In an era marked by global upheavals, economic uncertainties, and the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the journey of startups is often fraught with challenges. Amidst this backdrop, the ten-year milestone of Rotterdam-based real estate technology firm Chainels signifies a remarkable tale of perseverance and resilience.
As Chainels commemorates a decade of steadfast progress, it emerges as a beacon of success in an industry notorious for its trials and tribulations. Established as a tenant experience platform, Chainels has not only weathered the storms but has also flourished, solidifying its presence across seventeen markets spanning Benelux, DACH, Italy, France, CEE, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Nordics.
Chainels serves a diverse array of asset types, ranging from shopping malls and residential apartments to student accommodations, coliving buildings, inner cities, districts, office buildings, business parks, airports, and train stations. Within its extensive client portfolio, Chainels boasts partnerships with notable commercial and residential real estate entities such as Multi Corporation, SCC, G City, EPP, CBRE, Vienna Airport City, Amvest, and BPD. Additionally, it collaborates with municipal communities including Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Malmö, and Gothenburg.
What initially began as a humble graduation project at Delft University of Technology has burgeoned into a significant player in the PropTech realm, now employing over forty individuals, including an in-house development team. Co-founded by Erwin Buckers and Sander Verseput, Chainels has evolved steadily, culminating in a pivotal Series-A investment from Aconterra and Capricorn Partners in January 2023.
“Consistent growth poses challenges for all companies. Our foothold in the PropTech & UrbanTech sphere stems from our unwavering belief in the immense potential of technology adoption in real estate, regardless of its pace. As they say in Rotterdam, ‘Niet lullen, maar poetsen’ (don’t talk, just do it)… that is the only way tech adoption will stick around and show impact,” remarks Erwin, CEO and co-founder of Chainels.
Their journey of navigating stability and growth serves as a beacon of inspiration not only to their industry peers but also to the broader SaaS community.
In January 2014, Chainels commenced its journey at the YES!Delft incubator, initially offering a generic business networking platform. However, over time, the company recognized the necessity of honing its focus. “We observed the growing need for streamlined communication in multi-tenant buildings and inner-city management. Consequently, we made the deliberate decision to target built environments as our primary market,” explains Erwin.
Sander Verseput, the COO, elaborates on this evolution: “We’ve witnessed a notable shift in the real estate market—from traditional placemaking to highly tech-savvy, sustainable, and tenant-centric property operations. Our product has evolved in tandem with this transition. Today, Chainels stands as an end-to-end platform facilitating a wide spectrum of property operations, extending beyond mere communication.”
Both founders concur that the real estate industry is undergoing positive transformations. Landlords are increasingly prioritizing the social value and convenience offered by their properties to tenants. However, establishing credibility in the realm of real estate behemoths demands patience. Hence, Erwin and Sander concentrated initially on garnering trust within the Dutch retail real estate and inner-city management sectors before venturing into international markets and diversifying into other asset types.
Erwin reflects on the evolving landscape: “Had the first tenant experience platform been introduced two decades ago, it might not have achieved success.
Even a decade ago, it was considered a nice-to-have. Today, it’s deemed indispensable. In terms of market maturity, PropTech is only now catching up with FinTech. The current landscape sees platforms that are highly customizable and easily integrable—a stark contrast to the scenario five or six years ago. This accelerated tech adoption in real estate, empowering landlords to own their tech solutions.”
Sander and Erwin prioritize the creation of enduring solutions above all else. Over nine years, Chainels achieved steady growth without relying on external funding. The Series-A investment secured in 2023 served as a catalyst to amplify brand recognition across Europe, recruit top-tier talent, and enhance product excellence.
“We meticulously assess how to allocate our resources for maximum impact. We refrain from entering markets lacking demonstrated potential for tech adoption. Our growth strategy revolves around a ‘land-and-expand’ approach—commencing with pilot projects for new clients, ensuring stellar customer experiences, and subsequently scaling our software across their portfolios. We take each day as it comes, maintain patience, and ensure that our product remains responsive to the evolving needs of landlords and tenants, continually striving for improvement,” elucidates Sander.
Reflecting on Chainels’ inception as a graduation project and its evolution within an incubator, Erwin reflects, “We had the luxury of prioritizing product quality over immediate financial gains—a luxury not afforded to many startups in our sector. In hindsight, I’m grateful that we resisted the temptation to hastily pursue capital infusion or premature international expansion.”
Erwin and Sander emphasize the importance of aligning PropTech products with the needs and capabilities of real estate professionals. They note that many PropTech solutions are overly complex, and the market is saturated with products lacking practical utility, while the real estate sector is still adapting to the integration of smart building technologies.
“Technology should enhance simplicity and efficiency. PropTech solutions should empower property staff to perform their duties more effectively, assisting landlords in achieving their real estate objectives and automating essential tasks that would otherwise require manual intervention. This is essential for fostering enduring client relationships, as a product that streamlines operations will naturally garner ongoing interest,” observes Sander.
“From the perspective of tenants, any technological tool they engage with must offer the same level of convenience and intuitiveness as popular consumer platforms like Uber, Spotify, Netflix, or Airbnb. Whether tenants need to communicate with property staff, report issues, provide feedback, reserve shared spaces, or engage in other activities, it should all seamlessly occur within a single user-friendly platform designed with people in mind.
In a culturally diverse region like Europe, it’s imperative that tech products support multiple languages. That’s why our platform currently supports ten languages, with plans to introduce seven more in 2024,” Erwin adds.
Erwin and Sander emphasize the importance of aligning PropTech products with the needs and capabilities of real estate professionals. They note that many PropTech solutions are overly complex, and the market is saturated with products lacking practical utility, while the real estate sector is still adapting to the integration of smart building technologies.
“Technology should enhance simplicity and efficiency. PropTech solutions should empower property staff to perform their duties more effectively, assisting landlords in achieving their real estate objectives and automating essential tasks that would otherwise require manual intervention. This is essential for fostering enduring client relationships, as a product that streamlines operations will naturally garner ongoing interest,” observes Sander.
“From the perspective of tenants, any technological tool they engage with must offer the same level of convenience and intuitiveness as popular consumer platforms like Uber, Spotify, Netflix, or Airbnb.
Whether tenants need to communicate with property staff, report issues, provide feedback, reserve shared spaces, or engage in other activities, it should all seamlessly occur within a single user-friendly platform designed with people in mind. In a culturally diverse region like Europe, it’s imperative that tech products support multiple languages. That’s why our platform currently supports ten languages, with plans to introduce seven more in 2024,” Erwin adds.
With a steadfast commitment to redefining rental experiences around tenants, Chainels remains dedicated to driving innovation within the market. “By fostering strong relationships between tenants, neighbors, and landlords, Chainels strives to provide tenants with unparalleled living and working experiences,” emphasizes Sander.
Looking ahead to the company’s second decade, the co-founders envision positioning Chainels as the central hub for integrating various property technology solutions, including ERP systems, mobile access keys, parcel lockers, and energy consumption tracking tools. “Our primary focus this year will be on establishing integration partnerships,” comments Erwin.
In addition to expanding its platform’s functionality to accommodate new real estate asset types and entire neighborhoods, Chainels aims to align its product offerings with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) benchmarks. This strategic move reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices.
