Munich Startup: Who are you and what does Scoperty do? Please introduce yourselves briefly!
Michael Kasch, Scoperty: Scoperty is the Pre-market for residential propertiesUsers can find estimated values and other information on over 35 million houses and apartments across Germany on an interactive map. For the first time, we transparently represent virtually the entire German residential real estate market. Owners and prospective buyers can explore possible selling and purchasing options even before the official sales process begins.
We are 30 people with diverse backgrounds—data analytics, software programming, sales, real estate, finance, marketing, PR, etc. I myself worked in the financial services and real estate sectors for over 15 years, including at Bain & Company Germany with a focus on banking and as Head of Strategy at Interhyp AG. My areas of expertise include financial behavior, strategy development, and transformation processes.
Munich Startup: What problem does your startup solve?
Michael KaschBy mapping the appraised values of almost all residential properties in Germany, we create unprecedented market transparency. On conventional portals, prospective buyers only find a fraction of the properties because many properties are sold under the table. Furthermore, while many owners may be considering selling, they are reluctant to place a binding "For Sale" ad. Using Scoperty, owners who are not yet sure whether and when they want to sell can test market interest without obligation, thereby improving their decision-making process or accepting an attractive offer from a potential buyer.
Scoperty offers more than just traditional sales offers
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
Michael Kasch: With Scoperty, prospective real estate buyers in Germany can, for the first time, view property data and appraisals online in over 11,000 cities and municipalities and over 380 districts. Previous portals, with their listings, represent only around one percent, and thus only a small segment of the residential real estate market. Since November 18, 2020, Scoperty has dramatically increased the supply of available residential properties! For the first time, owners can find out the current market value of their property without entering into a binding sales process and without having to invest any money. For the first time, prospective buyers can see the entire market, not just traditional sales offers. They also gain access to properties that are not officially for sale but are "open for bids," and can proactively submit offers. We also support them with financing.
Munich Startup: What has been your biggest challenge so far?
Michael Kasch: The biggest challenge was and remains explaining what we offer and how it works. Our offering is radically new and therefore unexpected. We have coined a new word for this – "pre-market." For the owner, this means they can perfectly prepare for the selling process. Thanks to the appraised value and its development, they can get an idea of their property's attractiveness compared to the market. They can also test demand by setting their property to "open for bids." For the property seeker, Scoperty opens up the market and enables proactive searches even for properties that are not yet officially for sale. This allows them to contact owners who have not yet started the selling process and convince them to sell.
“At the moment our attention is focused on the German market”
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
Michael Kasch: We are primarily focused on growing in the German market.
Munich Startup: How do you rate Munich as a startup location?
Michael Kasch: With its large startup community and numerous support programs, Munich offers young entrepreneurs perfect conditions. The digital infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration with other companies are particularly noteworthy. Furthermore, many local incubators and venture capitalists support founders in realizing their business ideas. I would also like to mention the startup centers and degree programs for entrepreneurship, which can be found in abundance in Munich.
Munich Startup: Hidden champion or shooting star?
Michael Kasch: Neither – more of a rising star. At the moment, however, our attention is focused on further growth in the German market, where we see enormous potential. Because, as mentioned, the listings currently visible on real estate portals represent only a small portion of the market.
