Urban Partners

The need for alternative credit solutions to fill a growing structural funding gap for real estate grows. Which is why we one of our strategies, Velo Capital, is tailored to address this exact demand across the Nordics, and Germany.   But what are the mechanisms that puts Germany specifically on everyone's mind? Velo Capital's Managing Partner, Emanuele Bena, recently had the privilege of discussing the current lending landscape and the opportunities it presents for debt providers with a group of industry specialists in a roundtable hosted by Real Estate Capital.    Check it out ⬇

Last week, we hosted an Urban Impact seminar in Helsinki. We gathered both our experts and partners across the urban ecosystem to explore and discuss the many challenges - and opportunities - in cities today, and in the future.   Bringing people together is in our DNA. For learnings, to challenge each other and find a way to collaborate for impact, clearly conveyed by Joonas Lemström, our Head of Country in Finland.   Understanding our field - the current state and direction of a market is key for everything we do. Our market view was transparently provided by Jani Nokkanen, CIO of our real estate equity strategy Nrep - an update pointing to the huge opportunity to act in a market moving towards recovery, with strategies built on strong fundamentals and proven capabilities.    From our real estate credit specialist, Velo Capital's COO Sanna Weiss we heard about the increased demand and opportunity to provide alternative credit solutions to fill a growing funding gap and accelerate decarbonization across existing buildings and those being developed.    And last but not least, a thought-provoking presentation on the solutions cities worldwide are seeking for their current challenges was given by Thure Krarup, our Head of Global Stakeholder Relations.   One of the highlights of the event was the panel discussion titled "What Does the Future of Capital Look Like?" We were fortunate to have members of Helsinki's Urban Environment Committee, Mia Haglund, Olli-Pekka Koljonen, Otto Meri and Sameli Sivonen sharing their perspectives and insights into the future direction of Helsinki.   Thank you to all the speakers, participants, and partners who made the annual Urban Impact seminar a resounding success. See you again next year!

How can public-private partnerships and thoughtful urban planning help revitalize segregated neighborhoods? Our real estate investor Nrep has been working with the Municipality of Copenhagen and local social housing companies to contribute to the prosperous development of the area Tingbjerg since 2017. In addition to creating new housing options, by building 1,000 new homes by 2027, we are collaborating with the local organization to support fostering a community and increase the feeling of safety and the attractiveness of the area. As of December 2022, the area is no longer on the Danish government's list of parallel societies. After decades of declining population, we continue to work for the area’s current and expected growth to come alongside creating a vibrant and inclusive neighborhood. The ongoing transformation of Tingbjerg truly showcases the impact of collaborative urban development – creating a vibrant, diverse, and thriving community! Curious to learn more about how we work with neighborhoods? Read more from our latest Impact Report: https://lnkd.in/dYwfcNtB Or about the work in Tingbjerg: https://lnkd.in/g6Nq7DDi

🏳️🌈 Last week, we proudly hosted a panel debate in connection to #𝗖𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 2024, engaging in meaningful discussions on how our industry can move the needle on #𝗟𝗚𝗕𝗧𝗤+ inclusion. In our debate, centered around the empowering theme ’𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 #𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲,’ we explored the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. This year, 39% of industry professionals attending expressed concerns about the lack of diversity and inclusivity in our sector.   During this edition, we focused on solutions – how do we overcome these challenges, and what does the end goal look like at the end of the rainbow? 🌈   Thank you to the panelists for sharing your insights on driving progress towards a more inclusive environment;   Jack Rentaria from Urban Land Institute in Denmark, Louise Sjøntoft, from NCC Denmark, Gry Gronenberg from Urban Partners, and Ezra Leader from 3XN/GXN. And to our very own host and moderator, Frederik Nagel Fryland, who is leading Urban Partners’ ERG Unicorns.   Together, we can build a more inclusive future for everyone!

Did you know that residential buildings contribute approximately 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions? That's a significant amount, but we believe that change is possible!     One of the biggest challenges faced by homeowners and decarbonization startups is the undersupply and fragmentation of the installer landscape. Up to 40% of phone calls to European HVAC technicians go unanswered, while half of heat pump installer time is spent on tasks unrelated to actual installation. This slows down the crucial process of home decarbonization, even for homeowners who are highly motivated.     Last year, our technology venture strategy 2150 invested in 1KOMMA5°, a company with an integrated digitalized product offering to accelerate the transition. 1KOMMA5° has the ambition to build and manage Europe’s largest install base of decentralized residential renewable energy assets.      Read about the 1KOMMA5° 3 step approach in our latest Impact report: https://lnkd.in/ehA2Cw62 and find out more about 2150's portfolio companies: https://lnkd.in/gmH2uy-K    So, curious to explore why the ‘urban stack’, as we call it, is the next frontier of tech and sustainability investing? This is how we see it: https://lnkd.in/ejbJaVAq

We are excited to share our involvement in last week's two-day intensive advanced financial modelling course for women in real estate private equity! Organised by WIRE Global Group and Bayfield Training in London, the course was aimed at building confidence, skills, and advancing female talents' investment careers💫 Two of our international Nrep team members, Susse Schaumann and Vanessa Lin, attended alongside other talented women representing 12 nationalities. A true flagship of diversity, without even trying! It was a privilege to sponsor and host a dinner with senior investment professionals and industry leaders from firms such as Hines, Oxford Properties Group, LaSalle Investment Management, Starwood Capital Group, and Morgan Stanley participating. The evening celebrated diverse perspectives and the remarkable talent within our industry🎉 A heartfelt thank you WIRE Global Group and Bayfield Training, as well as our colleagues Mariya Tsvetkova, Nick Melgaard and Amin Amirian for supporting this initiative. The positive feedback from both attendees and guests underscores the impact we can make together – within our organisation and beyond – through diversity🙌 We hope to make this an annual tradition and continue fostering growth within our community✨

In celebration of Pride Month, we want to demonstrate our strong support to LGBTQ+ communities both within our company and beyond 🏳️🌈   🏙️ At Urban Partners, we believe that diverse people from various backgrounds coming together leads to better decision-making and creates more inclusive environment. By focusing on cultivating urban solutions that reflect the diversity of society, we aim to foster a sense of belonging for all. Our work with Railway District exemplifies our focus on neighborhoods where people can openly share their hopes and dreams for the new area.   🦄 As an organization, we cultivate an environment where individuals can bring their whole selves to work. We actively promote a workplace culture that supports the LGBTQ+ community and advocates for equal rights. Our own rainbow community ‘The Unicorns’ was established to foster this positive change within our firm, and in the extension also in the industry. By embracing diversity, we not only enrich our company culture but also create an inclusive and supportive work environment for all.    🌈 We are not done. And the industry is far from inclusive enough. So, join the mission to foster environments where everyone can live as their whole self, without fear of discrimination or prejudice.   Together, let's stand up for LGBTQ+ equality - for a lasting impact.

🌎We are delighted to be part of London Climate Action Week!🌍 Today, we had the pleasure of hosting 35 climate investors inside Tower Bridge to discuss the opportunities and tailwinds of the urban transition. A big thank you to Alice Charles and Simon Durkin for leading this essential conversation💡 We are also delighted to participate in the #BESummit2024, organised by one of our close partners, Breakthrough Energy . The urban and energy transitions are closely intertwined, and it is imperative that we harness our collective learnings from both areas and rapidly advance climate action together🌿🏙 London Climate Action Week is crucial in bringing stakeholders together to discuss the key issues relating to the climate challenge, and we are pleased to support this collective endeavour towards net-zero💯 #LCAW2024 #sustainability #smartcities #decarbonisation #netzero

Velo Capital, the alternative real estate credit platform within Urban Partners, is gaining recognition in the industry!     We're happy to share that Lesley Lanefelt, Head of Nordic Investments at Velo Capital, just got her column published in Real Estate Capital Europe👏 In the column she challenges some common misconceptions around value-add debt affordability, offering a fresh perspective on the topic💡 She also highlights the growing importance of effectively utilising value-add #debtfundfinancing to support liquid real estate markets and drive the #greentransition in the coming years. https://bit.ly/45AZC1v   Read the full piece below or via the link in the comment section👇  

Today, the global coalition #Mission2025 was launched at London Climate Action Week!🚀 A high-ambition coalition ready to work with governments to deliver 1.5C-aligned climate plans in 2025 and faster action ahead of #COP30. Join us on a decade-defining mission to secure the success of our economies and the well-being of our people and planet. #LCAW2024 As advocates for sustainable urban development and the transformation of industries that power our cities, we strongly support this coalition through our venture capital firm, 2150. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gqrz3iBX