Tech funding moves quickly, so many may have forgotten when all the buzz was not about AI, but about crypto and blockchain. But while it might have disappeared from the headlines, blockchain has continued maturing as a technology and powering innovative startups.
In the latest TechTalk with TFN we were joined by Jack Land, Head of Marketing and Growth at MetaWealth, a platform that uses blockchain to make investment in real-world assets simple. We spoke about how they are combining blockchain and physical assets, MetaWealth’s growth and plans, and how Web3 is changing now it’s out of the spotlight.
Watch the full episode on YouTube here, and don’t forget to like and subscribe to TFN!
The promise of accessible real estate investment
Real estate can seem like an impossible investment for many people, with even home ownership an unaffordable dream. But the property, because its value has grown so much, has always been one of the best investments you can make. “Real estate is a cornerstone of a well-rounded portfolio,” Land told us. “But getting access to worthwhile deals is incredibly difficult — they take months, lawyers, underwriters, insurance, and a lot of capital.”
MetaWealth’s answer is to provide a platform that enables people to invest in real estate with as little as $100. It uses blockchain and tokenisation to enable a fractional market, making it easier for large numbers of people to participate in the same deal without the need for extensive and costly legal agreements. For Land, their service is about accessibility. “MetaWealth is here for the democratisation of this process,” he explained. “We want to give the man on the street the same access as high-net-worth individuals and investors.”
The low cost of participation means that property investment becomes a viable option for those who were previously excluded from the market. “We are tackling inequality at a time when job prospects for young people and wealth disparity have never been so challenging,” said Land.
MetaWealth’s platform also aims to make investment easy. Unlike the months that property transactions can usually take, Land says that a trade can be completed in less than ten minutes from anywhere in the world.
MetaWealth’s growth and funding strategy
MetaWealth has seen rapid growth. Funded largely by co-founders Amr Adawi, Darren Carvalho, and Michael Topolinski, it is just starting to explore funding rounds to fuel further expansion.
“Growth is going really well for the company,” Land said. “New users are joining every day. We have investors from about twenty-five different countries right now.” Part of that growth comes from the security of the property behind MetaWealth’s model. “We’ve got standing assets; buildings that have been either fully funded and are revenue generating, or are going to be within the next year-and-a-half, across four or five countries.”
The company is currently looking at a funding round to support further growth, Land explained. “We’re going into a seed round for a new foundation-level approach,” Land told us. “Essentially, we’re looking to aggregate a wider Real-World Asset marketplace together … improving access and bringing liquidity to a historically illiquid market.” He said there may also be scope for a Series A round in 2025 to fund more asset acquisition.
MetaWealth is also establishing a base in London as part of its growth, placing it in the heart of London’s tech and financial sectors.
A New hub for Web3 innovation in London
MetaWealth’s new base, near Liverpool Street in London, will be unlike other fintech HQs. “We were asked to partner with Solana Foundation and Super Team UK to create the world’s first tokenised co-working space, which will be called The Square,” Land explained.
While the premises will contain MetaWealth’s London offices, it will also function as a hub for Web3 innovation and development. Land says that the intention is to support the UK’s fintech sector, “by creating a permanent base in London, we hope to support Web3 startups and ensure the next evolution of financial services stays in the UK.” MetaWealth’s view is that supporting Web3 development — even for startups that may be competitors in the future — will benefit the whole sector, including MetaWealth. “Nobody’s competitive or cutthroat; if I know someone who can help you, I’ll connect you. A rising tide lifts all boats in Web3,” he said.
Land noted there were plenty of challenges. Although blockchain is being explored and adopted by many household names like Visa and PayPal, there was still a lot of ignorance and hesitation. “People still look at crypto and blockchain as they were five to seven years ago,” Land believes. “But the space has progressed leaps and bounds.” He points to a lack of knowledge of the technology among policymakers, meaning the regulation and control that could provide assurance to potential investors has been slow to develop.
Land believes that blockchain will be the foundation of the next evolution of fintech, and part of the industry’s role is to make sure people can take advantage effortlessly. Part of MetaWealth’s solution has been to make their platform as accessible as possible, removing understanding of blockchain as a barrier to entry. “Half of our users are Web 2.0,” says Land. “I call it the quiet onboarding of the next million users.”
Land also stresses the potential for MetaWealth, and Web3 generally, to increase diversity in investment and the sector. Land points out that MetaWealth, in addition to low-cost transactions, offers a range of education options on its platform to help people understand investment, as well as improving the diversity of the sector itself. “It’s incredibly diverse,” he said. “There are great initiatives in place for bringing marginalised communities or bringing women into the investment space, or the dev space or the creative space,” he said.
The future of real estate investment with Web3
While AI has been diverting people’s attention, Web3 has been maturing as a technology with startups like MetaWealth developing practical uses that take advantage of its strengths. As it becomes mainstream, Web3 has the potential to reshape the fintech sector.
Land says that, for its part, MetaWealth will be part of that transformation, opening property to a new generation of investors. “We’re not just streamlining real estate investment — we’re reshaping what it means to build wealth in the modern world.”
This episode of TechTalks with TFN is part of a partnership with MetaWealth. For partnering opportunities, contact akansha@techfundingnews.com or sales@techfundingnews.com.
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