A New Chapter: Neighbourgood Goes West

From Cape Town to San Francisco with Love

When we started Neighbourgood in July 2020, we wanted to completely reimagine the way people live and work in the world by creating a series of connected spaces designed for communities where everyone belongs.

Creating spaces where people belong sounds like it could be the slogan of any new proptech start-up but at its core, it is who we are and why we exist.?

As human beings, we thrive in community. We thrive in environments that are uplifting and inspiring; where we are seen; where it's okay to be different no matter what your story is, how much you earn, or where you are from.?

With us… you belong.??

And that's what Neighbourgood is all about.???

Almost 5 years later, after opening over 15 locations in the city of Cape Town, we have picked what we believe is the next Neighbourgood city where we feel we can make a positive difference. One where we feel at home.??

San Francisco.?

This expansion is deeply personal for me. When we considered the landscape of the USA, San Francisco stood out as a place where we instantly felt connected. It's a city that resonates with our values and our vision. It is one of the most talent-dense cities in the world, and is home to a diverse population of over 800,000 people. San Franciscans share so much of the same culture that makes Cape Town special. From its people and culture to its inclusivity and beautiful outdoors, it's a city that's hard not to love. It also has its challenges and for us that's exciting. We don't want to be one of the cool kids in Miami opening the next social club that feels exclusive. We want to do things differently.??

But here's the thing…?

Building a start-up is downright difficult. It is fraught with challenges from beginning to end.? Some might say you have to be crazy to do so. And maybe we are. Especially in the world's biggest industry: Real Estate.??

As we take the next steps towards building a (non-tech) start-up in the global tech capital of the world, we want to share the journey with you every step of the way. Through the good times and the bad.?

Over the past five years, we've achieved so much. But often, the behind-the-scenes hustle, the challenges, and the triumphs of running a company of nearly 200 people across numerous buildings can get lost. We want to change that. We want to be transparent about everything – the culture deals, the strategy meetings, the disagreements, and all the in-between moments that make up the startup experience.

We know you see the polished moments on social media – the beautiful spaces, the happy faces. But we want to show you the work that goes into creating those moments. As we embark on this new chapter in San Francisco, we're committed to sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly – the raw, honest reality of building a company from the ground up, across the ocean from Cape Town.

Our commitment to you is to be completely honest along the way. To share in the ups and downs that we face. To give you a real glimpse into what it is like building a start-up in the city of San Francisco.

We hope that in doing so, we will help others learn a little along the way and that some of our truly South African values will rub off on the world around us.?

Doing GOOD is an active commitment and this is ours…?

Stay tuned for more soon.??

Murray