Top 6 Venture Capital Firms For Commercial Real Estate Startups

When preparing to raise capital, knowing which investors to talk to is half the battle. For founders in Commercial Real Estate (CRE) and PropTech, connecting with venture capital firms that understand your industry is critical for a successful fundraise.

Our team curated this overview of top real estate tech VC firms to help you quickly identify relevant investors. Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.

Rho provides access to business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay — built for startup teams moving fast.

Key Takeaways

• For startups in Commercial Real Estate, securing venture funding provides the capital to scale operations and develop technology, along with valuable industry validation.

• Venture capital firms with a focus on Commercial Real Estate include top players like Second Century Ventures, Camber Creek, Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and MetaProp, who are notable backers of startups in the sector.

• If you're a startup leader raising a round or have recently closed one, Rho helps you manage your new capital with integrated business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

Which VC Firms in Commercial Real Estate Are Right for Your Stage?

Whether you’re just starting out or preparing for an exit, it helps to know which investors to approach. Here is a quick overview of the Commercial Real Estate VC firms that invest at each stage.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in Commercial Real Estate

This initial funding stage supports startups that are just getting started, often with an idea or a minimum viable product, to achieve product-market fit. For founders in real estate technology, proptech VC firms like Shadow Ventures, MetaProp, and Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania are active investors at this stage.

Early Stage VC Firms in Commercial Real Estate

Early-stage funding, typically covering Series A and B rounds, is for startups with a proven product and market traction that need capital to scale their team and operations. Among the real estate venture capital firms that invest here are New York-based MetaProp and Chicago's Second Century Ventures.

Late Stage VC Firms in Commercial Real Estate

Late-stage capital is for established companies looking to expand into new markets, make acquisitions, or prepare for an exit like an IPO. Investors such as Ruttenberg Gordon Investments and Camber Creek provide this type of growth funding to mature startups.

Keep in mind that many commercial real estate venture capital firms invest across multiple funding stages, from seed to late-stage rounds.

To help you identify the right investors, here is a closer look at the top VC firms specializing in Commercial Real Estate. We've included key details on their investment stages, geographic focus, and what makes each firm a compelling partner for founders.

1. Second Century Ventures

Based in Chicago, Second Century Ventures is a venture capital fund that invests in technology for the real estate industry. As a corporate venture capital firm, it provides founders with deep industry connections and strategic support.

The firm invests across multiple stages, from early-stage to late-stage rounds, and has backed over 200 companies. Its portfolio includes major successes like DocuSign, highlighting its ability to identify and support companies that become global brands.

Second Century Ventures is a strong potential partner if you are building technology for the real estate sector. Founders seeking a strategic investor with a broad network and a track record of scaling companies will find them to be a good fit.

• Investment stages: Early to late-stage venture, including convertible notes

• Industries of focus: Commercial Real Estate, Financial Services, Smart Home

• Geographical presence: Based in Chicago, Illinois

• Founded: 2009

• Notable portfolio companies: DocuSign, HonestDoor, Local Logic

• Portfolio size: Over 200 investments

You can refer to their website here.

2. Camber Creek

Camber Creek is a venture capital firm that provides both capital and advisory services to businesses in the real estate technology sector. Based in Rockville, Maryland, they focus on helping proptech companies scale and succeed.

The firm invests from seed to late-stage rounds, signaling a long-term partnership approach for companies at various points of maturity. Their portfolio includes notable exits like smart-lock company Latch and the utility-data platform Arcadia, which achieved unicorn status.

Camber Creek is a good fit if you are building technology for the real estate industry and are looking for a hands-on investor. Their focus on advisory services suggests they provide strategic guidance beyond just funding.

• Investment stages: Seed to late-stage venture

• Industries of focus: Commercial Real Estate, Financial Exchanges, Retail Technology, Smart Home

• Geographical presence: Rockville, Maryland

• Founded: 2009

• Notable portfolio companies: Latch, Arcadia, Clearedge3D, 42Floors

• Portfolio size: 72 investments

• Number of exits: 18, including acquisitions by Topcon and Knotel

You can refer to their website here.

3. Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania

Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania is an investor that supports technology companies through economic development programs. Based in Philadelphia, it operates as both an accelerator and a venture capital firm, providing capital and resources to early-stage startups.

The firm invests through grants, seed funding, and early-stage venture rounds, showing a commitment to supporting companies from their earliest days. A notable success from their portfolio is the healthcare payments network InstaMed, which was acquired by JPMorgan Chase and represents a significant exit for the fund.

This firm is a great match for founders building technology businesses in sectors like Commercial Real Estate and Financial Services, especially if you are based in the greater Philadelphia area. If you value a partner focused on regional economic growth and hands-on support programs, they could be the right fit for your startup.

• Investment stages: Early-stage venture, grant, seed

• Industries of focus: Commercial Real Estate, Financial Services, Government, Technology

• Geographical presence: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Founded: 1982

• Notable portfolio companies: InstaMed, Strados Labs, Navrogen

• Portfolio size: 232 investments

• Number of exits: 44

You can refer to their website here.

4. MetaProp

MetaProp is a New York-based venture capital firm and accelerator with a dedicated focus on the PropTech industry. They invest in technology companies that are shaping the future of real estate.

The firm invests from seed to late-stage rounds and operates an accelerator, signaling a commitment to supporting founders from the beginning. Their portfolio includes major successes like HqO, a workplace-experience platform that reached unicorn status, and Blueprint Power, which was acquired by BP.

MetaProp is an excellent partner for founders building technology for the real estate industry, from commercial to residential. If you are seeking an investor with deep PropTech expertise and an ecosystem of support, they are a strong fit.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, and late-stage venture

• Industries of focus: Commercial Real Estate, Real Estate, PropTech

• Geographical presence: New York, New York

• Founded: 2015

• Notable portfolio companies: HqO, Saltbox, VergeSense, Blueprint Power

• Portfolio size: 177 investments

You can refer to their website here.

5. Shadow Ventures

Shadow Ventures is an Atlanta-based venture capital firm that invests exclusively in technology for the built environment, covering industries from construction to real estate.

The firm operates as both a venture capital investor and an accelerator, focusing on seed and early-stage startups. Their portfolio includes ICON, a 3D-printed construction company that achieved unicorn status, showing their ability to back companies with significant growth potential.

Shadow Ventures is a good match for early-stage founders building technology for the construction and real estate sectors. If you are seeking a hands-on partner that provides both capital and accelerator support, they could be a strong fit.

• Investment stages: Seed and early-stage venture

• Industries of focus: Commercial Real Estate, Construction, PropTech

• Geographical presence: Based in Atlanta, Georgia

• Founded: 2018

• Notable portfolio companies: ICON, InfoTycoon, OnScale, Local Logic

• Portfolio size: 29 investments

• Number of exits: 2

You can refer to their website here.

6. Ruttenberg Gordon Investments

Ruttenberg Gordon Investments is a New York-based family investment office that makes both equity and debt investments. The firm operates across real estate, private equity, and growth equity, providing capital to a wide range of businesses.

A key feature of the firm is its diverse portfolio, which includes major tech companies like DraftKings and Spotify alongside its real estate investments. This signals an ability to back high-growth companies across different sectors, with a history of supporting them to public exits.

This firm is a good match for founders seeking a flexible, long-term financial partner that invests from seed through late stages. Their track record suggests they are a strong choice for ambitious companies with the potential for significant scale.

• Investment stages: Seed, early-stage, late-stage venture, private equity, and convertible notes

• Industries of focus: Commercial Real Estate, Venture Capital

• Geographical presence: New York, New York

• Founded: 2013

• Notable portfolio companies: DraftKings, Snap Inc., Spotify, Boom Supersonic, Scale AI

• Portfolio size: 97 investments

• Number of exits: 16

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for Commercial Real Estate Companies

This overview of investors shows a healthy funding environment for startups in the Commercial Real Estate sector. There is a good balance of firms that support companies at different points in their journey. You can find investors focused on seed and early stages, as well as partners who invest from the initial rounds all the way to late-stage growth.

Geographically, these firms are not concentrated in a single area. While New York is a key hub, there are active investors in Chicago, Atlanta, and the greater Philadelphia region. This distribution indicates that strong CRE tech companies can attract funding from various locations.

After you secure your funding, our team can help you put it to work. Once funding is secured, Rho’s integrated financial tools—including business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—help startups manage and deploy capital efficiently.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Having a focused list of relevant investors is a significant advantage when your time and energy are limited. It helps you direct your efforts toward the firms that are the best fit for your company.

Once your round is closed, the work of managing that capital begins. If you’ve just raised, Rho can help you set up your financial stack in minutes.

Our platform offers integrated business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay. These tools help you manage your new capital efficiently so you can concentrate on building your business.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on Commercial Real Estate

Are there real estate venture capital firms in Austin, TX?

Yes, Austin has a growing number of VC firms interested in real estate technology. While not as concentrated as New York, firms in Austin and across Texas are actively funding startups in the proptech and CRE sectors.

What are some top proptech VC firms?

Key proptech VC firms include MetaProp, Camber Creek, and Shadow Ventures, all mentioned in our list. These investors specialize in real estate technology and provide both capital and industry-specific guidance to help founders scale their companies.

How do I find real estate VC firms outside of major hubs?

Look for regional VCs with a technology or real estate focus in cities like Dallas, Atlanta, or Chicago. Local economic development groups and startup accelerators are also great resources for connecting with investors active in your specific area.

What do early-stage real estate tech VCs look for?

Early-stage investors focus on your team's experience, the size of the market opportunity, and early signs of product-market fit. A clear vision for how your technology solves a real problem in the real estate industry is essential.

How can Rho help after I close my funding round?

Once your round is closed, managing the capital is the next step. Rho provides an integrated platform with business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay to help you deploy new funds efficiently and focus on growth.