Oparo

About Oparo

Oparo operates as a real estate investment firm in the United Kingdom, leveraging proprietary technology to identify and appraise property assets. The company was founded in 2017 by Toby Wilde, who has a background as a property developer, estate agent, and a founding partner of the property data platform Sprift.com. He is joined by partners with extensive experience in real estate, technology, and finance, including Babak Gharbi, an investment banker with 30 years of experience at firms like Lehman Brothers and Citigroup, and Ray Christopher, a corporate financier with a background at Amazon and Dell.

The firm's core business revolves around an algorithm that analyzes millions of data points to flag 'off-market' real estate assets for investment. This data-driven methodology is designed to facilitate quicker investment decisions and disrupt traditional real estate investment models. The algorithm identifies between 500 and 2,000 potential assets monthly, which are then categorized and graded. Oparo's business model is not based on a SaaS subscription; instead, it focuses on direct real estate investment and structured finance solutions. The company partners with family offices and established developers, identifying opportunities that match their specific investment mandates, which typically range from £500,000 to £25,000,000.

Oparo's investment focus includes a variety of asset classes such as land, new builds, social housing, commercial conversions, and income-generating assets. A significant part of their strategy is dedicated to social and supported housing, where they partner with housing associations to source properties and create quality homes. This initiative, called Oparo Social, aims to be a PropTech-driven social housing investor in the U.K. In 2022, the company delivered 135 supported housing units valued at £30 million and in 2023, it secured institutional funding to deliver £500 million of mainstream housing. The company positions itself as a REACT (Real Estate and Computer Technology) firm, aiming to increase efficiency and create a positive social impact through its technology-first approach.