PropTech · Growth Stage Due Diligence

PropTech Growth Due Diligence Checklist

The complete Growth due diligence checklist for PropTech startups. Prepare your data room, anticipate every investor request, and close your round faster.

All Checklists

8–16 weeks

Typical DD Timeline

5

DD Categories Covered

50+

Checklist Items Total

PropTech Regulatory DD Context

PropTech DD includes state-by-state licensing review, which is often more complex than founders anticipate. Investors will verify that brokerage activities in each state are covered by appropriate licenses or exemptions.

Data Room Essentials for Growth

Documents to have ready before DD begins

  • 3–5 years PCAOB-audited financials
  • Quality of Earnings report
  • All material contracts with change-of-control provisions flagged
  • Complete regulatory compliance documentation by jurisdiction
  • D&O insurance with adequate limits
  • Full cap table through all exit scenarios
  • Board committee charters and governance policies

LEGALLegal Due Diligence

Pre-IPO or strategic acquisition-grade legal review. Includes securities law compliance, international regulatory analysis, and potential anti-trust review for strategic transactions.

General Legal Items

  • Certificate of Incorporation and all amendments
  • Bylaws and any shareholder agreements
  • Cap table with fully diluted ownership by class
  • All convertible instruments (SAFEs, notes, warrants)
  • Option pool documentation and all grants
  • Founder IP assignment agreements
  • Co-founder agreements and vesting schedules
  • Material third-party agreements

PropTech-Specific Legal Items

  • Real estate brokerage licensing by state
  • MLS access agreements and Terms of Service
  • RESPA compliance review for referral fees
  • Fair housing compliance audit
  • Title company or escrow licensing (if applicable)

FINANCIALFinancial Due Diligence

PCAOB-audited financials. Quality of earnings (QoE) report from Big 4. Full revenue recognition analysis (ASC 606). Detailed working capital and free cash flow analysis.

General Financial Items

  • Financial statements (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow)
  • Bank statements (12+ months)
  • Accounts receivable aging report
  • Accounts payable aging report
  • Payroll records and headcount history
  • Revenue recognition policy documentation
  • Tax returns and any outstanding tax obligations
  • Insurance policies (D&O, E&O, general liability)

PropTech-Specific Financial Items

  • Revenue per transaction and take rate trend
  • Agent or partner commission structure documentation
  • Market-by-market unit economics cohort analysis
  • Working capital cycle for transaction-based revenue
  • Financing partner agreements and warehouse lines (if applicable)

PRODUCTProduct and Technical Due Diligence

  • MLS and data feed integration stability and coverage
  • Valuation model accuracy vs. appraisal benchmarks
  • Platform security for financial transaction processing
  • API rate limits and uptime guarantees from data partners
  • Mapping and location data licensing agreements

MARKETMarket Due Diligence

  • Market share by geography and property type
  • Interest rate sensitivity analysis on transaction volume
  • Agent or broker net promoter score
  • Competitive positioning vs. Zillow, Opendoor, and incumbents

TEAMTeam Due Diligence

Independent director background review. Compensation benchmarking study. Succession planning documentation review.

  • LinkedIn profiles for all founders and officers
  • Employment agreements for key personnel
  • Equity grant history and vesting schedules
  • Any prior employer IP invention disclosure forms
  • Non-compete and non-solicitation agreements
  • Professional reference contacts (3+ per founder)
  • Advisory board agreements and equity grants
  • Organizational chart as of current date

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Growth due diligence typically take for PropTech startups?

PropTech Growth due diligence typically takes 8–16 weeks. Pre-IPO or strategic acquisition-grade legal review. Includes securities law compliance, international regulatory analysis, and potential anti-trust review for strategic transactions. Having a complete data room ready before DD kicks off can reduce this timeline by 30–50%.

What PropTech-specific items do investors review during Growth DD?

For PropTech at the Growth stage, investors focus heavily on: Real estate brokerage licensing by state, MLS access agreements and Terms of Service, and Revenue per transaction and take rate trend, Agent or partner commission structure documentation. PropTech DD includes state-by-state licensing review, which is often more complex than founders anticipate. Investors will verify that brokerage activities in each state are covered by appropriate licenses or exemptions.

What should I put in my data room?

Your Growth data room should include: 3–5 years PCAOB-audited financials; Quality of Earnings report; All material contracts with change-of-control provisions flagged; Complete regulatory compliance documentation by jurisdiction; D&O insurance with adequate limits; Full cap table through all exit scenarios; Board committee charters and governance policies. Use a structured folder system that mirrors investor expectations — most institutional investors use a standard folder taxonomy.

What are the most common due diligence deal-killers?

The five most common DD deal-killers are: (1) undisclosed founder litigation or criminal history, (2) IP ownership gaps — particularly for university-origin technology, (3) customer contract terms that prevent assignment on change of control, (4) cap table math errors or undocumented equity grants, and (5) financial restatements required after revenue recognition review.

What team due diligence should I expect at the Growth stage?

Independent director background review. Compensation benchmarking study. Succession planning documentation review.

Download the Full Checklist

Get the PropTech Growth due diligence checklist as a Google Sheets or Notion template. Track completion status for every item in your data room.

Includes data room folder template, investor question tracker, and reference FAQ guide

Other PropTech Stages