An international venture capital fund has joined forces with Queensland’s main property industry body in a move designed to turn the state into a primary hub for digital property systems.
Under a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) will work alongside Second Century Ventures (SCV). The global investment firm is backed by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and maintains a portfolio containing more than 375 companies worldwide. This fresh commercial alliance will focus on discovering, financing and guiding early-stage tech startups operating throughout the Australian real estate market.
The division of responsibilities will see SCV deploy its REACH Australia and New Zealand team to deliver international market research and provide access to cutting-edge software. In exchange, the REIQ intends to use its internal market data, member networks and political advocacy to help transform these digital concepts into practical tools for working professionals.
According to REIQ Chief Executive Antonia Mercorella, the agreement demonstrates to international tech firms that the region is prepared for inbound investment and fresh concepts. She highlighted that the domestic property market currently faces a complicated mix of legislative updates, low supply and steady growth.
“Our vision is for Queensland to be the epicentre of proptech in Australia – and as a market experiencing sustained growth, supply pressure, and regulatory reform, we have much to gain from innovation,” Ms Mercorella said.
“Around the world, proptech innovations are reshaping how cities are designed, built and managed, and we have an opportunity to do the same here in Queensland.
“We believe proptech innovation has an important role to play in helping address some of the wicked housing problems we face in Australia at all levels of Government.
“This collaboration with Second Century Ventures gives us a practical pathway to identify and explore solutions that support a strong and sustainable housing system.”
Leadership from the investment firm viewed the agreement as a formal step toward becoming an embedded innovation partner within a rapidly expanding regional economy. Dave Garland and Tyler Thompson, Managing Partners of Second Century Ventures and REACH, stated that the area presents both immediate challenges and commercial possibilities.
“The REIQ brings progressive leadership, strong practitioner engagement and meaningful influence with government – all essential ingredients for real estate technology to scale successfully,” Mr Garland said.
“We see Queensland as a market with both urgency and opportunity, and we want the global innovation community to view this partnership as a clear invitation to collaborate, test and grow.”
This latest agreement expands on previous efforts by the REIQ to assist local tech entrepreneurs. The institute has historically offered industry mentorship to founders navigating the local REACH accelerator scheme. Additionally, the organisation created its own property technology conference, known as LIFT, which debuted in 2025. The upcoming LIFT 2026 event is set to run from 14 to 15 July 2026. Furthermore, Ms Mercorella maintains a seat on the board of PropTech CoLab, an independent entity established to progress property software across Australia and New Zealand.
