Good morning,
This week, PropTech continues to move into a more disciplined, outcome-driven phase of global growth.
AI is increasingly a standard part of the stack rather than a headline feature, while regulators push for clearer rules around data and digital marketing. Growth remains strong in the Middle East, and Africa continues to stand out as a long-term opportunity despite slower deal flow.
Last Time the Market Was This Expensive, Investors Waited 14 Years to Break Even
In 1999, the S&P 500 peaked. Then it took 14 years to gradually recover by 2013.
Today? Goldman Sachs sounds crazy forecasting 3% returns for 2024 to 2034.
But we’re currently seeing the highest price for the S&P 500 compared to earnings since the dot-com boom.
So, maybe that’s why they’re not alone; Vanguard projects about 5%.
In fact, now just about everything seems priced near all time highs. Equities, gold, crypto, etc.
But billionaires have long diversified a slice of their portfolios with one asset class that is poised to rebound.
It’s post war and contemporary art.
Sounds crazy, but over 70,000 investors have followed suit since 2019—with Masterworks.
You can invest in shares of artworks featuring Banksy, Basquiat, Picasso, and more.
24 exits later, results speak for themselves: net annualized returns like 14.6%, 17.6%, and 17.8%.*
My subscribers can skip the waitlist.
*Investing involves risk. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Important Reg A disclosures: masterworks.com/cd.
AI-Powered Marketing Aimed At Real Estate Agents Luxury Presence Raises $22M for AI Real Estate Marketing
Luxury Presence, an Austin-based PropTech startup providing AI-driven marketing tools for real estate agents, has secured a $22 million Series C funding round led by Bessemer Venture Partners. The platform – used by over 17,000 real estate businesses – helps agents create premium branded websites and will soon launch an AI-powered CRM to uncover “hidden deals” in agents’ networks. The new funding (along with a $15 million debt facility from J.P. Morgan) brings Luxury Presence’s total equity raised to $74 million and will fuel product expansion as the company approaches profitability.
Saudi Arabia’s Aamar Raises $4M+ Seed to Modernize Rentals
Riyadh-based startup Aamar closed a seed funding round of over $4 million to scale its AI-powered rental management platform. Founded in late 2023, Aamar provides a digital platform that automates leasing and asset-finance processes, simplifying the rental journey for tenants and landlords by reducing manual coordination. With more than 10,000 customers served and rental transactions worth over SAR 150 million processed to date, the startup plans to use the new capital to expand its product capabilities and broaden its reach beyond Riyadh to other regions of Saudi Arabia
California Mandates Transparency for AI-Altered Property Photos
In a notable regulatory update, California has enacted a law (effective Jan 1, 2026) requiring real estate listings to clearly disclose when photos have been digitally altered or generated using AI. If marketing images materially change a property’s appearance – for example, by removing structures, altering views or adding virtual staging – the listing must note that the image has been modified and provide access to the original, unedited photo. This law is intended to protect consumers by ensuring transparency in real estate marketing, so buyers understand what is real versus digitally enhanced
SEE YOU AGAIN SOON