As an Associate Partner, Interswitch played a significant role in shaping conversations around the future of Nigeria’s real estate sector.

Reinforcing its commitment to cross-sector innovation, the company spotlighted how technology, especially through platforms like Quickteller Homes, is transforming Propertytech (also known as ‘Proptech’) and the way Nigerians engage with real estate, improving everything from payments and accessibility to trust and transparency.

This year’s theme, “The Business of Real Estate: Staying Innovative in a Changing Landscape,” brought together key players across the real estate value chain, including developers, architects, regulators, proptech innovators, and investors, to address pressing challenges and explore new opportunities for digital transformation.

At the heart of these conversations was Interswitch’s unwavering commitment to driving Africa’s growth through technology.

During the event’s panel sessions, Adeyinka Adekoya, vice president, Energy Ecosystems, Interswitch, shared the company’s vision for a more digitally inclusive real estate ecosystem. He emphasised that as Nigeria’s cities continue to grow, innovation must go beyond infrastructure to include digital access, financial flexibility, and smarter, user-centric delivery.

The event featured engaging panel discussions, keynote addresses, and interactive brand showcases, highlighting trends around Proptech, construction finance, sustainable development, and data-driven design.

The Fest struck a perfect balance between inspiration and practical insight for attendees who either came to learn, network or explore new ventures.

As the 2025 edition ended, one message resonated throughout; the future of real estate in Nigeria will be defined by collaboration, innovation, and the intelligent application of technology.

With Interswitch leading this transformation, the ecosystem is on a strong path toward inclusive and scalable growth.

The round was led by Balderton Capital, a repeat backer, with participation from high-profile investors including Founders Fund, Peak XV Partners, ExBorder Partners, COTU Ventures, and others. The capital injection will support Huspy’s move into Saudi Arabia and expand its footprint across key European cities.

For a startup operating in a sector weighed down by high interest rates and struggling valuations, this funding success is a notable vote of confidence. 

While companies like Opendoor and Compass have seen their momentum slow in the U.S., Huspy has managed to cut through the noise by identifying structural inefficiencies and turning them into scalable opportunities.

In five years, the company has grown from a Dubai-based solution to one of the most prevalent players in the UAE mortgage market, capturing 30% market share, including a 25% in Dubai alone. 

Its entry into Spain in 2022 has also shown commendable results, with the company now ranked among the top three real estate firms by transaction volume in Valencia, and reporting 20x year-on-year growth.

Jad Antoun, Huspy’s CEO and co-founder, built the company on lessons learned from the overly complex and manual mortgage system in the UAE. By partnering with banks and offering digital pre-approvals, Huspy reduced friction for both buyers and brokers. Speaking on the company’s expansion strategy, Antoun said:

“I think it’s going to be difficult for someone to compete on the mortgage product specifically across both markets. We’ve just been here longer, and in Spain, we have better efficiency.”

Instead of building traditional brokerages or holding inventory like iBuyers, Huspy runs a platform-based model that connects freelance agents with vetted property leads and provides them with digital tools, CRM systems, and integrated mortgage products. 

The result is a low-overhead operation, more Uber than Zillow, that allows Huspy to scale efficiently across multiple cities.

Rana Yared, general partner at Balderton Capital, noted the firm’s confidence in Huspy’s model, saying: “Huspy has built a repeatable and efficient playbook for city launches, and their pace of innovation — especially around AI tools for brokers and agents, continues to raise the bar for the entire industry.”

Huspy claims to have helped over 25,000 people buy homes, driven over $7 billion in transaction volume, and grown its revenue more than tenfold since 2022. Its monetisation relies on success fees and commissions from partner banks and agents.

With operations already running in six Spanish cities and plans to expand into over 10 more by the end of 2025, Huspy is chasing a bigger vision to dominate the real estate transaction and mortgage value chain across the Middle East and Europe, markets often underserved by tech-enabled solutions.

Deputy CEO Ziad Nassar is leading the company’s European expansion, while Antoun continues to anchor operations from the UAE.

Their strategy is to focus on cities where agent productivity is low but transaction volume is high, build strong partnerships with marketplaces and banks, and deploy digital tools to improve agent performance.

Mr. Atanda, a panellist at the Good Tenant Conference held recently in Lagos, addressed the theme: “Maximising ROI and Scaling Impact for Property Management Companies through Technology.”

He elaborated on how innovation through data and technology can help Property Management Companies identify new and existing market opportunities, driving operational growth.

Fellow panellists included Adekunle Jinadu, Co-Founder, Good Tenants; Osarugue Awani, Vice President, Marketing and Strategy, Terragon Group; and Charlotte Oduniade-Akeju, Chief Business Director, Tremendoc Limited; amongst others.

They reached a consensus on the pivotal role of data aggregation, partnerships, and technology in the PropTech industry.

PropTech refers to the application of technology to improve the real estate industry. While the PropTech industry is still in its early stages of development, it is growing rapidly.

According to Precedence Research, the global PropTech market size was valued at $30.16 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $133.05 billion by 2032, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16%.

This investment is fueling the development of new and innovative solutions for the industry.

According to Mr. Atanda, the increasing application of technology in this sector holds significant promise. However, traditional industry players risk being disrupted if they fail to adapt and align themselves with this trend.

“Technology is rapidly reshaping the real estate landscape, fundamentally altering how the sector operates. Notably, this transformation is being driven by individuals and organisations outside the traditional realm of property experts.”

“This shift highlights the disruptive power of technology when applied to established industries. It can dislodge and replace those who hold traditional roles, particularly if they fail to embrace technological advancements. Hence, the urgent need for industry players to move beyond a superficial interest in technology and actively engage in its adoption and implementation,” he remarked.

The Managing Director of Remita further highlighted their existing collaborations with some of Nigeria’s leading financial service providers. The company is actively onboarding diverse tech startups through its dedicated “Remita for Startups” initiative, designed to provide essential support and accelerate the success of these emerging businesses.

The “Remita for Startups” initiative provides startups with a comprehensive suite of resources aimed at empowering them throughout their venture-building journey.

These resources include training opportunities through the Remita Startup Academy; granting startups access to experienced professionals within the tech ecosystem.

Additionally, startups can benefit from extensive product development opportunities by utilising Remita’s solutions, such as funds transfer APIs, payment gateway APIs, a comprehensive vending suite, direct debit APIs, POS terminals, and more. The initiative also offers valuable collaboration opportunities through strategic partnerships and access to capital.

With a population exceeding 200 million individuals, according to data from the United Nations, Nigeria presents a significant and largely untapped market opportunity. The informal sector contributes an estimated 70% of the country’s GDP (National Bureau of Statistics of Nigeria). However, unlocking the full potential of this market necessitates effective data aggregation, transparent processes, increased efficiency, stringent quality standards, and a streamlined credit system.

Mr. Atanda recognises this vast chasm of possibilities, stating, “Remita is evolving into a data-driven company. Data can reveal a wealth of insights about the industry and its tenants. We are on the cusp of revolutionising Nigerian real estate through data and technology, while simultaneously supporting startups entering the sector.”

The deployment of technology and data possesses the potential to make the Nigerian real estate sector more transparent; boost liquidity through access to flexible credit; cut fraud through increased title integrity; aggregate demand to drive greater homeownership and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks limiting sectoral growth.

Mr Atanda further stated that as with every other economic segment, innovation will always outpace regulation. Real estate operators must, therefore, proactively explore the vast potential within this sector, staying ahead of regulatory frameworks.

“Technology is permeating the real estate sector and defining its workings. Even individuals not directly involved in real estate will contribute through data, paving the way for technology startups to disrupt the industry. Property Management Companies neglecting to innovate will be left behind in the industry’s new growth phase, which will be fuelled by data and technology,” he concluded.

Recognising the substantial financial commitment real estate represents for many individuals, Mr Atanda highlighted the company’s commitment to alleviating this burden through innovative solutions.

“We offer an automated direct debit service, in conjunction with partnerships with key organisations, to provide salary earners and SMEs with consistent cash flow a convenient and timely solution for rent payments to landlords and property management firms,” he remarked.

Echoing Mr Atanda’s sentiments, Adekunle Jinadu, co-Founder of Good Tenants, emphasised the company’s dedication to leveraging technology and process innovation to unlock and grow diverse revenue streams for property and facility management leaders.

He quipped that his organisations’s research across the African property market reveals similar challenges that demand more technological solutions.

The fusion of property and technology is reshaping how we buy, sell, manage, and even dream about real estate. So, what’s all the fuss about proptech? Let’s dive into this whirlwind of innovation that’s giving the traditional property sector a digital makeover.

Unveiling the Impact of Proptech: What’s the Big Deal?

While the term might sound unfamiliar to some, its impact is nothing short of revolutionary. Proptech, short for “property technology,” is modifying the way we interact with real estate, reshaping the industry from the ground up. So, what’s the big deal about proptech? 

Bridging the Gap Between Real Estate and Technology

Proptech is a powerful fusion of real estate and technology, harnessing the capabilities of digital tools to streamline, enhance, and redefine the property sector. From buying and selling properties to managing and optimizing spaces, this innovation is revolutionizing the traditional processes, making them more efficient, transparent, and accessible.

Empowering the Consumer

One of the cornerstones of proptech’s impact is its empowerment of the consumer. With real-time data, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) experiences, potential buyers and renters can explore properties remotely, gaining insights that were previously reserved for physical visits.

Proptech empowers individuals to make more informed decisions, reducing the uncertainty and stress often associated with property transactions.

Enhanced Property Management

Proptech isn’t just about transactions; it’s about property management too. Smart building technologies, IoT devices, and predictive analytics enable property managers to monitor, analyze, and optimize everything from energy consumption to maintenance schedules. This proactive approach not only enhances tenant experiences but also minimizes costs and environmental impact.

Unlocking Investment Opportunities

For investors, proptech opens doors to new horizons. Crowdfunding platforms and real estate marketplaces democratize property investment, allowing individuals to invest in projects they believe in, regardless of their financial size. Additionally, proptech-driven data analytics help investors identify emerging trends and high-potential markets, making strategic decisions easier.

Sustainability and Efficiency

Proptech isn’t just reshaping the industry—it’s also contributing to sustainability efforts. Smart homes and buildings are designed to optimize energy usage, reducing waste and carbon footprint. From solar-powered panels to energy-efficient appliances, proptech is aligning the property sector with global sustainability goals.

Overcoming Challenges and Disruption

As with any technological revolution, challenges and disruption are inevitable. Traditional players in the real estate sector might face a learning curve and resistance to change. However, the long-term benefits of improved efficiency, cost savings, and enhanced customer experiences far outweigh the initial adjustments.

The Future of Proptech

The potential of this sector is vast and exciting. As technology advances, we can expect further integration of AI, blockchain, and data analytics to create more personalized, secure, and efficient real estate experiences. From predictive modeling for property values to automated property management systems, proptech’s future is laden with innovation.

In conclusion, the big deal about proptech lies in its ability to transform an age-old industry into a dynamic, customer-centric, and technologically advanced landscape. In bridging the gap between real estate and technology, proptech is shaping a future where property transactions, management, and investment are more accessible, efficient, and sustainable than ever before. As the proptech wave continues to surge, it’s time to embrace the exciting possibilities it brings to the world of bricks and mortar.

From virtual reality to artificial intelligence, cloud-based storage, automated analytics, AI-driven property management, data-driven insights and virtual tours, the Real Estate industry is adopting innovative technologies that are revolutionizing the way we view, interact, and transact with our properties. 

With these advancements, the Real Estate industry is poised to become more efficient, cost-effective, and customer-centric than ever before. Join us as we explore the technologies that are making this revolutionary change possible.

In this new era of real estate, technologies like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, and blockchain are all playing a part in transforming the industry. With these tools, agents, brokers, and investors can complete processes faster, make smarter decisions, and reduce overhead costs.

To start, artificial intelligence (AI) is making it easier for real estate agents and brokers to manage multiple properties. AI-enabled applications are helping agents and brokers identify potential buyers and sellers, as well as generate leads and analyze the market. AI can also be used to automate the property management process, helping agents and brokers reduce paperwork and streamline operations.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is also making an impact on the real estate industry. IoT-enabled devices are being used to improve the efficiency of building management systems, monitor energy use, and detect problems before they become major issues. IoT is also making it easier to manage remote properties, as well as to monitor tenant activity.

In addition to AI and IoT, machine learning is equally having an impact on the real estate industry. Machine learning algorithms can be used to analyze large datasets and make better decisions on behalf of agents and brokers. For instance, machine learning algorithms can be used to identify patterns in the market and suggest effective strategies for pricing and marketing.

Finally, blockchain is also making its mark on the real estate industry. Blockchain technology is enabling the secure transfer of data and the secure storage of documents, making it easier and safer to manage records. It is also making it possible to create smart contracts, helping agents and brokers streamline the process of renting or selling a property.

The real estate revolution is transforming the industry and making it more efficient and profitable. New technologies like AI, IoT, machine learning, and blockchain are all helping to make the process of managing real estate more efficient and secure. It is an exciting time for the industry and those who are investing in it.

Ultimately, these technologies are creating a more efficient, streamlined real-estate industry that is benefiting both buyers and sellers.

By leveraging data-driven insights, they are making the entire process more cost-effective. Moreover, they are also providing new opportunities for investors to tap into lucrative markets.

As a result, real estate is poised to become an even more valuable asset in the future. Professionals in the industry must stay abreast of the latest developments in order to make the most of this revolution.

Proptech is changing the shape of the commercial and private real estate markets and is likely to continue disrupting the way things have been done for generations.

By mixing real estate with technology to optimise industries, create new ones, and generate efficiencies or capabilities that improve revenue generation, something as fundamental as the concept of parking – something we have all done since the first day we started driving – has been turned on its head.

With the current evolution of proptech, it’s critical to understand the key industry trends for 2023, while realising that the very nature of technology means that things may evolve faster than expected or change tack completely – all in search of providing a compelling business case and improving property management.

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The whole point of innovation is to make life better. Consider the invention of the wheel, or the combine harvester, or the aeroplane, or – in our case – incorporating number plate recognition into parking management, so that it can talk to a software platform and automatically raise booms for cars as they enter parkades based on recognising the licence number from an app input. Technology makes life and business easier, better and more efficient.

Let’s cast our eyes well into the future. A recent breakthrough by scientists in the USA has sparked hopes of a critical breakthrough in clean energy.

The scientists were able to produce energy from nuclear fusion, which is different from the nuclear fission currently found in nuclear power stations.

The long-term picture this promises to paint is one where clean, nuclear fusion provides near limitless power – a commodity in great demand and one becoming increasingly difficult to secure in South Africa. Just imagine a future where developments, housing estates, commercial properties, all run off sufficient, reliable and clean power.

Bringing the lens a little closer to where we are today, we’re likely to see the following trends continue to drive proptech: cloud computing, big data and AI, automation, IoT, virtual and augmented reality, and increasingly more elaborate property management platforms.

1. Cloud computing

Just like every other aspect of work and home life, digitisation implies cloud computing. Besides redundancy and accessibility – as long as there is connectivity – it enables scale at a level previously impossible.

An application in the cloud can manage large disparate inputs from anywhere in the world, in almost real-time. From private and commercial estate agents to managing agents, and a host of intermediary service providers, expect to keep seeing a massive uptake and move to cloud.

2. Big data

In the greater scheme of things, the concept of big data is still fairly new. Whereas a few years ago, opinion and trend pieces spoke about the potential of big data, today, as hardware and software evolve, proof of concepts can be found everywhere.

Perhaps one of the most exciting things that big data enables is predictive analytics. Landlords can analyse utility usage and predict, to the hour and the day, the next time there will be spikes.

Similarly, they can analyse foot or vehicle traffic based on historical and real-time data and predict spikes and troughs in order to manage capacity accurately and efficiently – saving time and money, but also improving user and customer experience.

On the other hand, reporting has been catapulted into the future, which provides immense value not only to business leaders but also shareholders.

This can also be flipped on its head. Today, institutional and retail investors have access to tools that enable them to analyse sectors, industries and regions within minutes, giving them more insights than ever before. Property investors no longer need to rely on the word of a property agent, they can see the data for themselves.

As machine learning and AI – dependent on big data – evolve, we will continue seeing innovations in the use of virtual assistants, facial and voice sentiment analysis and more. Think about it, if AI can compose original music on command or draw pictures of anything you can imagine, the use of assistants in commercial and property management applications is almost endless.

3. Automation

This is the name of the game in proptech and will continue being deployed across more areas. From estate agents, to brokers, to landlords, to property managers and others, the menial time-consuming tasks that used to take up inordinate amounts of time in the past will continue to be automated.

Communication, marketing, e-contracts, even closing deals, and more, will continue to be automated as the machines take on more of the everyday tasks so that human capital can be deployed to spend valuable time and creativity on building compelling business differentiators.

Previously (and still in most parkades today), a driver would show up at a parkade, press a button and receive a little white ticket. This driver would then drive around a parkade looking for an open bay. Some parkades have made use of little red and green light indicators for whether the parking is open or taken.

The person would park their car and go do their business. When it came time to leave, the person would find a machine and insert the card. If it didn’t work, or there was a problem of some kind, they would need to press a button and wait to speak to an operator to get the problem resolved.

Then they would pay, either by cash or by card, and have a window period to walk to their car and make their way to the parkade exit. They would insert the card into a machine at the exit, and the boom would raise allowing them to drive off. In other parkades, a person sat at the exit and took payment and raised the boom.

Parket has changed this process. The car drives up, cameras recognise the number plate, the boom opens. The driver knows there’s open parking because the app works in real-time. They park, do their business and leave, the boom opening as they exit, while their card will be charged for the time they used. Not only does this vastly improve customer experience, but it allows landlords to generate income on open parkings while drastically reducing the time and resource management required to run a parkade effectively.

4. IoT

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been a hot topic for a long time. At its most simple explanation: imagine little sensors on almost everything that provide real-time data to either monitor, predict, react or manage the physical environment.

A landlord would know before a crisis occurs such as when the machines running the booms need to be serviced, or when pressure in the plumbing has increased to dangerous levels.

Resources to manage assets can be deployed when any alerts from real-time readings exceed predetermined thresholds. Parkades could integrate into smart buildings and smart cities. This future is far closer than many think.

5. Virtual and augmented reality

The pandemic no doubt accelerated the use of VR and technology has disrupted the property sector. 3D renderings and virtual reality tours have taken marketing and interactive meetings to an entirely new level. Proptech will no doubt continue to innovate in this field, but it’s in another world altogether where this will be most important.

Real estate agents, property managers, service providers and even customers will make use of VR to buy virtual property, manage virtual property and interact with virtual property in the metaverse.

As is fairly obvious, the only limit in any discussion about trends for the next year, or longer-term future, is the imagination of the entrepreneur and the problem they wish to solve. However, innovation is only successful if it solves a problem. Remember, technology exists to make life better.

This has been the mantra at Parket and it is the reason we have been able to disrupt and reimagine the parking market in South Africa, for both landlords or property managers and customers – because whether it is the cloud, automation or video recognition – technology is used to solve a problem.

According to Grant Phillips CEO of fintech specialist, e4, massive change is on the horizon.

Estimated to be worth some USD$330 trillion, the global property and real estate industry dwarfs the international oil and gas sector, and is substantially larger than the entirety of most countries stock markets.

While property is arguably the world’s biggest store of wealth, it has remained almost entirely untouched by the technological revolution and wholesale disruption happening around it.

In 2022 the proptech revolution is just getting started. According to a Wall Street Journal report, proptech funding soared to record heights in 2021, attracting USD$32 billion worth of investment last year.

Technology investment into the space is likely to multiply in the months and years ahead as the opportunity create tech efficiencies in an industry reliant on legacy systems and processes presents an attractive opportunity.

In South Africa the sector is still taking its first tentative steps towards digital transformation, creating the right conditions for significant disruption.

Until very recently the tried and tested business models of asset owners, large institutional landlords, and real estate companies have remained the same.

The industry is beginning an inevitable shift thanks to a convergence of factors including new regulatory pressures in the built environment, market pressures seeking greater efficiencies, as well as pressures from end customers who are demanding better data along with new apps.

Technology adoption is now a necessity which is an exciting prospect for innovative proptech companies, major property players and the many supporting and auxiliary businesses that make up the industry. More exiting still is proptech’s potential to be truly groundbreaking.

Just one example is the use of AI and machine learning to tackle carbon emissions in the built environment.

Another example is the use of data analytics and augmented reality to create new and unique digital experiences in traditional brick and mortar retail stores.

There are also enormous strides to be made for proptech in the residential segment of the market where new systems can provide tenants with apps that operate air conditioning and monitor electricity usage. 

Exactly how each of these trends will play out in the South African context is open to debate. Much clearer however, is that taking a wait and see approach to proptech and digital transformation simply won’t cut it.