In the debut of the Founders’ Series, Ryan and Nadine sit down with William Sankey, CEO of Northspyre, to unpack what it really takes to build a tech company inside one of the most conservative industries: commercial real estate.

William shares the moment he knew he had to build Northspyre, the messy leap from idea to execution, and whether, after a decade of lessons, he would choose the founder path again. They explore hiring for intangibles, why CRE negotiates SaaS contracts like construction deals, and how developers succeed or stumble when pivoting into hot asset classes like data centers and affordable housing.

He also highlights the industry shifts people are overlooking, from the real impact of AI to the regulatory pressures that will shape the future of development.

If you want an unfiltered look at what it takes to build in CRE, this episode delivers.

Show Notes:

00:10: Welcome to the Founders’ Series

2:04: Introducing William Sankey

2:31: “I have to build this”: William’s origin moment

11:09: From idea to execution: the messy middle

17:14: Would he become a founder again?

21:30: Hiring for intangibles in an early-stage company

30:44: Why negotiating SaaS contracts in CRE is so uniquely challenging

34:40: Developers chasing “hot” asset classes: when it works and when it burns

40:39: Underhyped shifts: AI, regulation, and capital

47:14: Postgame Recap (actionable insights)

50:06: Closing thoughts & where to reach us

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