Real estate technology accelerator program Motive to launch in Dallas
Another accelerator will launch soon in Dallas to bolster technology startups in one of the hottest markets in the city: real estate.
Motive, the brainchild of RealTech founder John Backes and his three co-founders, is a 12-week program that will offer real estate technology startups an initial investment of $40,000, free work space at the Dallas Entrepreneur Center and a network of real estate technology mentors. The accelerator program is slated to begin Sept. 1.
“When people think of the development at the intersection of real estate and technology, I want them to say, ‘Why aren’t you in downtown Dallas?’” John Backes said, adding that real estate continues to be a busy market in Dallas. “We’re leveraging what we’re good at.”
The program, announced at Tuesday’s RealTech Dallas, will accept five teams that specialize in real estate technology. The companies will receive mentorship from professionals including CompStak founder Michael Mandel, View the Space regional director Rhett Miller and DisruptCRE’s Stephen Hopkins. Other mentors include representatives from Trammel Crow, CBRE’s media and tech practice group, Hillwood, Rethink CRM and the network of mentors at the Dallas Entrepreneur Center.
The program has been in development since around last November, which is about the time Backes assembled his team of co-founders. The team raised $2 million to launch the program.
It partnered with the Dallas Entrepreneur Center, given its location, resources and crossover in technology-based startups. The DEC already houses the REVTECH accelerator program, which specializes in retail technology.
Motive will culminate Nov. 18 at pitch day. Then, a day later, Backes and Boston-based DisruptCRE will kickoff the Dallas Real Estate Tech Festival.
Backes said the event is still being planned and more details will be released in the near future.
Danielle covers technology and startups for the Dallas Business Journal. Subscribe to our new TechFlash email newsletter.
