Inside Blueprint: Why the "Built World" Conference Feels Different From Every Other Event in Vegas
Slice of Real Estate Team
10/16/2025
Introduction
Most conferences are forgettable. Blueprint isn’t. Held at the Venetian in Las Vegas, Blueprint has quietly become the annual gathering for people reshaping the built world, from real estate to construction to housing and everything in between. But what sets it apart isn’t the glitzy stage or the big-name speakers. It’s the mix of perspectives you won’t find anywhere else.
What Blueprint Actually Is
Blueprint isn’t just a “proptech” conference. It’s where multifamily CTOs swap notes on their tech stacks, real estate CEOs debate walkable communities, and founders pitch ideas that could redefine housing. In short, it’s the one place where every corner of the built environment collides.
How It All Started
When Martin first took the reins, he didn’t realize just how hands-on the job would be. “We look at ourselves like a Navy SEAL unit,” he admitted. “Very hand-to-hand, one-on-one with people.” That ethos, small team and high intensity, is what allowed Blueprint to carve out a reputation as different from the glossy but shallow industry events that came before.
Why It Stands Out
Plenty of conferences trot out panels. At Blueprint, the sessions are built for depth. One highlight this year: Dom Beveridge of 20for20 leading a brutally honest panel on how to separate real value from “shiny object” tech in multifamily. It’s a practical question facing every operator right now.
Then there’s the “Vision Stage,” where developers and cities show off radical ideas like Santa Clara’s rethink of community design, or JLL’s work on Boulevard, a massive retail project in Las Vegas.
And of course, the speaker lineup brings voices you rarely hear on stage. Eric Wu, founder of Opendoor, is one of this year’s headliners. So is Ankur Jain of Built Rewards and John Kite of Kite Realty.
A Customer Story (Sort Of)
Blueprint isn’t just where people listen. It’s where things happen. Martin says he’s met multiple attendees who found their co-founders there, or left with a completely new way of thinking about the industry after being exposed to a sector they’d never considered before.
Who It Helps
If you’re a VC, it’s a goldmine for finding startups. If you’re an operator, it’s a safe space to compare notes with other execs. And if you’re a founder, it’s a chance to land your next client. Even skeptics tend to walk away believers. “Usually when people come and they understand Blueprint, then they come every year and they love it,” Martin said.
Where It’s Going
Blueprint isn’t just staying in events. This year, the team is unveiling a new research subscription product, a signal that they’re moving beyond convening conversations to publishing insights that operators and investors can use year-round.
Backed by new ownership under Inman and Beringer Capital, Blueprint now has access to media muscle, journalist teams, and a network of relationships with companies like Realtor.com and CoStar.
The Bottom Line
Blueprint has grown fast in just five years, but Martin insists it hasn’t lost the details that make it different. “There’s a lot of hand-to-hand work involved,” he said. “But it’s those details that provide a special experience.”
For anyone curious about where the future of the built world is being debated and defined, Las Vegas is the place to be.
