“Three years ago, Urbanitae was a startup, and you could feel it structurally”
When we talk about investments, people come first. It’s not just about gaining the trust of our investors, which we achieve by selecting the best projects and providing transparent information. Our way of working must also reflect our values, starting with our team. When Nacho Oncina joined Urbanitae, we were fewer than 20 employees. Today, we are close to 70. But we still maintain the same essence. We talked to him about his three years as a designer at Urbanitae.
What does a typical day at work look like for Nacho Oncina at Urbanitae?
My typical day involves a lot of different tasks depending on what’s needed at the moment. If there’s a project on the horizon, I record Diego Bestard and then edit and publish the video that accompanies the project sheet. I also edit all the other video content we post at Urbanitae, like webinars, shorts we post on TikTok, or interviews from “Entre el punto y la U,” and I prepare the audio files we upload to our podcast.
Another task I handle is the layout for the landing pages we use in various campaigns. I also maintain our blog, among other things. I don’t get bored.
Nacho, you’ve done a bit of everything, from working in construction to running a clothing store and journalism. Which experience impacted you the most?
I think running the clothing store marked me the most. It was in the late ’90s, a time when Madrid was culturally and musically booming, and the store was on Fuencarral Street, between Chueca and Malasaña, so you can imagine… It allowed me to discover new environments and subcultures, which were quite interesting. Also, working with the public is wonderful and teaches you a lot.
Which job would you never do again?
I would never go back to construction. It’s an extremely tough job, and I have great respect for it. Besides the physical demands, working outdoors with very low or high temperatures depending on the season, in rain, sunshine, or frost… I think most people working in the service industry aren’t aware of how lucky they are.
What do you like most about working at Urbanitae?
Besides the air conditioning? No, seriously. What I like most is the team I work with. I know it sounds like a standard response, but it’s the truth. Everyone in the company is great, but within our department, there’s a special vibe, and we laugh a lot, which makes the day go by easier.
“People working in the service industry are not aware of how lucky they are”
Another thing I enjoy is the new challenges. Diego, our director, is always coming up with new ideas, and in the three years I’ve been here, he has pushed me to give my best and learn a lot in the process. I probably shouldn’t say this, so he doesn’t get too confident…
And what do you like the least?
The fast-paced times we sometimes work under, especially when multiple tasks are going on, and we have to put everything on hold to prioritize the projects we are funding – understandably. In those moments, stress kicks in… But we weather the storm professionally until the sun shines again.
How has Urbanitae changed since you joined in 2021?
Three years ago, Urbanitae was a startup. Consolidated, yes, but still a startup, and you could feel it structurally and organizationally, almost like a family business. We were 20 people, and everything was managed easily. Now, we’re about 70 – and we’ll have even more people in the coming weeks – with a fully established corporate structure, and there are new hires whose names I sometimes don’t remember… We might be losing the “romanticism” of the early years, but well… I’m becoming an old man who nostalgically looks back at the good old days.
We know you’re an avid reader. What book would you recommend to our Real Estate team?
I love the Real Estate team, even though – always with love – they’re the target of most of my jokes. I can think of many books to recommend since I know they genuinely enjoy reading. But I’ll go with a classic: Germinal, by Émile Zola.
From your perspective, how do you see the future of real estate crowdfunding?
I think it’s an investment modality with great potential. At Urbanitae, we aimed to make it accessible to everyone, starting with small amounts – 500 euros – and we’re seeing that it’s a success. What was once reserved for insiders is now accessible to non-experts who want to earn more than the crumbs offered by banks.
When will we see you DJing again?
Well, I don’t have any club gigs scheduled in Madrid for the next few weeks, mainly because I’ve been focused on my podcast series, Motions Radioshow, and more importantly, on starting a small agency/roster of DJs with my partners, aimed at providing music for private and corporate events.