Resi retrofitter wins first ULI Proptech Innovation Challenge

EFFIC, a specialist in residential refurbishment to improve energy efficiency in Spain, has been declared the overall winner of the inaugural Urban Land Institute PropTech Innovation Challenge (PIC). 

Additionally, France’s Roofscapes, which creates accessible rooftop green spaces, has been awarded a special mention in recognition of its potential impact. The winners were revealed at the ULI’s C Change Summit in Copenhagen this week.

ULI PIC is an annual European initiative to identify game-changing, scalable, and competitive solutions to the built environment’s most pressing challenges.

Winner EFFIC focuses on enabling Spain’s households to reduce their carbon footprint through retrofitting, achieving net zero emissions through part-subsidised refurbishment which also contributes to savings on energy bills.

The final was contested by six country/regional competition winners including aedifion (Germany), EFFIC (Iberia), Roofscapes (France), Share.P (Switzerland), Stykka (the Nordics) and Verv (United Kingdom).

Lisette van Doorn, CEO ULI Europe, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the interest and positive response to the challenge, which clearly demonstrates the importance of building stronger connections between the traditional real estate sector and proptech and startup solutions. As such, we see PIC as important in encouraging more industry wide innovation, as the built environment looks to address significant challenges including, for example, decarbonisation and increasing housing affordability.”