtech+ subscription platform provides on-demand content access to recordings and webinars. Additional revenue streams include digital advertising and the Founders + Funders Meetup for startup-investor connections.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CREtech New York Conference Flagship annual in-person conference and real estate innovation event held at Javits Center, NYC. Positions itself as the world's premier real estate AI conference, bringing together 3,000+ real estate leaders for two days of content, networking, and structured dealmaking.
• CREtech Meetup (Meetings Program) The largest meetings program in real estate, enabling 20,000+ pre-scheduled, double opt-in, face-to-face 1:1 meetings at CREtech events between real estate decision-makers and technology providers. Includes AI-powered recommendations for attendee connections.
• Hosted Meetings Premium structured 1:1 meeting product connecting vetted real estate decision-makers with technology and solution providers based on real buying intent. Pay-per-meeting access for technology providers with prioritized matching against vetted, budget-ready buyers.
• TableTalks Curated peer-to-peer roundtable discussions at CREtech New York, bringing together senior owners, developers, and occupiers for focused conversations on critical industry topics including AI, capital strategy, operations, and development. Limited seating with peer-level dialogue guided by topic moderators.
• CREtech+ Subscription Platform Subscription-based content platform offering on-demand access to session recordings, webinars, and the CREtech content library. Requires subscription with a 30-day free trial available, providing year-round engagement beyond live events.
• Hosted Buyers Program Program recruiting qualified real estate leaders (owners, operators, developers, occupiers) as Hosted Buyers who receive complimentary conference passes and up to $800 in travel/hotel reimbursement in exchange for participating in up to 8 pre-scheduled meetings with vetted technology providers.
• Founders + Funders Meetup Exclusive 1:1 meeting program connecting early- and growth-stage proptech startups with leading venture capital firms active in real estate. Participation is free for registered attendees with limited spots available.
• Digital Advertising Digital marketing opportunities including sponsored webinars, dedicated email blasts, banner ads, email takeovers, and video production/distribution on the CREtech+ platform, targeting commercial real estate professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000+ attendees per event with 72% VP-level or above seniority
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered key, standard, core and minor.

• NAIOPkeyGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 July 2025Partnership to drive tech awareness and adoption within NAIOP's 21,000+ commercial real estate owner and developer members. Offers exclusive access to CREtech's Hosted Buyers Program connecting members with innovative tech startups.
• REBNY (Real Estate Board of New York)keyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2025Strategic partnership to showcase New York as the global leader in real estate innovation. Collaboration brings cutting-edge programming, expert-led sessions, and valuable networking opportunities to CREtech New York.
• AFIREkeyGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 July 2025Partnership to expand global investor engagement at CREtech New York. AFIRE is the leading organization for institutional real estate investors focused on cross-border strategies, bringing international LPs, asset managers, and institutional investors.
• RETTCstandardGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 July 2025Partnership to connect top technology decision-makers at CREtech New York 2025. RETTC is a leading hub for networking, education, and advocacy at the intersection of real estate and technology.
• MetaPropkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 July 2025Partnership making CREtech New York the flagship event of NYC Real Estate Week for the second consecutive year. MetaProp hosts NYC Real Estate Week, positioning CREtech as the anchor event for real estate innovation.
• SIORkeyGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 July 2025Partnership to bring top office and industrial brokers to CREtech New York 2025. SIOR represents 3,900+ members across 50 countries, setting standards for professional integrity and market knowledge in commercial real estate.
• Commercial ObserverstandardGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 July 2025Media partnership providing event coverage and promotion for CREtech New York as part of the coalition of strategic partners supporting the event.
• BisnowstandardGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 July 2025Media partnership providing event coverage and promotion for CREtech New York as part of the coalition of strategic partners supporting the event.
• Connect CREstandardGTM or Marketing Partner · 17 July 2025Media partnership providing event coverage and promotion for CREtech New York as part of the coalition of strategic partners supporting the event.
• CoreNet NYCkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2025Strategic partnership to enhance CREtech New York 2025's program with exclusive content for corporate occupiers. Co-curated Main Stage session 'Real Estate Strategies from the Leading Corporate Occupiers' featuring IBM, Oracle, and Cigna executives.
• PersonatechcoreTechnology or Integration · 12 February 2025CREtech partnered with Personatech (founded by Anil Aggarwal and Ed Akenhead, visionaries behind Money 20/20, Shoptalk, and Fintech Meetup) to power the industry's largest meetings program at CREtech New York. Personatech provides event technology enabling AI-powered meeting matching and pre-scheduled 1:1 meetings.
• Javits CentercoreOthersVenue partner for CREtech New York events. The Javits Center, Hall 1B at 429 11th Avenue, New York, NY 10001, hosts the annual flagship conference.
• CSI WorldwidestandardImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOfficial General Services Contractor for CREtech New York, handling exhibitor services, booth ordering, shipping, and logistics coordination for the event.
• Metro MultimediastandardTechnology or IntegrationOfficial Audio/Visual provider for CREtech New York, offering full range of rental and technical support services including LED displays, monitors, computers, and AV equipment.
• Garden State Interior FoliageminorOthersPartner providing live plant and floral rentals for booth enhancement, including design consultation, delivery, setup, and post-show pickup services.
• CultivatedstandardOthersExclusive catering provider for Javits Center. All food and beverage for booth activations must be ordered through Cultivated; no outside food or beverage permitted.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• NAIOP: NAIOP hosts CRE.Converge and other commercial real estate conferences for its 21,000+ members. As both a CREtech partner and event competitor, it represents the institutional, member-driven alternative to CREtech's open-market model.
• Informa (MIPIM): Informa is a global events powerhouse whose MIPIM conference is the largest international real estate gathering. It competes for sponsorship dollars and senior attendee attention across the same buyer/seller categories as CREtech, with materially larger scale and resources.
• CoreNet Global: CoreNet Global runs summits for corporate real estate end users and occupiers — overlapping with CREtech's corporate occupier segment. Its events focus on workplace strategy and corporate portfolios.
• ICSC (RECon): ICSC hosts RECon, the largest retail and shopping center real estate convention. It overlaps with CREtech in serving retail landlords (e.g., Kimco) and real estate service providers, though its focus is more retail-specific.
• Urban Land Institute (ULI): ULI runs the Fall Meeting and Spring Meeting as flagship gatherings for land use and real estate professionals. It is a broader, more institutional alternative that competes for sponsorship and executive mindshare in the same real estate ecosystem.

Others

• Shoptalk: Shoptalk is a retail and ecommerce conference founded by the same Personatech team. While not a direct real estate competitor, it shares CREtech's underlying meetings-program architecture and is operated by the same event-tech founders.
• Money 20/20: Money 20/20 is a fintech conference platform founded by the same team (Anil Aggarwal, Ed Akenhead) behind Personatech, which now powers CREtech's meetings program. It shares the same event DNA, large-scale meetings format, and AI matchmaking infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Bisnow: Bisnow operates a real estate media platform and hosts commercial real estate events across multiple U.S. cities. It is the closest direct competitor, combining CRE news, newsletters, and conferences in the same product wedge CREtech occupies.

Regional players

• AFIRE: AFIRE is the leading association for cross-border institutional real estate investors and runs investor-focused events. As both a CREtech partner and competing forum for institutional capital conversations, it represents an international investor-oriented alternative.
• REBNY: The Real Estate Board of New York hosts NYC-focused real estate events and is also a CREtech partner. It serves the same New York ecosystem but with a regional, brokerage-led orientation rather than CREtech's tech-forward positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cretech
• Xx.com/officialcretech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CREtech