Munich Startup: What does your startup do? What problem do you solve?
Premium: Predium is a All-in-one platform, which brings together various process steps for sustainable real estate management in one place. This makes it easier, especially for property managers, housing companies, and project developers, to define ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals for real estate, select measures, and financially price the investment at virtually the touch of a button. Previously, these complex process steps had to be carried out individually, which was time-consuming. This ensures that real estate does not lose value and does not harm our climate.
Munich Startup: But that's been around for a long time!
Premium: There are management consultancies that specialize in ESG. However, they don't focus on the real estate industry. There, the focus is more on industrial processes. In the building sector, only 1 percent of CO2 emissions come from corporate processes. 99 percent come from the properties themselves. Therefore, a solution with a real estate focus is needed here. Reporting alone is not enough. We focus on linking ESG and profitability.
“Very high willingness on the part of the real estate industry to invest in the ESG sector”
Munich Startup: What is your founding story?
Premium: We met at Center for Digital Technology and Management (CDTM) in Munich and hit it off right away. Maximilian, Mohamed Ali, and I always wanted to start a company. The reason we branched out into the real estate sector with the ESG topic is because we want to do something for climate and environmental protection that has a real impact – for the environment, but of course also for our customers. The trigger was that we really enjoy being outdoors in nature. For example, I really enjoy hiking in the mountains. If you do that often and then see photos of how large the glaciers used to be, where there are none anymore, the consequences of climate change quickly become apparent. Maximilian and Mohammed Ali had very similar experiences along the way. We then looked at various markets and sectors and analyzed where we had the greatest leverage to make a difference. We found that in the real estate industry. Buildings are responsible for around 37 percent of CO2 emissions worldwide. If we can reach property managers, developers, housing companies, and real estate investors with our product and encourage them to move toward sustainability, that would be a real win. For the companies themselves and ultimately for all of us.
Munich Startup: What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Premium: At first, we thought it would be an uphill battle to convince real estate companies of the importance of sustainability. At least, that's what we were always told. We then spoke with a number of companies ourselves. Our conclusion: There is a very strong willingness on the part of the real estate industry to invest in ESG. Some see an economic advantage, others are more focused on increasingly strict legislation and reporting requirements, and still others on the issues of heat and sustainable supply. But the level of openness is always the same. Therefore, our current challenge lies not in the market, but rather in our hiring process. We attach great importance to assembling a diverse team in which every single member can contribute, both with their professional expertise and their personal character. We pursue our goals with great motivation because we can contribute to ensuring that the planet we live on remains a livable place.
Predium: “Happy to take a certain controlled risk”
Munich Startup: Where would you like to be in one year, where in five years?
Premium: Predium will continue to grow strongly next year. With a motivated team, we will continue to work on aligning ESG and profitability. In five years, Predium will be the go-to ESG solution for real estate, enabling companies to manage how to best allocate their investment and modernization budgets – from both an economic and environmental perspective.
Munich Startup: How have you experienced Munich as a startup location so far?
Premium: The Munich location has had a profound impact on us – both professionally and personally. We have LMU and the TU studied, us at CDTM met and are currently sitting in Plant1In recent years, we've also received significant support from Munich-based entrepreneurs. And as outdoorsy types, we also enjoy the proximity to the mountains and a dip in the Eisbach.
Munich Startup: Risk or security?
Premium: Security when it comes to our customers, employees, solutions, and technologies. Otherwise, we are happy to take a certain amount of controlled risk when it makes business sense.
