Navitas Capital

Real estate and construction technology are the territory of Navitas Capital, a venture firm that describes itself as a partner to innovators transforming the built world.

Areas it backs

The firm says it supports founders who see how artificial intelligence, digitization, sustainability and fintech will change property and building industries. Its site gives examples: AI that makes finding a home easier, technology that deepens people's connection to places, data-driven retrofits that cut emissions in buildings, and better ways for consumers to buy and sell homes.

A track record in the built environment

Its materials name Matterport, HqO, Orchard, Bowery, Sweeten, Truss, Gridium, Honest Buildings, which became part of Procore, and PlanGrid, which became part of Autodesk. The firm says it stayed with Matterport from seed stage to the public markets over eight years, and that its first seed investment in PlanGrid came from a close understanding of what builders on a job site need from software.

Partners from industry

The partners come from property operators, consulting firms and technology companies. They include people with long careers at large real estate businesses and at eBay, and one who sits on the boards of urban and development non-profit organizations. The firm says this mix gives portfolio companies clarity, insight and practical introductions.

How founders describe the working relationship

Portfolio pages show it taking on operational questions. In one example the firm helped a property services company expand its platform across asset classes with key early customers, and in another it works with a construction site capture company to identify growth levers in product, market and customer expansion. It also keeps senior advisers from large real estate service firms, and its team includes former operators from construction logistics software and from property investment. One senior adviser spent three decades at a global commercial real estate services group, and a partner sits on the boards of building data and energy companies such as Aquicore, Cherre and Optimum Energy.

Navitas Capital is a venture capital firm focused on technology for real estate and construction. It gives its portfolio companies and investors what it calls clarity and insight, drawing on a long-serving team.

The partners bring careers in property, consulting, technology and finance.

What Navitas Capital offers

• Real estate technology investment: backs companies changing how buildings are run and used.
• Construction technology investment: backs software and services for the building process.
• Partner experience: senior people with backgrounds at large property and technology firms advise portfolio companies.

Who it works with

Portfolio investments named on the site include HqO, Orchard, Matterport, Bowery, Sweeten, Truss, Gridium, Honest Buildings and PlanGrid.

Key facts

• Leadership: Travis Putnam and Jim Pettit (co-founders and managing partners) and Louis Schotsky (managing partner)
• Venture partners: Michael Spies and Gary Dillabough