The FORT Podcast: Mark Campbell – Co-Founder of Jasper.io & A Fantastic Story of a European Industrial JV and the Evolution of Jasper
Mark Campbell is the Co-Founder of Jasper.io has over 13 years of experience with commercial real estate firms in NZ, UK, and Europe. Most recently, Mark led a commercial real estate joint venture between Blackstone and M7, overseeing assets currently worth more than $12 billion NZD, in seven countries. Mark led the fund since inception and oversaw the acquisition and ongoing asset management of c.1,000 assets.
On this episode, Mark talks about what working with Blackstone in the UK and Europe looks like and how a company of that size operates in real estate. They also talk about the inception of Jasper and the decision to turn down an offer in Europe to head back to New Zealand to launch Jasper.
Listen on:
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(03:08) – Mark’s Background, Career in Real Estate, Professional Rugby, Blackstone, and Jasper
(27:30) – Was there something in the M7 and Jasper vs. Blackstone opportunities that drove you to take the more risky decision?
(31:19) – What makes Blackstone great and what did you learn working for them that will carry through the rest of your career?
(38:48) – How does someone like Blackstone’s pump deal flow from a $150m portfolio to 8 Billion?
(47:18) – How did Blackstone react when you turned them down to start Jasper?
(52:14) – What is Jasper and what are you out to accomplish?
(1:00:48) – Are you only doing your own deals or can other operators get on the platform to raise capital?
(1:03:01) – How are you finding investors and are your investors local or global?
(1:05:58) – How big is the New Zealand Market?
(1:07:44) – What’s your process in raising for a deal?
(1:09:54) – What’s the investor experience post-investment?
(1:00:17) – Are you seeing your investors being seasoned RE investors or are they people with capital who have never had access to get into deals before?
(1:19:10) – What are interest rates in New Zealand?
(1:20:44) – Has tourism picked up?
(1:21:22) – What do people in New Zealand think about Americans?
(1:22:51) – Is there something about growing up in New Zealand that’s shaped who you are today?
(1:24:44) – What’s the best event/festival in Europe?
(1:26:22) – How can people get in touch with you and Jasper?
Email – mark.campbell@jasper.io
Episode Summary
Campbell’s journey of raising capital for his venture lays the foundation for a dialogue filled with invaluable insights for aspiring and established individuals in the real estate sector.
Embarking on the journey of raising capital, Campbell and his partner navigated the intricacies of negotiating company valuation and investment percentages. The discussion emphasizes the critical importance of understanding and adeptly handling these financial aspects to secure essential funding. Campbell’s experience underscores the significance of transparency, clear communication, and effective negotiation in attracting and securing investor confidence and investment, laying a robust financial foundation for the burgeoning venture.
Progressing into the realm of capital utilization, the conversation delves into the strategic allocation of funds within the business. Campbell’s insights illuminate the path towards optimal fund distribution, ensuring each business aspect receives adequate financial support, fostering holistic growth and development. This segment highlights the pivotal role of astute financial management in ensuring the sustained growth and success of real estate ventures, reinforcing the necessity for strategic financial planning and management.
Navigating the challenges of the initial business stages, the dialogue explores the hurdles encountered and the strategies employed to overcome them. Campbell’s experience offers a beacon of guidance, providing pragmatic solutions and insights for effectively navigating these challenges. The discussion reinforces the essentiality of resilience, strategic foresight, and adaptability in overcoming obstacles, ensuring individuals are well-equipped to steer their ventures towards sustained growth and success in the complex real estate landscape.
In the growth trajectory exploration, Campbell delves into the strategies that propelled the business expansion. The discussion underscores the importance of comprehensive market analysis, innovative approaches, and robust customer engagement in driving sustained business growth. Campbell’s insights offer a roadmap for effective business expansion, ensuring individuals are equipped with the strategies and approaches for fostering robust business growth in the dynamic real estate sector.
As the conversation unfolds, the focus shifts to the evolving business strategies in alignment with market trends and dynamics. Campbell’s experience offers insights into the adjustments and shifts in business approaches to remain competitive and relevant in the real estate industry. The discussion highlights the importance of staying abreast of market trends, ensuring businesses adapt and evolve in synchronization with market demands, reinforcing their competitive edge in the industry.
Delving into technological integration, the dialogue explores the transformative impact of technology on the real estate sector. Campbell highlights the role of cutting-edge technology in enhancing business operations, efficiency, and customer interactions, underscoring the importance of technological adoption for modern real estate ventures. His insights stand as a testament to the significance of embracing technological advancements, ensuring businesses are at the forefront of the technological revolution in the real estate sector.
In the segment exploring the long-term vision and goals, Campbell discusses the future aspirations and expansion strategies for sustained business growth and success. The discussion offers a panoramic view of long-term planning and goal setting in the real estate business journey, ensuring listeners are equipped with the insights and perspectives for effective long-term planning, fostering sustained success and expansion.
Circling back to personal experiences and learnings, Campbell offers insights, advice, and reflections from his real estate journey. The discussion provides listeners with valuable perspectives, ensuring they are equipped with comprehensive knowledge and insights for their real estate endeavors, fostering informed decision-making and strategic planning.
The FORT is produced by Straight Up Podcasts