With urbanization occurring at a size and scale never before experienced and a global surge in demand for shelter, housing stocks have not expanded quickly enough nor in a way responsive to real needs and demands. This issue affects households in both developing and advanced economies around the world. Rising housing costs cause great financial stress on families and individuals. The cost of housing and rent has increased at a far greater rate than income, especially in large desirable cities where there are significant job opportunities. A recently released McKinsey Global Institute report on housing affordability calls attention to the imbalance in supply and demand revealing the great need for affordable housing.

Supply and affordability are but two areas of concern. Other situations deal with shifting demographics and new patterns of living; the opportunities that technology afford for housing from finances to construction to assisting occupants; and how housing intersects with global warming and issues of resilience.

The ecosystem of housing is complex and includes both public and private stakeholders. In order to respond to the current situation, new and innovative ideas are needed. Therefore, IE Entrepreneurship
& Innovation Center and IE School of Architecture and Design are planning a Venture Day for all start-up initiatives related to the overall theme of housing for the future to be held in Singapore in January 2019.