JLL Spark Launches $100 Mn Global Venture Fund Focused On Asia-Pacific Startups

Chicago-based JLL Spark has announced the creation of $100 Mn JLL Spark Global Venture Fund.

JLL Spark is a global business that identifies and delivers new technology-driven real estate service and is a division of JLL. JLL is a professional services firm based out of Chicago, that specializes in real estate and investment management. The company visions to reimagine the world of real estate and to create rewarding opportunities and amazing spaces.

The new fund focuses on seed and Series A investments, as well as select later stage rounds. Typical investment size will range from a few hundred thousand to several million dollars.

Elaborating the vision, Christian Ulbrich, JLL’s Global CEO said,  “Creating this $100 Mn venture fund through JLL Spark allows us to complements and expands our substantial ongoing investments in innovative, cutting-edge digital solutions, which is a core part of our Beyond strategic vision.”

JLL Spark: What’s In Store For The Startups?

JLL Spark will be on the lookout for technology startups with products that can help JLL investors and clients, or that can help JLL businesses.

The plan is to invest in companies focused on leveraging technology to improve everything from real estate development and management to leasing and investing while enhancing the customer experience.

The fund will be helpful for entrepreneurs and their companies, giving them an opportunity to connect with JLL’s business lines and clients for insightful feedback and product distribution.

Asia Pacific: A Growing Startup Hub

JLL forecasts that funding for proptech startups in the Asia Pacific region will reach $4.5 Bn a year by 2020

As Mihir Shah, Co-CEO at JLL Spark believes, Asia Pacific is home to the world’s leading smart cities, many of which are powered by tech-enabled real estate tools. “JLL is committed to cultivating next-generation proptech startups and promoting Asia Pacific as a hub of technology innovation for real estate, and JLL Spark Global Venture Fund is an extension of that goal,” he added.

Other major funds launched in India since last year include names such as Alteria Capital, Unitary Helion, Epiq Capital India Fund, Stellaris Venture Partners and Trend Micro Startup Fund. Most recently,  Abhishek Agarwal, an angel investor-turned-fund manager launched his $10 Mn early-stage VC fund — Rockstud Capital Investment Fund.

According to Inc42 Data Labs H1 2017 report, VC investments in India comprised 50% of the total investments in H1 2014. In the last two years, this percentage has dropped to 30%. However, the interest shown by the investors in the Indian landscape to scale up the startups at early-stage, is pushing the entrepreneurs towards further innovation. And JLL looks to capitalise on the opportunity.

“The fund gives us the unparalleled opportunity to partner with local and global entrepreneurs who can utilise the resources of JLL’s business lines to rapidly grow their companies while creating value for JLL’s clients” adds Mihir Shah. With the Indian government pushing on the ‘Smart City’ initiative to transform India’s cities these are really exciting times for JLL Spark.