Housi

About Housi

Housi is a Brazilian proptech company positioning itself as a comprehensive housing-as-a-service platform. Founded in 2019 by Alexandre Frankel, the company emerged as a spin-off from Vitacon, a real estate developer known for its compact apartment projects, which was co-founded by Frankel and his brother. Frankel's journey into this venture was influenced by his desire to shift from the physical 'bricks' of construction to the digital 'bits' of technology, aiming to address urban mobility and lifestyle trends. His personal experience of spending hours in traffic led him to advocate for well-located, smaller living spaces, a concept that underpins Housi's strategy.

The company operates on a multifaceted business model. Initially, it focused on managing and leasing real estate, including advertising on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com. Following the impact of the pandemic, Housi pivoted to a licensing or "franchise-like" model. It partners with real estate developers, providing them with the Housi brand and a proprietary software system to create "digital buildings". This system transforms analog buildings into multifunctional hubs, offering residents a suite of on-demand services such as cleaning, laundry, car rentals, and mini-markets, accessible through a single application. This approach is designed to increase the sales velocity and value of partner developments. Revenue is generated through this licensing model and a significant portion, around 60%, comes from the retail and services offered within these buildings.

Housi's core offering is a subscription-based living solution that provides tenants with fully furnished apartments and an all-inclusive bill covering rent, utilities, internet, and even streaming services like Netflix. This service caters to a clientele seeking flexibility and convenience, avoiding the bureaucracy of traditional leases. The platform targets property owners and real estate developers by offering a system to optimize profitability through a proprietary algorithm and efficient online distribution. By March 2024, the company had amassed a portfolio of over 800 buildings and 200,000 units through partnerships with more than 500 developers across 120 cities in Brazil. Significant milestones include securing a R$50 million investment from Redpoint eventures in 2019 and a further $10 million in a 2024 round led by Redpoint eventures and TM3 Capital, aimed at funding international expansion into the US and Portugal.