Feb 22 2024 30 mins
Katharine Lau is the CEO and Co-founder of Stuf, a self storage startup delivering modern, tech-enabled storage to consumers and businesses. Stuf partners with real estate owners to monetize basements, garages, and other spaces in commercial buildings as storage, creating new cash flow opportunities for landlords while providing neighborhoods with a new amenity. Stuf was recognized by Fast Company as one of The World’s Most Innovative Companies in 2022. Previously, Kat led the supply-side business of Industrious, the nation's leading premium workplace and coworking provider, where she pioneered an industry shift to asset- and liability-light agreements with property owners.
(1:42) - Stuf origin story
(5:46) - Target markets and type of buildings suited for conversions
(10:00) - Business model & scaling CRE conversions
(11:32) - Stuf's tech stack
(15:02) - Feature: Housing Trust Silicon Valley
(16:14) - Industrious transition from asset-heavy to asset-light
(20:44) - WeWork's tumultuous office lease renegotiations
(22:34) - Future of office uses
(25:44) - Office-to-art space conversion
(27:22) - Collaboration Superpower: Marie Kondo
💚 Learn more:
➡️ Stuf's site
➡️ Katharine Lau on LinkedIn
💚 Feature:
➡️ Housing Trust Silicon Valley's site - Housing finance & public-private partnerships to create more equitable & affordable communities.
💚 Connect with Tangent:
➡️ Edward Cohen on LinkedIn
➡️ Edward Cohen on X
➡️ Jeff Berman on LinkedIn
➡️ Jeff Berman on X
➡️ Zach Aarons on LinkedIn
➡️ Tangent on LinkedIn
➡️ Tangent on X
Disclaimer: Tangent podcast is for entertainment and informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advise. Nothing contained on our program constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Tangent, Camber Creek, MetaProp, or any third party guest to buy or sell any securities, public or private, other financial instruments or funds.