Foundation for Innovation in Real Estate

What Foundation for Innovation in Real Estate does

Foundation for Innovation in Real Estate (FIRE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2021 and operated under the legal entity Second Century Foundation, headquartered at 430 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. The organization's stated mission is to connect real estate leaders, operators, technologists, and policymakers around systems that shape the built environment. FIRE does not develop proprietary technology products; instead it functions as an ecosystem orchestrator curating programs that address fragmentation in PropTech innovation.

FIRE operates six core programs: (1) the Emerging Manager Tech Council (EMTC), a curated peer and education council for emerging real estate technology leaders; (2) the Petting Zoo, an event-based physical showcase of hardware, robotics, and materials science innovations; (3) the Academia Program, a dual-track initiative with Harvard and MIT that sources university research and recruits engineering talent; (4) a Mental Health Support Program offering anonymous coaching and licensed therapy to founders; (5) the FIRE Job Board, a Getro-powered marketplace listing approximately 4,466 jobs across 189 PropTech companies globally; and (6) a General Donations Portal accepting financial, stock, and in-kind contributions via Stripe and Carta. Underlying technology is third-party platform infrastructure rather than proprietary software.

FIRE's business model is donation-based, with no program fees, no equity, and no contract revenue. The organization accepts one-time or monthly donations (minimum $50), stock donations, and volunteer time. Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on events, content (Substack newsletter), academic partnerships, and a sponsor roster that includes JLL Spark, Crow Holdings, B-Capital, Goodwin, Griffin Partners, and others. The leadership team is small — Executive Director Matt Knight (early-stage PropTech investor), Director Stephanie Gubiotti (real estate operations and technology executive), and advisors Doug Holte (Hines/Irvine veteran) and Jaja Jackson (ICONIQ Capital, ex-Airbnb). FIRE is not a venture-backed entity, has no parent company, and is not pursuing an IPO or exit.

Name

Foundation for Innovation in Real Estate

Legal name

Second Century Foundation

Website

https://innovatere.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FIRE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ecosystem orchestrator founded in 2021 that connects real estate leaders, operators, technologists, and policymakers through programs including the EMTC council, Petting Zoo showcases, academia partnerships, mental health services, and a Getro-powered job board with 189 companies and 4,466+ listings, funded by donations and sponsors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Innovation Ecosystem Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

Keywords

• PropTech nonprofit ecosystem
• Real estate innovation programs
• Industry community building
• Built environment education
• Founder mental health support

Headquarters

HQ city

California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, FIRE generates revenue primarily through donations from individuals, companies, and organizations supporting real estate innovation. The organization accepts financial donations (one-time or monthly), stock donations, and volunteer time/skills.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Foundation for Innovation in Real Estate (FIRE) operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ecosystem organizer that delivers a portfolio of programs connecting real estate owners, operators, technologists, and policymakers around innovation in the built environment. Its sellable offerings include the Emerging Manager Tech Council (EMTC), the Petting Zoo hardware showcase, an Academia Program for university technology sourcing and talent recruitment, an anonymous Mental Health Support Program, and a Getro-powered Job Board with approximately 4,500 active postings across 189 PropTech and real estate innovation companies.

Product overview

The Foundation for Innovation in Real Estate (FIRE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates as an ecosystem of interconnected programs designed to advance innovation across the built environment. The portfolio consists of six core offerings: (1) the Emerging Manager Tech Council (EMTC), a curated peer and education council for emerging real estate technology leaders; (2) the Petting Zoo, an event-based showcase of physical hardware, robotics, and materials science innovations; (3) the Academia Program, a dual-track initiative connecting university-sourced technology with talent recruitment; (4) a Mental Health Support Program providing anonymous coaching and therapy resources; (5) the FIRE Job Board, a Getro-powered talent marketplace listing thousands of jobs across PropTech and real estate innovation companies; and (6) a General Donations Portal accepting financial, stock, and in-kind contributions. Together, these programs serve the organization's mission to connect real estate leaders, operators, technologists, and policymakers around systems that shape how people live, work, and move through the world.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Emerging Manager Tech Council (EMTC) A curated council supporting emerging real estate owners, operators, and investment managers through education, peer collaboration, research, and industry engagement to help them evaluate, adopt, and influence technology that improves operational performance, resident experience, and long-term value creation.
• Petting Zoo
• Academia Program
• Mental Health Support Program
• FIRE Job Board

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ElevateOSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor/partner of Foundation for Innovation in Real Estate, supporting the organization's mission to catalyze innovation in the built environment.
• Crow Holdings LLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor/partner supporting FIRE's programs and initiatives in real estate innovation.
• Griffin PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReal estate investment firm sponsor supporting FIRE's ecosystem and programs.
• GOS CapitalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCapital partner sponsoring FIRE initiatives in real estate innovation.
• Willow Bridge Property CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProperty management company partner supporting FIRE's mission.
• JVM RealtyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRealty company sponsor supporting real estate innovation ecosystem.
• Azure Printed HomesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInnovative housing technology company partnering with FIRE.
• Hilltop CompaniesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReal estate services company sponsor supporting FIRE programs.
• ProperminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProperty management company partner supporting FIRE ecosystem.
• DIVCOWESTminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommercial real estate company sponsor supporting innovation initiatives.
• GoodwinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLaw firm sponsor supporting FIRE's legal and business ecosystem.
• GetrocoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform provider powering the FIRE Job Board, enabling companies to post jobs, manage talent network, and facilitate connections in the PropTech ecosystem.
• Conscious Ambition (Laura Shook Guzman)minorOthersMental health coach providing services to FIRE members through the Mental Health program.
• Therapy Lab (Dr. Chandler Chang)minorOthersLicensed therapy service provider for FIRE's mental health support offerings.
• Sonya StatmannminorOthersMental health coach providing founder support services through FIRE's mental health program.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Urban Land Institute (ULI): ULI is the leading global nonprofit research and education organization for land use and real estate. Like FIRE, ULI convenes industry leaders, runs educational programs, publishes research, and shapes policy, making it a direct structural peer in mission and operating model.
• CREtech: CREtech is the largest event, media, and community platform dedicated to PropTech. It directly mirrors FIRE's Petting Zoo showcases, EMTC summits, and ecosystem-building role, serving overlapping audiences of real estate operators, startups, and investors.
• BOMA International: BOMA International is the leading trade association for commercial real estate building owners and managers. Its focus on operational excellence, education, and advocacy for owners/operators overlaps with FIRE's Emerging Manager Tech Council and operator-focused programming.
• National Association of Realtors (NAR): NAR is the largest US trade association for real estate professionals, offering education, advocacy, and member services. While broader in scope, NAR's combination of education programs, member events, and innovation focus overlaps directly with FIRE's EMTC and Academia programs.
• ICSC: ICSC is the global trade association for the retail real estate industry, running major events, education, and advocacy programs. Its member-driven, education-and-events operating model is structurally similar to FIRE's nonprofit programming approach.
• Geek Estate Blog: Geek Estate is an established PropTech community and media platform focused on real estate technology. It mirrors FIRE's role in connecting PropTech startups, operators, and investors through content and community, serving an overlapping audience.
• NAIOP: NAIOP is the principal association for commercial real estate development, providing research, education, and advocacy. Its developer/operator audience and event-driven model make it a direct peer for FIRE's industry engagement and innovation programming.
• CCIM Institute: CCIM Institute is a global commercial real estate association offering education, designations, and technology resources. Its technology-adoption focus for commercial real estate professionals directly parallels FIRE's mission to drive innovation in the built environment.
• Real Estate Roundtable: The Real Estate Roundtable is a Washington-based policy and advocacy organization for real estate industry leaders. It convenes executives and policymakers on issues affecting the built environment, overlapping with FIRE's cross-sector collaboration and policymaker engagement mission.

Broad incumbents

• MetaProp: MetaProp is the leading early-stage PropTech venture capital firm, running community events, an accelerator, and ecosystem programming. As an investor-operated platform, it is broader in scope but pursues an overlapping mission of catalyzing PropTech innovation through community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Foundation for Innovation in Real Estate