NAR's Second Century Ventures Adds Top Industry Strategist Dave Garland to Investment Team

CHICAGO, July 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Second Century Ventures, the strategic investment arm of the National Association of Realtors^®, has selected Dave Garland – a respected industry consultant and investor – to join the firm. Garland will help set a forward looking direction for the venture capital fund, which develops early-stage technology companies, and guide its technology accelerator program, REach.

In this new role, Garland will search out and evaluate investment opportunities that promise to improve the global residential and commercial real estate industries. Under his guidance, SCV and REach will fund and nurture innovation that will make a positive impact on the day-to-day activities of NAR members.

"Partnering with a real estate executive who has practical brokerage, development and technology experience is a true win for NAR and the industry as a whole," said Dale Stinton, CEO of NAR. "This is by far the strongest team we've ever put together at SCV and REach. Combined with the Realtor^® brand, SCV continues to be the number one incubator of ideas and technologies in the real estate space."

Garland will continue his work from his Silicon Valley office in Menlo Park, Calif., and report to SCV Managing Director Mark Birschbach. "As a mentor for REach^®, Dave has already been playing an active role in the success of our companies, and behind the scenes, he has driven many of the industry's biggest deals. We are fortunate to have him as part of our team," said Birschbach.

Garland brings over 16 years of strategic advisory experience to numerous venture-backed, public and private real estate companies - bridging these entities with established brokerages and technology firms. As a startup investor, he sits on the boards of growing organizations in Silicon Valley. 

"Dave is an accomplished professional. He knows our industry from the street up to the very highest levels," said Mike Ryan, RE/MAX, LLC executive vice president.  "He is a seasoned, knowledgeable broker with a stellar track record for identifying promising technologies and startups with a real future." 

As an industry practitioner, Garland has acquired, owned and managed portfolios of single-family residential, commercial and development properties in 30 states.  During the housing crisis, he worked with several key organizations to create practical solutions for thousands of real estate professionals, including critical short sale programs instrumental in helping homeowners survive the great recession.

Garland holds an MBA from the Melbourne Business School and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Notre Dame.  He has also attended advanced programs at Oxford and Stanford and is a licensed real estate broker.

Over the past nine years, NAR and SCV have invested in and cultivated dozens of innovative technology companies, including well-known names: DocuSign, Xceligent, SentriLock and zipLogix, and past companies, ePropertyData and ifbyphone. 

REach is among the largest tech accelerators in the industry with a network of experts that includes over 300 executive level mentors and more than 4,000 Realtors.  Past participant companies include well-known names: Updater, BombBomb, and SmartZip.

About Second Century Ventures
Second Century Ventures (SCV) is an early-stage technology fund, backed by the National Association of Realtors®, which leverages the association's 1.1 million members and an unparalleled network of executives within real estate and adjacent industries.  SCV systematically launches its portfolio companies into the world's largest industries including real estate, financial services, banking, home services, and insurance. SCV seeks to define and deliver the future of the world's largest industries by being a catalyst for new technologies, new opportunities, and new talent. Learn more at www.secondcenturyventures.com. 

About REach
REach^® is a unique strategic accelerator created by Second Century Ventures, the investment arm of the National Association of Realtors^®, which helps technology companies launch into the real estate vertical and its adjacent markets. REach^® is a 9-month program that provides education, mentorship and market exposure to help its portfolio companies access the trillion-dollar real estate market and leverage NAR's strategic expertise. REach^® accepts fewer than a dozen companies each year to access one of the world's largest industries. Learn more at www.narreach.com.

About National Association of Realtors^®
The National Association of Realtors^®, "The Voice for Real Estate," is America's largest trade association, representing over 1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. 

Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the "News, Blogs and Video" tab on the website. 

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SOURCE National Association of Realtors

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