Over the past several years, Pennsylvania as a whole has undergone a tech transformation, with Pittsburgh leading the way. Alongside Philadelphia, “The Steel City” has cultivated a growing tech scene defined by both well-established companies and up-and-coming startups. In truth, Pittsburgh has become a promising launching pad for tech ventures. In 2019, Pittsburgh-based, language-learning platform Duolingo snagged unicorn status, ushering in a new era for the city’s tech community.
While Pittsburgh continues to climb the tech ranks, the city is simultaneously experiencing a real estate boom. According to Roofstock, the city has become a prime spot to purchase rental properties, owing in part to its growing millennial population and strong tech job market. Perhaps due to Pittsburgh’s healthy housing industry, the city has also become a real estate tech hotspot. The city’s real estate tech companies are tackling a wide range of industry issues, optimizing the buying, renting and selling process in various ways. While one is simplifying the leasing process for property owners and renters, another is making it easier for agents to close faster and more efficiently.
Here’s a look at 5 Pittsburgh real estate tech companies shaking up the housing sector.
Pittsburgh Real Estate Tech Companies to Know
- Ikos
- Module
- Mighty
- VeryApt
- Bynsy
Founded: 2015
Focus: Closing Optimization
What they do: Mighty is on a mission to make real estate closings faster and more efficient. The company provides regional-specific home repair estimates as quickly as possible so agents can close faster and sell more properties. In doing so, Mighty aims to reduce the rate of fall-through due to home inspection issues.
Founded: 2017
Focus: Leasing Management
What they do: Ikos wants to simplify the leasing process for property owners and renters. The company takes care of the entire leasing process for property owners by marketing listings, managing renter leads, conducting property showings, finding qualified tenants and screening renter applications. Through Ikos’ platform, people can search for available apartments in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
Founded: 2016
Focus: Home Development + Design Management
What they do: Module was founded on the belief that “everyone deserves access to good design.” The company enables people to construct homes with layouts designed for flexibility, enabling them to easily transform the space due to things like job changes or new family additions. Module’s eco-conscious, function-first models range between one-bedroom starter units to four-bedroom homes.
Founded: 2014
Focus: Apartment Searching
What they do: VeryApt aims to take the stress out of apartment searching. The company’s platform allows renters to search for apartments, read reviews from current and past tenants and schedule viewing appointments. VeryApt also provides apartment-seekers personalized recommendations based on amenities, proximity to schools and workplaces, and desired price range.
Founded: 2017
Focus: Home Buying + Selling
What they do: Bynsy is dedicated to helping people sell homes faster by using data analyzed from buyers' feedback. The company’s smart-showing system allows prospective buyers to view homes on their own while measuring their emotions as they tour the property. In doing so, Bynsy aims to help real estate professionals access the data they need to reduce the sales cycle and make more informed decisions.
