The Co-Liv Podcast

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Rishi Lodhia, Managing Director, Eagle Eye Networks & Lee Odess, CEO, Access Controlled Executive Brief

In this insightful discussion, Rishi Lodhia interviews Lee Odess, who shares his thoughts on the intersection of PropTech and the security industry, focusing on access control and smart lock solutions. Lee emphasizes that the co-living market demands a more flexible and customizable approach compared to traditional multi-family housing, requiring security providers to be more software-centric and adaptable. The conversation also highlights the importance of understanding the real estate industry's needs and tailoring products to meet those requirements. Lee envisions the future of co-living technology as being more inclusive, safety-focused, and providing convenience for residents. The discussion underscores the growing influence of technology in the real estate sector and the need for security providers to adapt to new market demands.

Notable Quotes:

Lee Odess:

- "Co-living requires a more flexible and customizable approach than traditional multi-family housing, and security providers need to be more software-centric to adapt."

- "Understanding the needs of the real estate industry and tailoring products to meet those needs is crucial in the age of PropTech."

- "The future of co-living technology is more inclusive, focused on safety, and providing convenience for residents."

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Marta Rocamora, CEO of GroundInn & COO of Co-Liv & Lars Lundbye Creative Director from Almener.

Marta, our host at MIPIM Coliv Summit 2023, interviews Lars Lundbye from Almener, a Copenhagen-based organization experimenting with a cooperative approach to building co-living communities and ecovillages. The model aims to put the power back in citizens' hands, fostering a sustainable and socially interactive lifestyle. Lars shares the vision of Almener, which focuses on building communities where people need and have responsibility for each other, rather than the top- down, commercial approach to co-living. By enabling citizens to become developers, Almener is attempting to return the power of decision-making to the individuals, creating communities that are more sustainable and socially interactive. Lars emphasizes the importance of the co-living model in revitalizing civic society and fostering a sense of community in urban areas. Almener uses technology, including gaming, to facilitate decision-making and consensus-building among community members, making it easier for them to envision and actualize their dream living environment. Marta and Lars discuss the challenges of promoting sustainability within co-living communities and the importance of building eco-friendly and conscious communities. Lars believes that people who prioritize a more social lifestyle also tend to take responsibility on a higher level, leading to more sustainable and environmentally conscious communities.

Notable Quotes:

Lars Lundbye:

- "I think people who would prioritize a more social lifestyle actually moving together also have a tendency to take responsibility on a high level."

- "It's a lot about taking the power back to the citizens where it belongs and building co-living communities ecovillages."

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Marta (Director of Operations at Co-Liv, CEO of GroundINN) • Michal Dvornicky (Intern, Art of Co)

In this podcast, Marta and Michal discuss the value of coliving and its impact on people's lives. Michal shares his personal experience living in a coliving space, highlighting the importance of community and the positive effects it had on his life, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also discusses his thesis, which examined the benefits of coliving for tenants and investors, shedding light on how people value coliving in comparison to traditional apartments. In the podcast, Michal also shares insights from the Co-Liv Summit 2023, expressing his appreciation for the event and the passion of the people involved in the coliving movement. He believes that coliving has the potential to bring immense value to society and can cater to different stages of life.

Notable Quotes:

Michal Dvornicky:

- "I realized the power that the community has on you, and the amount of social value that I got has really improved my life."

- "I want to live the rest of my life in community-focused buildings or real estate."

- "The main conclusion could be that you can't basically compare coliving with normal real estate listings. So you can't just put your advertisement of coliving right next to the traditional apartments, but it might not get special attention."

- "Coliving is not really for everyone so far. People are not really familiar with it. Maybe they don't know the value of it."

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Marta Rocamora: CEO of Grounded Innovation, COO of Co-Liv & Host, Live at MIPIM Co-Liv Summit 2023 • Laetitia Bo: Founder of Urban Act, Co-Living Lawyer

In this insightful conversation, Marta Rocamora interviews Laetitia Bo, the founder of Urban Act and a co-living lawyer, at the MIPIM Co-Liv Summit 2023. They discuss the regulatory challenges that co-living operators face when entering the French market and how Urban Act helps them navigate these complexities. Laetitia highlights that while there are multiple regulations to consider, it is possible to implement co-living projects in France with the existing legislation. She also emphasizes the importance of operators understanding and accounting for potential regulatory changes in their business plans, such as the rent cap in Paris and other cities. Marta and Laetitia delve into the ways co-living can contribute to creating more sustainable and inclusive communities in urban areas, with Laetitia sharing the example of a company called Commune that aims to help single-parent families find affordable housing in Paris. They discuss the evolution of co-living as a recognized and growing sector within the real estate industry and the various demographics it can serve. In a rapid-fire question round, Laetitia describes co-living as "co-housing with services" and identifies the biggest misconception as the belief that co-living is cheap.

Notable Quotes:

Laetitia Bo

- "Coliving is co-housing with services."

- "The biggest misconception about Coliving? Coliving is cheap."

- "Which city needs more co-living? Paris."

- "What is your vision of coliving? The next real estate product in the residential area that is going to be applied to all ages of the population."

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Kristen Zupancic - Founder of Plot Twist & Marta Rocamora - CEO and Founder of Grounded Innovation

In this podcast episode, Kristen welcomes Marta Rocamora, the CEO and founder of Grounded Innovation, a community agency specializing in shared spaces and real-life experiences. They discuss the challenges of managing co-living spaces, emphasizing the need to create meaningful experiences for residents and the operational intricacies that come with it. Marta highlights the importance of technology in streamlining co-living operations and mentions the significance of offboarding in retaining residents. They also touch on the potential for co-living to benefit various types of cities and the importance of unity within the co-living sector. Kristen concludes by thanking Marta for her efforts in organizing the MIPIM coliv Summit and expressing excitement for their evening at MIPIM.

Notable Quotes:

Marta Rocamora:

- "I guess the turnover doesn't become so much of a problem as much as something to be managed."

- "Often it is the day that the person moves out, it's like, oh, thank you very much. Here's the key checklist that making sure that everything is fine, we can get by the deposit and end of the story. Whereas in reality, you recognize that this is someone that has to leave the experience that has become part of the community."

- "I think maybe that's the word that we're trying to do, as you know, in the organization, is to try to bring the movement a bit more unification. So overall, there is more exposure and we can get this opportunity to do bigger, larger projects."

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Gui Perdrix, Host of Real Talk on Future Living Podcast & Kristen Zupancic, Founder of Plot Twist Placemaking and Advisor at Co-Liv.

In this podcast episode, host Gui Perdrix interviews Kristen Zupancic, founder of Plot Twist Placemaking and advisor at Co-Liv, on the role of coliving spaces in revitalizing urban neighborhoods. Zupancic highlights the importance of placemaking, a community-building process that activates public spaces to cater to the needs of the surrounding neighborhood. She discusses how real estate developers can implement place-led development strategies by having a strategic intent, strong will, and local partnerships.

Notable Quotes:

Kristen Zupancic:

- "I think by coliving developers and operators really understanding their residents and seeing actually what works for them and what are their habits throughout the day and how does that change? So that's actually a really good way that coliving can also embrace the mixed use of the building itself."

-"Many people have the conception that coliving is only for young people, young professionals, but it's not the case. It's not about the demographic, it's about the mindset." - Kristen Zupancic "I think we just need to push the industry forward, getting more recognition and help promote this better way of living for people."

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Marta Rocamora Gonzalez, CEO of Grounded Innovation and COO of Co-Liv & Anil Khera, CEO and Co-founder, Node

In this in-depth conversation, Anil Khera, CEO and Co- founder of Node, shares his insights on the future of co-living and how it will reshape the urban housing landscape. Anil envisions a diverse range of co-living spaces, accommodating different demographics and lifestyle preferences. He stresses the importance of leveraging technology to enhance operational efficiency and personalize the customer experience. Anil also emphasizes the need for cities to evolve their policies and frameworks to better support co-living as a viable housing option. During the interview, Anil touches on misconceptions about co-living and explains the potential for niche co-living spaces to cater to specific needs and interests. The discussion concludes with a rapid-fire question segment, delving into the role of data in shaping the co-living industry and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Notable Quotes:

Anil Khera:

- "Co-living is not just for millennials; it's about creating a diverse range of living spaces that cater to different demographics and lifestyle needs."

- "Technology is essential to the evolution of co-living; it can help us scale efficiently, drive operational excellence, and create personalized experiences for our residents."

- "Cities need to adapt their policies and frameworks to accommodate co-living as a viable alternative to traditional housing options, particularly in the face of increasing urbanization and housing demand."

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Kristen Zupancic, Advisor at Co-Liv and Founder of Plot Twist Placemaking &Host of the Future of Living podcast live from MIPIM 2023 Michael Steinmann, Co-founder and CEO of Obeyo.

Michael Steinmann, co-founder and CEO of Obeyo, a shared living platform, discusses the importance of purpose-built technology for shared living spaces. He notes that existing technology often comes from other industries and is not designed to meet the unique needs of coliving. Steinmann emphasizes the importance of streamlining communication and centralizing information for operations, as well as using technology to enhance the resident experience and community building. Looking ahead, Steinmann believes that technology will be at the core of the customer experience for coliving spaces. He envisions a future where technology connects residents and creates a seamless experience, facilitating new connections and building strong brands. Steinmann also notes the need for more coordination and data in the coliving sector.

Notable Quotes:

Michael Steinmann:

"Shared living cannot work without the right technology...what it takes to create the technology that connects people and connects me as a resident also to the space, and the operations."

-" [Technology] should actually facilitate a new connection...not force you top down into different events, but give you as the operator a tool that you can empower your own residents to organize themselves."

- "Technology is there to facilitate all that service provision, net experience...[and] at the core of net customer experience."

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Gui Perdrix, President Co-liv of Founder of Art of Co & Host of Real Talk on Future of Living live from MIPIM 2023 • Stuart Connors, Sales Director in Europe and the Middle East of Measurable.

In this conversation, Stuart Connors, Sales Director in Europe and the Middle East of Measurable, discusses the importance of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) data in coliving spaces and how technology can help automate the process of measuring and managing it. Connors highlights the benefits of his company's software tool in helping coliving operators comply with ESG data initiatives, attract better talent, and access more funds around green initiatives. He also discusses the role of technology in optimizing building activity and behavior to provide tenants and customers with a better living experience. Looking ahead, Connors envisions that technology will continue to evolve to provide better access to ESG data and help operators define their strategies and initiatives. He emphasizes the importance of trust in this emerging field and notes that Measurable offers free consultations to help companies in the coliving space with their ESG strategy.

Notable Quotes:

Stuart Connors:

- "Technology will also become more important around not only gathering data, but also how do we measure the meters, the activity or behavior of the buildings. So how can we optimize information within the buildings, again to give the tenants and the customers a better living experience."

- "The ROI is really accelerating and speeding up the process for them." -

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Marta, CEO of Grounded Innovation, COO of Co-Liv & Host of Real Talk on Future of Living Tara, CEO and Co-founder of Commune

Tara, CEO and Co-founder of Commune, talks about the challenges of designing co-living spaces for single parent families, emphasizing the importance of understanding the specific needs and experiences of this demographic. Commune has interviewed nearly 300 single parent families to design co-living units that meet their needs. Tara also discusses the role of community management in promoting a sense of belonging and combatting loneliness. She highlights the potential of co living to create more affordable and inclusive housing solutions in urban areas. Looking ahead, Tara predicts that co-living spaces will become increasingly specialized and tailored to specific target groups. She also emphasizes the need for greater unity and cohesion within the co-living sector to address legal challenges.

Live from MIPIM 2023:

• Christian Moldenhauer, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Expert Powerhouse.
• Marta, CEO of Grounded Innovation, COO of Co-Liv & Host of Real Talk on Future of Living

In this episode of Real Talk on Future of Living, Marta and Christian Moldenhauer discuss the benefits of independent contracting and how it relates to co-living. Christian emphasizes the importance of being flexible, having a cost advantage, and having people who know the business to get projects up and running quickly. He also notes that creating a sense of community is important for both independent contractors and co-living residents. The conversation then moves to the challenges of co-living and independent contracting, with Christian pointing out the need for education around co-living and the potential for loneliness among independent contractors. He suggests that creating a sense of community and providing additional value to tenants can help overcome these challenges. Christian concludes by emphasizing the need for more diversity and maturity in the co-living sector and highlights the potential for co-living spaces targeted towards specific customer segments, such as independent consultants.

Notable Quotes:

"What I took away yesterday is a clearer definition of co-living, that it's about community, but there are also a lot of aspects around very specific target groups and very specific products." - Christian Moldenhauer, co-CEO and co-founder of Expert Powerhouse

"I think with a lot of concepts in real estate and especially, uh, co-living, there needs to be education done to a lot of corporates, to a lot of, uh, companies. And of course, independent freelancers can help in that." - Christian Moldenhauer, co-CEO and co-founder of Expert Powerhouse.

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Kristen Zupancic - Advisor at Co-Liv, Founder of Plot Twist Placemaking & Matt Lesniak - Head of Impact and Innovation at Conscious Coliving.

Kristen speaks with Matt Lesniak, head of impact and innovation at Conscious Coliving, and co-founder of Co-Liv, a global organization for coliving professionals. They discuss the challenges of promoting sustainability within coliving communities, emphasizing the need for a better understanding of sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) principles in the real estate sector. Matt also highlights the importance of measuring the social impact of coliving spaces and the evolving role of sustainability in coliving over the next decade, with a focus on it becoming a necessary component rather than an option. The conversation touches on various aspects of the coliving industry, including its potential to cater to individuals throughout their life cycle and serve as a lifestyle product.

Notable Quotes:

Matt Lesniak:

"I think the challenges of bringing sustainability into coliving are probably the same challenges of bringing sustainability into the wider real estate sector."

- "I'm pretty sure that in 10 years, sustainability will be a must-have, and not just from the business point of view, but from a lot of the perspectives I was mentioning earlier."

- "So coliving has the opportunity to be a lifestyle product for the life cycle of a consumer of a coliver. If that's the kind of way that they wanna live."

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Kristen Zupancic, Advisor at Co-Liv and Founder of Plot Twist Placemaking & Iñigo Unanue, Global Residential Lead at Salto Systems.

In this episode of the Future of Living podcast, Kristen Zupancic interviews Iñigo Unanue, the Global Residential Lead at Salto Systems. They discuss the impact of technology on streamlining operations within coliving communities and optimizing space and occupancy rates. Iñigo emphasizes the importance of providing access control solutions that enable operators to make their facilities more efficient, and he highlights the need to strike a balance between security and convenience. He also stresses the significance of designing living spaces that are purpose built for coliving, with the use cases of residents in mind, in order to provide better experiences in the future.

Notable Quotes:

Iñigo Unanue:

- "We are focused on providing software and hardware products, bundling and consolidating them into different solutions that we can offer to coliving operators, but also student housing operators or BTR operators."

- "We are truly believers that there is a balance between security and convenience."

- "I think if we can turn that into a more proactive attitude from the whole ecosystem stakeholders with architectures, with different consultancy companies, technology companies, everyone involved in the development of living spaces and coliving in general, I think we need to work more closely."

- "People tend to work and live more and more in the same environment, in the same building. How are the buildings designed to support those ways of living or not? I think as an industry, we really need to dive into that in order to provide those experiences in the future."

Live for MIPIM 2023:

GUI Perdrix, President of Co-Liv and Founder of Art of Co & Maël Aoustin, President of the Management Board of UXCO Group.

In this engaging conversation, Gui Perdrix interviews Maël Aoustin, who shares his experiences managing large co-living spaces and student housing residences in France. Maël emphasizes the importance of having the right team on the ground to animate the community and provide an incredible experience for residents. He also explains how ECLA, one of UXCO Group's branches, has developed its own app to streamline access to services and amenities within their co-living spaces. Looking forward, Maël envisions the future of co-living operations involving scaling the business and having even more residences and beds in each country. He also emphasizes the necessity of addressing specific target groups, as different co-living spaces cater to various stages of people's lives. Maël calls for more investors to invest in the co living asset class, as owning the assets enables reinvestment and future growth in the sector.

Notable Quotes: "Having the right team on the ground is key for co-living; it's all about animation and experience." - Maël Aoustin "Trying to make co-living for everybody on the same site is a mistake; we need to address specific targets." - Maël Aoustin "What is missing in the co-living sector is more investors investing in this asset class. Owning the assets allows you to reinvest in the assets and build the future." - Maël Aoustin

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Marta Rocamora Gonzalez, CEO of Grounded Innovation and COO of Co-Liv • Ritu Jain, CEO and Co-Founder of Life X, Copenhagen-based Co-Living Company.

In this insightful conversation, Ritu Jain, CEO and co-founder of Life X, shares her experiences and the motivation behind creating a co-living company. She emphasizes the role of technology in optimizing co-living operations and the importance of fostering a community-based living experience for residents. Ritu and Marta discuss the need for better understanding and adoption of technology in the real estate sector, predicting that transparency, automation, and trust will be key to shaping its future. Ritu addresses misconceptions surrounding co-living, asserting that it is not limited to a niche audience but caters to a diverse range of people who value community and connection. In the rapid-fire section, she succinctly defines co-living as "share" and envisions a future where technology and co-living solutions can further enhance urban living experiences.

Notable Quotes: "We built an end-to-end residential platform that enables us to manage co-living efficiently." - Ritu Jain, CEO and Co- Founder of Life X • "I think technology can bring transparency, automation, and trust, which is something the real estate industry has been lacking for a long time." - Ritu Jain, CEO and Co-Founder of Life X • "Co-living is not only for a niche society, but it's also for people who are looking for a community-based living experience." - Ritu Jain, CEO and Co-Founder of Life X

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Marta Rocamora (COO, Co-Liv) and Eva White (CEO, Ariv Coliving)

Marta Rocamora interviews Eva, CEO of Ariv Coliving, a co-living operator in Switzerland, about her venture and the opportunities and challenges of the Swiss co-living market. They delve into the delicate balance between providing privacy and promoting social interactions in co-living spaces and the role of technology in supporting the operational processes. Eva shares her perspective on the untapped potential of co-living in Swiss cities like Zurich, Geneva, and Lausanne, given their strong international presence and expat communities.

Notable Quotes: Eva on balancing privacy and community building in co-living spaces: "Sometimes you just wanna come home, have your own space, close your door, and you don't want to talk to anyone else. But then if people are in the mood to socialize, we have huge communal areas." Eva on the potential for co-living in Swiss cities: "I think there's a lot of Swiss cities, Zurich, Geneva, Luanne, where you have very interesting underlying market dynamics. You have a lot of international firms, you have a lot of expats."

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Kristen Zupanic (Host, Advisor at Co-Liv, and Founder of Plot Twist Placemaking) and Tom Manwell (Founder and Director of Wellstudio Architecture)

In this episode, Kristen Zupanic talks to Tom Manwell, Founder and Director of Wellstudio Architecture, about designing co-living spaces that foster a sense of community, support mental and physical wellbeing, and operate sustainably. Tom shares how Wellstudio uses movement path mapping to understand and optimize the flow of residents through a building, creating spaces that encourage social interaction. Tom also discusses the importance of incorporating sustainable materials and energy-efficient systems in co-living spaces to reduce their carbon footprints. He highlights the potential for a holistic design that combines sustainability, community and wellbeing.

Notable Quote: "Health is wealth in life now. If you want to have a good life, then you need to be mentally and physically well, and actually spatial design and building you live in can really support that.”

Live from MIPIM 2023: Kristen Zupanic (Host) and Luka Bovone (Co-Living Operator)

In this insightful conversation, Kristen Zupanic and Jack discuss the intricacies of co-living dynamics and the role it plays in shaping modern urban lifestyles. They explore how co-living spaces offer an alternative to traditional housing, focusing on fostering a sense of community and creating shared experiences. They also touch on the unique challenges and opportunities that operators face in delivering a valuable co-living experience to their residents. Jack shares his perspective on the appeal of co-living and how it addresses the growing need for connection in today's urban settings.

Notable Quotes:

1. Luka Bovone on adapting to local cultures: "As we expand internationally, it's crucial to understand the nuances of each culture and adapt our co-living concepts to ensure they resonate with the local population."

2. Kristen Zupanic on the role of technology in co- living: "Technology plays a key role in streamlining the operational aspects of co-living spaces, as well as enhancing the overall experience for residents."

Live from MIPIM 2023:

Delving into Co-Living Dynamics with Kristen Zupanic and Jack Renteria of Alfa Developments (Co-Living Operator).

In this insightful conversation, Kristen Zupanic and Jack discuss the intricacies of co-living dynamics and the role it plays in shaping modern urban lifestyles. They explore how co-living spaces offer an alternative to traditional housing, focusing on fostering a sense of community and creating shared experiences. They also touch on the unique challenges and opportunities that operators face in delivering a valuable co-living experience to their residents. Jack shares his perspective on the appeal of co-living and how it addresses the growing need for connection in today's urban settings.

Notable Quotes:

1. Jack on the appeal of co-living: "Co-living offers an opportunity for people to connect and form lasting relationships, which is something that's increasingly difficult to achieve in today's urban settings."

2. Kristen Zupanic on the role of co-living operators: "It's important for operators to strike the right balance between providing privacy and promoting social interaction within their co-living spaces."

In this conversation, Christian Schmitz, Co-Liv Tech Ambassador, and Dillon Pike, the product manager of HousingAnywhere, discuss the definition of co-living from both a personal and a formal point of view.  Dillan explains in depth that co-living is a shared housing or community experience that includes shared amenities and is often managed by a host. Taking us on a journey from definition to experience ti final adoption, he highlights and share insights on what people are truly searching in those share arrangements, and how adopting new tools is key to facilitating how to build connection.  We invite you to understand more about the growing trend of co-living that people are craving for personal or social reasons.