Whether you’re a renter, homeowner, or landlord — many people can attest to the need for a more streamlined approach to real estate. Fortunately, real estate startups are creating groundbreaking solutions in the residential and commercial real estate sector.
From digitizing the closing process to providing a new rent-to-own system that empowers tenants to become first-time home buyers, these are the top real estate startups to watch in 2026.
Best Real Estate Tech Startups
The real estate industry is one of the many sectors being transformed by innovative startups and technological advancements. These top real estate startups are paving the way for an easier, more efficient way to manage real estate through easy-to-use tenant verification software and innovative proptech developments.
Disclaimer: With so many exciting real estate tech startups launching and growing worldwide, we aren’t able to cover them all. Furthermore, the startups that are listed below are not officially ranked and are listed in no particular order.
1. SmartRent
- Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
- Founders: Demetrios Barnes, Lucas Haldeman, Mitch Karren
- Founded In: 2017
- Funding: Post-IPO Equity, $256.5 Million
- Investors Include: Starwood Capital Group, Conversant Capital, Koch Investments Group
Property owners, managers, and homebuilders are able to streamline operations using the innovative software platform SmartRent, which assists with managing properties and even identifying new revenue opportunities. From parking management to self-guided property tours, SmartRent is a complete solution for the management of rental properties and their tenants.
2. Homeward
- Location: Austin, Texas
- Founders: Tim Heyl
- Founded In: 2018
- Funding: Debt Financing, $501 Million
- Investors Include: Blackstone Group, Norwest Venture Partners, Adams Street Partners
Homeward is a home-buying platform that aims to empower both the agent and buyer to make cash offers, negotiate prices, and even establish move-in dates on their own terms. Homeward offers support for selling and buying properties that benefit both home buyers and sellers to make the best deal possible.
3. Rhino
- Location: New York, New York
- Founders: Ankur Jain, Benjamin Lantos, Bryan Woods, Paraag Sarva
- Founded In: 2017
- Funding: Venture, $140.8 Million
- Investors Include: Lakehouse Ventures, Tiger Global Management, ff Venture Capital
Rhino is a real estate startup empowering renters. The platform is a security deposit alternative that allows renters to pay off their deposit in monthly increments, keeping their money in their pocket and simplifying the move-in process. With Rhino, Renters can make digital deposits, obtain security deposit and renters insurance, and take steps toward lease guarantees, if needed.
4. HqO
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts
- Founders: Chase Garbarino, Greg Gomer, Jared Stenquist, Kevin Mccarthy
- Founded In: 2018
- Funding: Series D, $156.9 Million
- Investors Include: Koch Industries, Insight Partners, Suffolk Capital
HqO is an operating system that aims to enhance the tenant experience for those renting office spaces by providing innovative solutions for property managers, owners, and landlords. Partner with desirable services, measure the effectiveness of real estate agents and managers, and provide a top-of-the-line experience all on one platform.
5. Own Up
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts
- Founders: Brent Shields, Mike Tassone, Patrick Boyaggi
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: Series C, $49.7 Million
- Investors Include: Techstars, Link Ventures, Brand Foundry Ventures
Own Up is a marketplace for buyers to explore, compare, and connect with top lenders to make the process of buying a home within their budgetary constraints transparent and straightforward. On Own Up's platform, homeowners and home buyers can shop for personalized rates for buying or refinancing homes. Plus, users gain access to Home Advisors that help to provide valuable insight and support through the process.
6. Simply Homes
- Location: Portland, Maine
- Founders: Brian Bagdasarian, Don Murdoch, Robert Kavanagh
- Founded In: 2020
- Funding: Series A, $24.5 Million
- Investors Include: Gutter Capital, Watchung Capital, Village Capital
Simply Homes is leveraging machine learning to disrupt the real estate industry and provide access to affordable housing. Their home-selling solution allows homeowners to sell houses that aren't in perfect condition at the best possible price without hidden fees.
7. Neighbor
- Location: Lehi, Utah
- Founders: Colton Gardner, Joseph Woodbury, Preston Alder
- Founded In: 2017
- Funding: Series B, $65.7 Million
- Investors Include: Andreessen Horowitz, Album VC, Fifth Wall
Neighbor empowers homeowners to turn extra space into profit by renting storage space on their property or in their homes. Through the Neighbor platform, users can find space for cars, goods, and more right in their neighborhood.
8. Raise
- Location: San Francisco, California
- Founders: Carrie Nyden, Justin Bedecarre
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: Series A, $26.5 Million
- Investors Include: Founders Fund, The House Fund, Point72 Ventures
Raise is innovating the commercial real estate industry by leveraging the power of technology to offer a platform for companies to search and book office spaces hassle-free. Used by Meta, OpenAI, and Y Combinator, Raise provides top-tier workplace solutions, brokerage services, project management, and an innovative operating system, WorkplaceOS.
9. Qualia
- Location: San Francisco, California
- Founders: Joel Gottsegen, Lucas Hansen, Nate Baker
- Founded In: 2015
- Funding: Series D, $160 Million
- Investors Include: Menlo Ventures, Tiger Global Management, 8VC
Used by real estate giants Redfin and Realtor.com, Qualia is a trusted real estate closing platform that is paving the way for a digitized home selling process. The online platform can be used by real estate professionals working in escrow, title, mortgage, or any other closing party to reduce workload and streamline the closing process digitally.
10. NoBroker
- Location: Bangalore, India
- Founders: Akhil Gupta, Amit Agarwal, Saurabh Garg
- Founded In: 2014
- Funding: Series E, $430.9 Million
- Investors Include: General Atlantic, Tiger Global Management, Moore Strategic Ventures
NoBroker is a proptech startup boasting India's first no-brokerage online marketplace for all things real estate. The real estate platform includes features for buying and renting residential and commercial properties in major cities across India, including listing properties for free, taking out a home loan, and receiving a rental agreement with next-day delivery.
11. RentSpree
- Location: Los Angeles, California
- Founders: Angela Stuart, Michael Lucarelli, Paul Sirisuphang
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: Series B, $27.7 Million
- Investors Include: Green Visor Capital, Rally Ventures, TenOneTen Ventures
RentSpree is a tenant verification platform that streamlines the vetting process for landlords or property owners and managers to get rental properties rented quickly without sacrificing tenant quality. Built to support property managers through the entire rental process, the platform boasts features for everything from rent estimates and applications to eSignatures and rental payments.
12. Doorstead
- Location: San Francisco, California
- Founders: Bernard Liang, Jennifer Bronzo, Ryan Waliany
- Founded In: 2019
- Funding: Series B, $37.3 Million
- Investors Include: MetaProp, Avanta Ventures, Madrona
Doorstead is a property management platform that simplifies leasing practices to ensure landlords and property owners receive guaranteed rental income without stress. On the online platform, landlords can receive upfront guaranteed rent payments as well as property management services, streamlining the rental process and reducing risk. Plus, Doorstead offers a vacancy cap that limits the time between rental agreements.
Final Thoughts
From property data management to commercial real estate investment, real estate startups are reimagining the way we buy, sell, and manage residential and commercial properties – turning the real estate market on its head. With new and exciting real estate startups launching every year, anticipate the evolution and growth of this list of top real estate startups to watch.
