Department of Property hosts successful PropTech Pitching Competition 2026
The Department of Property, together with the Urban Analytics and City Science Research Beacon and the Auckland University Property Student Society (AUPSS), hosted the PropTech Pitching Competition 2026.
The Department of Property successfully hosted the PropTech Pitching Competition 2026 on Friday 27 March 2026, providing a platform that connects student innovation with real-world property industry practice. Held in the 260-223 Case Room at the Sir Owen G Glenn Building on the City Campus, the competition brought together top-performing student teams from the Bachelor of Property (BProp) and the Master of Property Practice (MPP) programmes, who presented their PropTech solutions to a panel of industry judges.
The competition served as the annual showcase for PROP384 (the BProp PropTech course) and PROPPRAC707 (the MPP PropTech course). Throughout the semester or quarter, students worked in teams to investigate real challenges in the property market and develop technology-based solutions. The BProp brief focused on enhancing the accountability of Automated Valuation Model (AVM) estimates in compliance with the latest International Valuation Standards (IVS, 2025), while the MPP brief invited students to identify their own problems within property markets and design targeted solutions. Following in-class assessments, the best-performing teams from each course were selected to advance to the final pitching competition.
The evening began in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere with registration and refreshments, before opening remarks were delivered by Matt Tooman, Council member of the New Zealand Institute of Valuers (NZIV). With over thirty years of experience across valuation, sales, and advisory work in the property industry, Matt set a high professional tone for the pitches and discussions that followed.
The shortlisted teams then took to the stage in turn. Each team had 5 minutes to deliver their pitch, followed by 10 minutes of questions from the judging panel. Teams from the MPP and BProp courses presented in succession, showcasing strong problem identification, rigorous use of data and technology, and confident teamwork and communication.
The judging panel comprised three accomplished industry professionals: alongside Matt Tooman, Dr James Costello, Lecturer in the Department of Property at the University of Auckland and an MPropPrac graduate, and Dehardt van der Merwe, MBA, CG(Affiliated), Founder and Group Director of Liia NZ Limited and also an MPropPrac graduate. The judges assessed each team across five equally weighted criteria — clarity of problem definition, strength of the proposed solution, feasibility and scalability, use of data and technology, and communication and teamwork — each contributing 20% of the total score.
Following the judges' deliberations, the results were announced. The winning team from the MPP course comprised Mele Havea, Marcus Reinders, Nermeen Rose Haroun, and Jonnel Mamauag, while the winning team from the BProp course comprised Jeff He, Syon Kapoor, and Emanuela Sepetavc. The best team from each course received a $250 Prezzy Card. The judges also provided detailed and constructive feedback, helping students view their proposals through an industry lens and offering valuable guidance for their future practice and research.
The competition demonstrated the remarkable talent, creativity, and professionalism of University of Auckland Property students.
Closing remarks were delivered jointly by representatives from the Department of Property and the Urban Analytics and City Science Research Beacon, who extended sincere thanks to the participating students, the judges, the co-organisers, and all those who attended the event.
The competition demonstrated the remarkable talent, creativity, and professionalism of University of Auckland Property students. The proposals reflected both deep engagement with real industry problems and a strong ability to integrate data, technology, and property expertise — a promising signal for the future of New Zealand's built environment.
The event was co-organised by the Department of Property, the Urban Analytics and City Science Research Beacon (UACS), and the Auckland University Property Student Society (AUPSS) at the University of Auckland. Nico Cheifetz, Education Vice-President, and Obaidullah Buksh, Education Officer of AUPSS, served as Masters of Ceremony, ensuring the smooth running of the evening.
The Department of Property looks forward to continuing to host events of this kind, providing students with platforms to showcase innovative thinking, connect with industry practice, and build the skills that will support deeper integration between PropTech education and the property profession.