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LAB Ventures

LAB Ventures is a VC Fund and Startup Studio dedicated to accelerating early-stage real estate and construction technology companies.
LAB Ventures
Leadership team

Tigre Wenrich (Managing Partner)

Rafael Valdivia (Managing Partner)

Marco Giberti (Partner)

Eduardo Barco (Partner)

Tom Roth (Strategic Advisor)

JP Cappello (Partner)

Number of Employees
0 - 50
Headquarters
Miami, Florida
Established
2017
Social Media
Summary

LAB Ventures is an early-stage PropTech investor with a diverse portfolio of companies, including notable names such as Alfred Club, Parcl, and Knowify. With investments spanning across the United States, Colombia, and more, LAB Ventures demonstrates a global perspective. They focus on various sectors, including Real Estate and Construction Tech, as well as Enterprise Applications, reflecting their commitment to fostering innovation in multiple industries.

Operating primarily in the pre-seed and Series A stages, LAB Ventures serves as a vital catalyst for prop-tech startups aiming to revolutionize the real estate and construction sectors. Headquartered within The LAB Miami, situated in the vibrant Wynwood Art District of Miami, LAB Ventures leverages its unique position within the entrepreneurial ecosystem to provide extensive support and resources to their portfolio companies. Their collaborative approach, both through their rolling fund and venture studio, ensures that startups receive not only financial backing but also mentorship and industry insights from experienced insiders, further fueling the growth and success of their investments.

History

In 2012, LAB Ventures embarked on its journey from the heart of Wynwood, Miami, originating within The LAB Miami. This co-working space was a trailblazer, serving as South Florida's inaugural hub dedicated to nurturing tech entrepreneurs and catalyzing innovation. Over five years, The LAB Miami successfully united the region's emerging tech ecosystem, becoming a nucleus for entrepreneurs, visionary ideas, and capital.

Rather than following the conventional path of expanding co-working spaces into multiple locations, The LAB and its founders had a different vision. They aspired to cultivate and bolster early-stage technology startups. Thus, in 2017, LAB Ventures emerged as the next step in their entrepreneurial evolution. The LAB Ventures Studio was introduced to create startups from the ground up, guiding them through ideation, MVP development, venture funding, scaling, and eventual exits. 

The extensive expertise gained from crafting successful ventures from scratch equipped the LAB Ventures team with invaluable insights, which they soon began applying to evaluate other early-stage opportunities. Simultaneously, LAB Ventures found itself fielding a growing number of requests from early-stage startups seeking strategic guidance and financial support. While the original Studio model didn't initially encompass minority investments in third-party startups, the potential for collaboration became unmistakable.

Investment criteria

StartUp Studio, a core component of LAB Ventures, embodies a dynamic approach to technology innovation and early-stage startup development. By closely tracking market trends, the studio actively seeks out fresh opportunities to create and nurture companies with substantial impact. Collaboration is at the heart of their mission, and they empower founders by offering the essential resources and infrastructure to co-create exceptional ideas. 

This partnership is underpinned by a venture-building process that values equality, with founders retaining the majority stake until the Series A stage. Recognizing that a remarkable founder can elevate even an average idea to extraordinary heights, StartUp Studio prioritizes founder-centric company building. In their commitment to fostering innovation, they've formed valuable partnerships with industry leaders like AWS, DigitalOcean, HubSpot, and Zendesk, while their portfolio includes standout companies like Lumi and Beycome, exemplifying the success of their founder-first approach.

The LAB PropTech Fund, a vital component of LAB Ventures, specializes in investing in early-stage PropTech (Property Technology) companies. This fund has attracted investors deeply entrenched in the real estate and construction industries, offering them not only financial gains but also strategic advantages. 

By participating in the LAB Ventures PropTech Rolling Fund, investors gain access to a diversified portfolio of top-tier early-stage startups, a feat that would be challenging to achieve independently. The fund sets its sights on delivering above-average investment returns, leveraging the team's profound expertise in selecting and collaborating with early-stage entrepreneurs, a vast network, privileged access to exclusive deal flow, and an unwavering focus on the real estate and construction vertical. 

Moreover, investors benefit from valuable insights into technology trends shaping their industry, along with early access to innovative solutions that can enhance their businesses. The LAB Ventures team goes the extra mile by providing investors with comprehensive data from their entire deal pipeline, ensuring a well-informed and strategic investment journey. 

The fund's portfolio includes promising companies like Wellerz, Bricksave, Lumi, Beycome, OnTraccr, Tongo, Parcl, Fyxt, Alfred, Tour24, BuildClub, HelixINTEL, Renno, SmartBarrel, Knowify, Rabbu, Green Canopy Node, and Enaia, further exemplifying its commitment to driving innovation in the PropTech sector.

Values

LAB Ventures operates with a set of core values that guide its mission and actions in the dynamic world of technology innovation and startup development. At the heart of LAB Ventures' values is a commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and nurturing the growth of early-stage companies. They embrace innovation as a driving force, consistently seeking new opportunities and staying attuned to market trends.

Collaboration is a fundamental value for LAB Ventures. They believe in the power of partnership, working closely with founders to build and scale startups. Their collaborative approach is founded on equality, ensuring that founders retain significant ownership in their ventures until the Series A stage.

LAB Ventures also places a strong emphasis on integrity and transparency, valuing ethical practices and open communication with all stakeholders. They prioritize the success of the founders they work with, recognizing that remarkable entrepreneurs can turn even modest ideas into groundbreaking innovations.

Moreover, LAB Ventures values continuous learning and adaptability. They understand that the technology landscape is ever-evolving, and they stay agile to navigate these changes effectively. This adaptability allows them to remain at the forefront of industry advancements.

Mission

LAB Ventures is driven by a mission to catalyze innovation, empower entrepreneurs, and reshape industries through strategic investments and collaborative partnerships. At its core, LAB Ventures seeks to identify, nurture, and support early-stage startups with transformative potential, ultimately contributing to the evolution of various industries, particularly within the PropTech (Property Technology) sector.

Their mission is rooted in the belief that groundbreaking ideas can lead to profound change when paired with visionary founders and the necessary resources. LAB Ventures envisions itself as a catalyst for these visionary entrepreneurs, providing them with the foundation, expertise, and access to capital needed to propel their startups to success.

Furthermore, LAB Ventures is committed to fostering a collaborative ecosystem where industry insiders, startups, and investors converge to drive technological advancements. By cultivating partnerships that prioritize equality and shared objectives, they aim to create a space where great ideas thrive and where startups can scale while retaining significant ownership.

Portfolio

LAB Ventures is a venture capital and studio firm that invests in and supports innovative startups in various sectors, including real estate and property technology (prop-tech). These startups offer innovative solutions that streamline processes, enhance efficiency, and redefine how the industry operates. Below is an overview of LAB Ventures' portfolio companies:

Parcl (FUND): Parcl is a digital real estate platform that allows users to gain exposure to the real estate market with no minimum investment. It offers high liquidity and low transaction fees, making it easier for individuals to invest in real estate.

Fyxt (FUND): Fyxt is a cloud-based mobile-first operations platform designed to manage all aspects of commercial real estate. It provides tools and features for property management and operations.

Alfred (FUND): Alfred is a resident management platform that enables property managers to offer in-home services and experiences to their residents. It enhances the living experience for tenants.

Tour24 (FUND): Tour24 offers self-guided tours that empower potential renters to explore properties independently. This technology simplifies the process of finding a home.

BuildClub (FUND): BuildClub provides on-demand deliveries of building materials from reputable suppliers in approximately one hour, streamlining construction and renovation processes.

HelixINTEL (FUND): HelixINTEL is a one-stop shop for cataloguing, tracking, maintaining, and purchasing equipment, parts, and supplies in various locations. It offers accessibility from anywhere.

Renno (FUND): Renno helps homeowners visualize their home's potential after a renovation, facilitates material orders, and connects them with licensed contractors for installation.

Rabbu (FUND): Rabbu is a full-service asset management platform that enables property investors to achieve higher yields by offering shorter stays and managing their properties more efficiently.

Green Canopy Node (FUND): Green Canopy Node allows users to import designs and decorate them with a wide range of quality models and materials, simplifying the design process.

SmartBarrel (FUND): SmartBarrel provides a comprehensive solution for connecting managers and employees, offering more than just a time clock for improved communication and management.

Knowify (FUND): Knowify is project management software designed for contracting businesses. It features job costing, client estimates, billing, and more to streamline operations.

Wellerz (FUND): Wellerz enables users to book wellness spaces by session, providing on-demand access to wellness facilities.

Bricksave (FUND): Bricksave offers global real estate investments starting from $1,000, with instant returns in some of the world's strongest currencies.

Lumi (STUDIO): Lumi is an off-campus student housing rental and co-living platform that disrupts the student housing market by offering innovative rental solutions.

beycome (STUDIO): beycome aims to make buying and renting homes easier and more cost-effective while putting commission dollars back into the pockets of users.

OnTraccr (FUND): Additional information about OnTraccr is not provided in the portfolio overview.

These companies in LAB Ventures' portfolio represent a diverse range of real estate and property technology solutions, from investment platforms and property management tools to innovative rental and co-living solutions. Each company addresses specific needs within the real estate industry, aiming to improve efficiency and enhance the user experience.

References
LAB Ventures
Leadership team

Tigre Wenrich (Managing Partner)

Rafael Valdivia (Managing Partner)

Marco Giberti (Partner)

Eduardo Barco (Partner)

Tom Roth (Strategic Advisor)

JP Cappello (Partner)

Number of Employees
0 - 50
Headquarters
Miami, Florida
Established
2017
Social Media