Mike Nielson - Built Differently From the Ground Up

We sit down with Mike Nielson, CEO of LivAway Suites to break down how proptech shows up in real hotels, from check-in and packages to data platforms that keep operations tight. We also dig into why affordable extended stay behaves like a hybrid of multifamily and hospitality and what it takes to build a brand that puts the real estate first. • Mike’s background in multifamily real estate, law, development and post-2008 workouts • the pivot from boutique downtown hotels to economy extended stay • why affordable extended stay looks like its own asset class with long average stays and lean labor • the essential workforce customer profile and why kitchens and space matter more than pools • operational tech that reduces friction: kiosks, parcel lockers, smart laundry and reliable Wi-Fi • a new AI platform vision for consolidating fragmented hotel data into one operating system • utilities and forensic water concepts balanced against guest experience • site selection strategy using KPIs, geofenced on-market feeds and off-market outreach • brand strategy that keeps fees low and decisions centered on the property’s performance Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. To learn more, visit proptechespresso.com.

We talk with Oliver Alexander, founder and CEO of Prophetic, about why AI suddenly became a must have in proptech and how searchable zoning data changes land acquisition. We share the founder lessons behind Orchid Health’s early pivots and what it takes to make AI trustworthy enough for high stakes real estate decisions. • A practical definition of proptech as any technology that improves a real estate outcome • The market’s rapid 180 from avoiding “AI” to actively shopping for it • Oliver’s early entrepreneur stories and what they taught him about building • How Orchid Health survived a demand shock by pivoting to a new reimbursement model • Why real estate stayed behind on software adoption and why that is changing fast • How home builders use AI land acquisition to move from reactive to proactive sourcing • What brokers keep that AI cannot replace, plus the pricing reality of brokerage tools • The hardest part of zoning automation, including hallucinations, incompleteness, and constant updates • Why rezoning and variances make “rules” more flexible than outsiders expect • Predictions for faster entitlements and shorter deal timelines driven by AI • What Prophetic is building next, including multifamily site planning and council agenda intelligence Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. To learn more, visit proptechespresso.com. 

We talk with David Steckel, CEO of Polygrade, about why proptech gets sharper when we stop treating real estate tech, construction tech, and hard tech as the same thing, and David Steckel explains why the “move atoms vs move bytes” gap changes everything. We also unpack why home warranties feel broken today and how Polygrade uses AI and better design to modernize warranty claims operations without forcing painful system migrations.• why Proptech as a bucket term blurs real differences across markets• the shift from search and marketplaces to transaction and outcomes in construction tech• lessons from running a construction company, building Setter, and operating inside Thumbtack and Sears• what a warranty is meant to do for homeowners and why trust breaks at the claims stage• the three warranty categories: manufacturer warranty, extended warranty, home warranty bundles• how legacy warranty software, EDI files, and siloed tools create slow cycles and bad experiences• why Polygrade starts with the hardest vertical first: home warranty underwriting “blind”• building an AI native team that ships fast with subject matter expertise and world-class UX• what success looks like in three years: higher market penetration and claims teams as success functionsBe sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. To learn more, visit proptechespresso.com.

We talk with Rafael Weiss, CEO of Sytes, about why commercial real estate deals stall when tenant demand stays hidden inside inboxes and personal networks. We share how a marketplace model, disciplined pricing, and targeted AI automation can turn site selection into a faster, cleaner pipeline for tenants, brokers, landlords, and developers. • defining proptech as software for real estate and why some models falter • why “can we build it” is different from “should we run it” • Rafael’s background in music and how content builds early traction • hiking the Appalachian Trail and resetting career direction • how Sytes starts with an MVP and wins region by region • the core problem of noise in site submissions and slow information velocity • making tenant intent visible so reps filter faster and close more deals • why charging tenants drives adoption and better response behavior • how Rio AI automates email intake, missing info requests, and CRM-like workflows • the moat of marketplace network effects and proprietary data • what’s next: prospecting beyond the platform and portfolio-level matching • macro pressure from scarcity, high construction costs, and tight supply Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. To learn more, visit proptechespresso.com. 

We talk with Rick Kramer, CEO and co-founder of DYSECO, about why “smart” building technology is really about better operational decisions that protect people and assets. We break down how museums can cut HVAC energy while staying inside conservation-approved temperature and relative humidity limits, with clear fail-safes and measurable results. • defining proptech as technology that helps buildings perform their real purpose better • why DYSECO sits at the intersection of proptech and climatetech • Rick’s path from mechanical engineering and the Marine Corps to museum climate research • the gap between academic research and what museums can actually deploy • why museums require trust, evidence, and consensus across facilities, conservation, finance, IT, and leadership • creating a shared data set so facilities and conservators stop arguing over whose data is correct • improving decarbonization economics by optimizing existing HVAC before replacing equipment • how physics-informed, data-driven control stays inside hard preservation boundaries • what happens when the internet fails and why fallback behavior matters • lessons from major Dutch museum projects and why US museums face the same physical problem Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. To learn more, visit proptechespresso.com.

We talk with Eglae Recchia, CEO of Keyway, about how Proptech grows from building tech into AI that gives commercial real estate teams back time for judgment. We also trace her path from a childhood of constant moves to MIT's SloanSchool of Business and a career built on turning data into action for lenders, REITs, investors, and operators. • Proptech as a broad umbrella across the built environment, fintech, and AI • Why “insights” are no longer enough and how “so what” drives adoption • How moving often shaped adaptability, networking, and comfort with pivots • Philosophy and advertising as training for clear thinking and persuasion • Early career lessons from editorial work, technology shifts, and ops problem solving • Choosing MIT's Sloan School of Business to build analytical tools and a problem-solving mindset • Graduating in 2009 and using networking to break into financial services • Finding commercial real estate through Capital One strategy and portfolio questions • Keyway's evolution from investor-operator thesis to agentic infrastructure for CRE • Who Keyway serves today and how it combines public data with internal data • What comes next: enterprise agents, risk management, and fraud detection Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. To learn more, visit proptechespresso.com. 

We talk with WerkWell Innovations CEO Jennifer Koster about why European innovation often struggles to commercialize in the United States and what it takes to cross the cultural, regulatory, and sales gaps. We break down practical ways to earn US buyer trust, validate technology locally, and build an ecosystem that turns introductions into real projects. • European innovation strengths driven by R&D funding, stringent efficiency policy, and market-proven solutions • Why selling in the US differs from selling in Europe, including the “yes culture” reality and faster clarity on buyer value • The US as 50 different markets, with state-by-state rules, incentives, and priorities • Common market-entry mistakes, including assuming trade missions lead to revenue and relying on detached sales agents • Why local presence matters, including accents, perceived risk, and the need for American support in sales • How WerkWell sources and vets companies through universities, embassies, investors, and industry partners • What a “commercialization bridge” looks like, from coaching and positioning to pipeline building and delivery support • Using WerkWell development projects to pilot solutions and create US-based validation • Integrated building systems thinking, connecting design decisions to long-term operational performance • Global Resilience and Innovation event vision across ports, data centers, cities, and critical infrastructure Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts to learn more visit www.proptechespresso.com.

We talk with senior living marketing tech entrepreneur Jerry Vinci about why senior housing is an operating business inside a real estate wrapper and why PropTech only matters when it solves a real human problem. We break down what drives occupancy, where operators lose families in the funnel, and how investors can spot risk before it shows up in the financials. • defining PropTech around human problems in real estate • why family experience often decides tool adoption • early lessons on systems over effort and relationship as product • senior living levels of care and why the asset class is misunderstood • demographic shifts pushing demand toward ages 80 to 85 • demand generation versus traditional marketing and owning the full funnel • speed to human, long nurture cycles, and attribution that ties to move-ins • virtual tours and virtual staging as trust-building tools • emerging risks from AI search, staffing churn, and referral aggregator dependence • Nordon’s independent diagnostics for senior housing underwriting • why Jerry launched the Leads To Leases podcast for unpolished operator lessons Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. To learn more, visit www.proptechespresso.com. 

We talk with Tim Ng about turning new development sales from paper-heavy routines into digital experiences that actually help buyers and sales teams move faster. Tim shares how ADHOC STUDIO led to BLACKLINE, why the SaaS pivot was hard, and what proptech can learn from the moment COVID forced the industry to change. • Defining proptech as connection, transparency, and efficiency across real estate • Growing up in condo communities and learning sales and development through family • Aiming for investment banking while building tech skills on the side • Noticing how manual new development sales stayed for decades • Starting Ad Hoc Studio with digital renderings and interactive sales gallery software • Moving sales presentations to touchscreens and iPads for a better buyer journey • Shifting from front-end visuals to back-office inventory, reservations, and allocation • Creating Blackline and moving from services to a product-led SaaS model • Balancing two companies while funding the new platform with existing cash flow • Seeing COVID accelerate virtual launches and digital real estate adoption • Naming Blackline after architectural black line floor plans • Comparing bespoke studio work with scalable software operations • Applying AI to data-driven recommendations, decision support, and hiring standards • Founder advice on team care and getting customer feedback early • Finding Tim on LinkedIn and Instagram by searching Tim Ng Be sure to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. To learn more visit www.proptechespresso.com.

How has studying graphic design influenced Dillon's career? What led Dillon to land his initial role working in an Apple retail store? How was Dillon able to make the jump to working in Apple's retail development group? What family ties to real estate did Dillon have? Which Microsoft product was Apple using to run its construction projects in the early days of Dillon's career? How is the build process different between an Apple retail store in a mall and one of Apple's flagship stores? Why did Dillon decide to leave Apple and head over to Tesla?  How quick were the build times for Tesla's showrooms? How did the Apple Genius Bar influence Tesla's retail showrooms? What was the inspiration for SiteRise? Why did Dillon build SiteRise as a non-user license solution? How is AI being used to make the development process more efficient? What areas of retail and retail adjacent real estate are seeing growth today? Why is retail clustering taking off at the moment? Why is reporting increasingly important for SiteRise?Dillon Okner - CEO and founder of SiteRise, joins Proptech Espresso to answer these questions and discuss why customer led development has been the key to SiteRise's success.