Meet MetaProp: Satoshi Murakami, New Regional Director of APAC

MetaProp’s vision to accelerate the growth of real estate technology and the transformation of the built environment requires leaders to come together to support promising founders, and their startups, from all corners of the world. Our team does a fantastic job forging relationships from all corners of the industry; and we’ve built a deep community from 25+ countries to join us on our journey.

To ensure we are serving our partners and their market effectively, we strategically think about our business and what needs to be grounded in the region so we do things in alignment with our principles and the needs of our partners and founders. As we deepen our impact in Asia Pacific and understand our partners more, we’ve learned the importance of having someone local to connect them to MetaProp’s global ecosystem. We’re excited to share that Satoshi Murakami has joined the MetaProp team as Director of APAC.

Satoshi kindly spent a few minutes sharing more about his background and excitement for this opportunity. Read below:

Satoshi, why did you decide to join MetaProp?
Satoshi: I first joined MetaProp in September 2021 as an investment intern. During that time I learned a lot about due diligence and the lens to consider when evaluating a startup, no matter the check size. The enthusiasm and professionalism of the team is infectious. I see this team as Oceans 11 of the PropTech industry.

What is your favorite [real estate] brand?
S: I have a few including Westfield, WeWork, and Parkcourt (Mitsui Fudosan’s condo brand). These brands have my attention for a few reasons. Westfield is a rare shopping mall chain with cross border operations across hundreds of international properties. The way they manage high-quality controls in each location is unique and best in the world.  Similar to Westfield, WeWork has become a global icon for flexible office space. The company changed how we work and is one of the greatest PropTech stories so far. Park Court by Mitsui Fudosan, is one of the most prestigious condo brands in Japan. Well designed for not only residents but also for operations and maintenance. Something I  guarantee will increase your home equity if you purchase the one.

Why is working with startups and their founders important to you?
S: Working in innovation always makes me feel like I am living on the edge of what’s coming next. 

Which markets in APAC are most interesting to you in this new role?
S: This is a tough one since I love each nation in APAC, but I would pick Singapore, the Philippines, and Korea. First of all, it’s no brainer that Singapore is now the largest hub in APAC and a matured real estate market, there should be a strong demand to implement US PropTech. I also love the Philippines as the county has been emerging so fast, the city like Fort Bonifacio should be growing for next decades. For Korea, this one is personal. My wife is a big fan of BTS, my daughter loves Babyshark, and I always feel sympathy for Korea in many ways as a Japanese man. I also don’t want to exclude Indonesia and Thailand, both are my favorite destinations for vacation. These two nations are like big brothers in Asia - stable economy, guaranteed growth, and great motivation to implement PropTech.

What is your life like outside of work?
S: My life is full. I am a Dad of two kids, husband to a queen, and a diehard NBA & LA Lakers fan.

What is the best lesson you have learned?
S: If you don’t lose from time to time, you’re not fighting enough.

If you could travel to any year in a time machine, what year would you choose and why?
S: That’s easy. I’d go back to 2011 when I first learned about bitcoin and tell myself to buy as much as possible. You don’t need to ask why. I also have a special first name which is the same as a professor who invented bitcoin.