2-min read

Ben Liao leads the Colliers Proptech Accelerator powered by Techstars, a joint initiative by two leading global organizations in real estate and technology. Prior to Techstars, Ben built and scaled Ritual, a startup that raised over $120 million USD from Silicon Valley, where he was a member of the senior leadership team, focusing on creating growth and partnerships for new market entry. Prior to Ritual, Ben was an early-stage tech investor.

01. What are you looking for in startups for the Colliers Proptech Accelerator Powered by Techstars?

Building a company AND joining an accelerator is not for the faint of heart. I am targeting very ambitious founders, those ready for a step-change in growth along with a broad vision for their company and the industry. We have a broad mandate and are looking for technology solutions addressing needs across the entire real estate value chain.

02. What are some of the biggest learnings from your career and entrepreneurial journey that you bring to being a Techstars MD?

After successfully scaling a tech company that has now become a global category leader, I believe that the quick iterative cycles at which a company needs to run experiments and ‘design for failure’ often escape most entrepreneurs. Lessons learned in building a high growth tech company, along with the pace of change we experienced, are those rare experiences I’m both proud of and able to pass on to founders.

03. What does our partner, Colliers, bring to the accelerator?

We’re fortunate to have an amazing partner in Colliers for our global proptech program at Techstars. Not only are they one of our most committed partners at Techstars, they are one of the largest and fastest growing public real estate companies globally, with over $20B in assets under management. The partnership combines Techstars expertise in tech innovation, entrepreneurship, venture capital, and a worldwide alumni network coupled with Colliers’ industry expertise and global footprint in real estate across 60 countries.

04. Describe a situation with a startup founder or team where you felt like you made a difference.

Where to begin? I’ve been through so many with our founders. In fact, it’s the ongoing situations I stay involved with that make a difference, and these happen over time, rather than at a single moment. I enjoy being an investor but I’m proud to be deeply involved as a mentor, an advisor, and a board observer with several companies.

Learn more about how Techstars mentors work: read the Techstars Mentor Manifesto.

05. Why is proptech exciting to you?

Timing is critical and real estate is an industry in transition, with the unique ability to impact a substantial part of our everyday lives — how we work, live, and play. It’s no surprise that this remains the largest opportunity in the world with over $200 trillion in assets.

Learn more about Techstars accelerators and see which ones are accepting applications now.

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