Managing Partner Peter Schravemade knows REACH Australia and New Zealand from the inside out. Before he took the helm, both he and his wife, Ebonnie, went through the accelerator program with their startup BoxBrownie.
That experience, he says, changed how he thinks about what a good program should do – and how it should feel to be part of one.
“It’s a little-known fact that my proptech company went through REACH back in the day,” Peter says.
“In fact, both myself and my wife Ebonnie were at BoxBrownie when we went through the US program.
“And the other third part of our team, Tom Ellis, (REACH portfolio manager), went through the Australian and New Zealand program with a company called UbiPark. So the people running the program have actually been through it, and that makes a big difference.”
By January, the REACH ANZ portfolio will exceed 50 companies, making it the largest Second Century Ventures (SCV) portfolio outside the United States.
“We identify maybe 500 companies in the sector and we have over 50 in our portfolio,” Peter says.
“That puts us at over ten per cent, which is huge.”
That level of engagement gives weight to the program’s influence and underscores the strength of the proptech sector in Australia and New Zealand.
REACH ANZ also occupies a unique position in the market as both an accelerator and an investor.
Peter explains that Second Century Ventures, REACH’s parent company, believes the best way to build success is to combine capital with capability.
“If we’re going to give you funding, we want you to sit as part of the accelerator so we can grow and boost not only the investment we’ve made, but set you up for success moving forward.”
This combination sets REACH apart from others in the sector. While many venture groups and accelerators have come and gone, REACH continues to evolve and expand.
“When I started, there were 40 to 60 companies that said they funded proptech,” Peter says.
“Some have pulled out, and others haven’t invested in years. We’re not competing with anyone. We want to grow the sector.”
A program designed for real results
When Peter and Ebonnie took over the program, they completely restructured it, moving away from a one-size-fits-all model to a customised pathway for each company. The result, Peter says, has been transformative for both founders and outcomes.
Every business that joins REACH ANZ now follows an individual plan based on its needs, goals and stage of growth.
Rather than running every startup through the same sessions or expecting them to attend the same events, the program tailors each experience to where the company will gain the most value.
“If a company’s in construction tech, we don’t send them to a residential sales event. It makes no sense,” Peter says.
“We now focus on bespoke pathways with measurable return on investment.”
That same logic applies to mentorship. Instead of assigning advisers from a general list, the REACH team now pairs founders with mentors who have direct experience in their area of focus.
“We no longer just assign random mentors,” Peter explains. “If you’re in property management, you get mentors who actually know that space.”
The team has also developed an extensive e-learning platform, giving founders access to five years of presentations and resources that help them fast-track learning and avoid common mistakes.
The goal, Peter says, is to ensure that every aspect of the program is commercially relevant, practical and grounded in real industry experience.
Further, over the past six months, Tom has helped REACH Australia and New Zealand’s portfolio companies secure more than $10 million in capital – an outstanding achievement in what can be described as a particularly challenging fundraising environment.
“Every proptech company needs funding; it’s the common thread,” he said.
“But right now, raising capital is hard. To have our companies secure more than $10 million shows both the strength of their innovation and the value of the accelerator model.”
The power of community
For Peter, REACH’s greatest strength is the community it has built and continues to expand.
With nearly 50 companies under one umbrella, the program is creating opportunities to solve one of the industry’s biggest pain points: the lack of integration between different pieces of technology.
That sense of collaboration comes to life each March at REACH Genesis, a three-day event held on the Gold Coast that brings together founders, mentors, investors and industry leaders from across Australia and New Zealand.
Peter describes Genesis as the heartbeat of the REACH calendar, an annual event that blends innovation, education and connection.
“Genesis is our chance to introduce the new cohort and bring everyone together,” he says.
“On the first night, our new companies pitch their ideas to a room filled with collaborators, mentors, coaches, franchise groups and real estate institutes. It’s our way of saying, ‘Here are the six or seven new companies joining the family.’”
The following two days are dedicated to collective learning, with alumni returning to share their experiences and insights.
Discussions focus on the recurring challenges that can derail a proptech business and the strategies that successful founders have used to overcome them.
“We go through the top five things that destroy a proptech company, look at the symptoms and the ways to prevent them,” Peter explains.
“Nearly every company that’s come through REACH has faced these issues at some point. By identifying them early, we help founders build stronger, more resilient businesses.”
Genesis has also become an important networking platform.
Many partnerships, integrations and collaborations begin at the event, supported by the shared goal of improving the property industry through smarter technology.
“Genesis is where the REACH network really comes alive,” Peter says.
“It’s not just about pitches and presentations. It’s about conversations that spark new ideas and relationships that last long after the event ends.”
The next REACH Genesis will take place 20–22 March 2026 on the Gold Coast.
Success stories and shared wins
Over the past six years, REACH ANZ has helped shape some of the region’s most recognised proptech brands, including Tapi, Igloo, Soho, UbiPark, Leesy, Sense Global, Milk Chocolate, Propic and more.
Peter says success comes in many forms, from major exits to product evolution.
“ListAssist came into the 2024 cohort and had a successful exit last year to Inspect Real Estate,” he says.
“In two years, Chris (McGoldrick) built his tech, exported it to the US, and was acquired. That’s a win.”
Other companies, like Leesy, have found success through transformation rather than sale.
“When Leesy came in, the product changed a lot based on advice from our mentors,” Peter explains.
“What he built at the start isn’t what’s in the market now.”
Graduation, Peter says, is not the end of the relationship.
“We see ourselves as strategic investors,” he says.
“We never really leave their side. We’re still providing advice to companies that joined in our first year.”
REACH also continues to create new opportunities for the proptech community, including Top of the Props, a pitch battle with a $10,000 prize that will return in 2026.
“It unearthed some really exciting companies last year, and we’ll do it even bigger next time.”
Ultimately, Peter believes the REACH mission remains straightforward and grounded.
“Proptech isn’t about shiny tools,” he says. “It’s about solving real problems in the property industry, and doing it alongside the people who live those problems every day.”
Client testimonials:
Nick Melrose – founder, ScaleApp
“The REACH program has been a game-changer for us. Beyond providing the framework to help shape our vision, it’s given us a sense of community we didn’t realise we were missing. Their support truly marked a pivotal moment in our journey, and I’d strongly recommend anyone with the chance to get involved to jump at it.
Richie Ragel – co-founder, Milk Chocolate
“Being part of the REACH cohort validated our vision within the proptech ecosystem. It positioned us alongside some of the most forward-thinking companies in the industry and opened doors that would have taken years to unlock independently.
“REACH has created a genuine community of founders and industry leaders who continue to support each other long after the program ends. That ongoing collaboration has been one of its greatest strengths.”
Michael Watson – founder, Leesy
“REACH was able to connect us to the right people at the right time across Australia’s real-estate ecosystem to help accelerate our businesses growth – these connections have been invaluable.”
