News
Even before the commission crunch, real estate agents have struggled to make ends meet. Through brokerage partnerships, Upfront aims to ease access to credit for working agents.​
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Diagram Ventures led a $2.5 million funding round for real estate fintech platform Upfront, a tech solution that streamlines credit access for working real estate agents through brokerage partnerships, Inman has learned.
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ROC Venture Group also contributed to the round, $1.5 million of which arrives as equity. The remaining $1 million is debt funding.
After working decades in real estate, Katherine Winston and Kenya Burrell-VanWormer were tired of the statistics showing how the majority of real estate agents were women, but most leadership roles in the sector were held by men.
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So earlier this year they launched Equity Angels, a social impact organization aiming to increase the diversity in real estate tech or “prop-tech” by helping underrepresented founders land funding for their startups and get their businesses going.
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Equity Angels has a three-part strategy to reach that goal.
Upfront provides innovative financial solutions for agents and brokers, The Studio Home leverages Web3 visualization for curated home furnishings, Maverick Systems optimizes big data analytics for agent acquisition and retention, and BILLIONS specializes in streamlining operational solutions for high-performing teams.
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The founders of these startups include some of the most seasoned and unique tech entrepreneurs in real estate today. One such founder is Diana Zaya of Maverick Systems, whose father was raised in a minimalist "mud hut" in Syria, but with hopes of finding a more fulfilling life. After receiving his degree in engineering, he immigrated to the U.S. to start his family. Raised with this dedication to achievement, Diana has established a performance-based system for recruiting and retaining real estate agents. She is positioned to dramatically improve how the industry optimizes big data analytics to enhance brokerage growth strategies.
Equity Angels—a social impact organization dedicated to fostering fair access to innovation and opportunity—has named its 2024 cohort for its first-ever accelerator program. Upfront provides innovative financial solutions for agents and brokers, The Studio Home leverages Web3 visualization for curated home furnishings, Maverick Systems optimizes big data analytics for agent acquisition and retention, and Billions specializes in streamlining operational solutions for high-performing teams.
“With such a diverse and seasoned group of founders, we’re all learning so much from one another,” remarked Equity Angels Founder Kenya Burrell-VanWormer. “We’re honored to be working with such inspiring founders and look forward to helping grow their businesses through our accelerator program.”
Equity Angels names the 2024 cohort for its first-ever accelerator program. Upfront provides innovative financial solutions for agents and brokers, The Studio Home leverages Web3 visualization for curated home furnishings, Maverick Systems optimizes big data analytics for agent acquisition and retention, and BILLIONS specializes in streamlining operational solutions for high-performing teams.
Leading conference producer supports diversity-focused accelerator through its annual gathering of built world visionaries​
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Equity Angels, a social impact organization dedicated to advancing diversity for success in technology startups — announces a strategic alliance with Blueprint, the real estate industry's largest global gathering of industry innovators and investors, leading the charge in changing the built world, from construction to transaction.
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"Blueprint is all about new ideas, innovation and connections, which is why we are thrilled to welcome the emerging startups coming through the Equity Angels program," stated Martin Kelly, President of Blueprint. "Katherine Winston and Kenya Burrell-VanWormer are building a strong foundation for their early-stage founders and we are happy that Blueprint Vegas can provide the platform for them to present alongside the top executives, investors and startup entrepreneurs from across the industry."
The tech accelerator as founded by 2018 Inman Person of the Year Kenya Burrell-VanWormer, Chief Growth Officer at NEO, and Katherine Winston, founding member, Marketing Head at Plunk​
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Technology startup accelerator Equity Angels has selected its first cohort of companies for its strategic advisory services. Four companies make up the cohort, each addressing a unique corner of the proptech space. It includes agent and broker financial services firm Upfront, home furnishing visualization solution The Studio Home,recruiting and retention company Maverick Systems, and Billions, a startup that strives to improve operations for high-performing teams.
Equity Angels and MIAMI Realtors® forge historic partnership to diversify proptech
In a groundbreaking move that promises to reshape the landscape of real estate technology, Equity Angels, a visionary social impact organization, has teamed up with the MIAMI Association of Realtors (MIAMI), the nation’s largest local Realtor association. This collaboration, announced on February 27, 2024, marks a pivotal step towards creating a more inclusive and innovative real estate ecosystem, with Miami taking center stage as a burgeoning hub for tech entrepreneurs and Proptech innovators.
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The Vision: Fostering Innovation and Inclusion
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At the heart of this partnership lies a shared commitment to leveraging technology to make the real estate market more accessible and equitable. Equity Angels brings to the table its expertise in supporting tech entrepreneurs and founders, particularly in the Proptech sector, by....
Equity Angels and MIAMI Realtors® establish a groundbreaking collaboration to enhance diversity in proptech
Equity Angels, a forward-thinking social impact organization, and the MIAMI Association of Realtors (MIAMI), the nation’s largest local Realtor association, have joined forces in a groundbreaking partnership announced on February 27, 2024. This collaboration aims to revolutionize the real estate technology sector, particularly in Miami, by fostering innovation and inclusivity. Key initiatives include the launch of an accelerator program tailored for Proptech startups, focusing on executive placement, growth resources, and comprehensive accelerator programs. This strategic alliance not only positions Miami as a hub for tech entrepreneurs but also sets a precedent for collaboration across sectors to drive diversity and accessibility in the real estate market. As this historic partnership unfolds, it promises to reshape the Proptech landscape and inspire similar initiatives globally, highlighting the transformative power of collaboration in driving meaningful change.
Equity Angels teams up with MIAMI Association of Realtors® to revolutionize real estate through diversity and inclusion
The new social impact organization partners with the largest local real estate association to propel its mission to innovate through diversity and inclusion programs
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BELLEVUE, Wash., Feb. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Equity Angels, an organization dedicated to fostering fair access to opportunity, has partnered with the MIAMI Association of Realtors® (MIAMI), the nation's largest local Realtor association, to advance their shared mission and values of building a more inclusive and innovative real estate ecosystem.
"Our dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion is reflected through our actions and the initiatives we have supported throughout the years," stated Teresa King Kinney, CEO of MIAMI. "The Equity Angels collaboration represents our continued commitment to focusing on the principles that matter most to our members and the communities we serve, which include growing both our equitable efforts and our technology offerings."
Equity Angels: Paving the way for diversity in real estate tech startups
In a move aimed at fostering diversity and innovation within the real estate technology sector, Equity Angels has emerged as a groundbreaking force. Launched by prominent leaders in the tech and real estate industries, this organization is set to play a pivotal role in accelerating the growth of startups led by entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.
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As the real estate industry grapples with unprecedented challenges, Equity Angels seeks to be a catalyst for change, providing fractional executive solutions and accelerator programs....
Equity Angels offers a new approach to proptech, innovation
Kenya Burrell Van Wormer and Katherine Winston are using their new initiative to support 'underrepresented, underestimated and underutilized' entrepreneurs
Their paths first crossed at the NAR IOI Summit. Since then, Burrell-Van Wormer and Winston were repeatedly on stage together presenting data on diversity and equity inclusion. The challenge they faced was that nothing ever seemed to improve. They decided to become the “change we wanted to see” and to help those who would like a seat at the table but didn’t know how to get there....
Real estate veterans launch new group: Equity Angels
Equity Angels, an organization dedicated to advancing diversity in technology startups, has launched with fractional executive solutions and accelerator programs for early-stage fintech and proptech companies.
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Research suggests that founders with diverse gender and ethnic backgrounds deliver higher returns for investors upon exit than their peers. Data analysis by McKinsey & Company found that achieving parity for women and minority founders could yield trillions more dollars in revenue, creating jobs and stimulating the economy.
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Through the Equity Angels Catalyst Program, ten startups focused on fintech and proptech solutions will be chosen for a “Fundraise-Ready” program....
Equity Angels launches to diversify proptech innovation
Kenya Burrell-VanWormer of NEO and Plunk's Katherine Winston team up to provide mentorship, fractional executives and fundraising preparation for entrepreneurs from diverse demographics
Two women in proptech leadership positions are aiming to extend their impact across the space with the launch of their co-founded accelerator, Equity Angels. Kenya Burrell-VanWormer, chief growth officer at NEO, and Katherine Winston, founding member and head of marketing at Plunk, have teamed up to build a program that will provide professional mentorship, fractional executives and fundraising preparation for companies started by entrepreneurs from diverse demographics. Both women will serve as managing partners of Equity Angels....