Kasita

Kasita was an Austin-based startup founded in 2015 by Jeff Wilson, also known as "Professor Dumpster." Wilson, a former environmental science professor and dean at Huston-Tillotson University, gained notoriety for living in a converted 33-square-foot dumpster for a year. This experience in minimalist living inspired him to address the challenge of affordable urban housing, leading to the creation of Kasita.

The company designed and manufactured prefabricated, 352-square-foot smart micro-homes. These units were engineered to be modular and stackable, fitting into a proprietary steel exoskeleton or "rack." This design allowed for the quick assembly of apartment-like buildings on small urban lots. The business model initially focused on selling these homes directly to consumers and developers, with the vision of creating a network of Kasita communities in major cities. The homes were also designed to be movable, allowing owners to relocate their homes to different Kasita racks.

However, the company faced challenges in scaling its manufacturing and development operations. In 2019, after failing to secure a new round of funding, Kasita ceased its direct-to-consumer and large-scale development operations. The company then pivoted its business model to focus on the hospitality market, rebranding its units as "independent hotel rooms" for use as vacation rentals. Despite this pivot, the company ultimately shut down.

Keywords: micro-housing, prefabricated homes, modular construction, smart homes, urban housing, real estate technology, affordable housing, minimalist living, hospitality, proptech