Renoviso

About Renoviso

Renoviso was a technology-driven company operating in the home renovation market, aiming to simplify the process for homeowners. Founded in late 2014 by Eric Horndahl and Brian Waldman, the Boston-based startup was born from Horndahl's own frustrating home renovation experiences, which were marked by a lack of transparency and reliability. The co-founders, both with backgrounds in online marketing and customer acquisition at companies like BuyerZone, TripAdvisor, and Cayan, leveraged their expertise to address the inefficiencies in the home services industry.

The company's business model was designed to manage the entire renovation lifecycle, functioning as a digital general contractor. Homeowners could visit Renoviso's platform to select and configure projects, receiving transparent, upfront pricing for products and professional installation. This approach eliminated the need for high-pressure sales tactics and provided a streamlined, tech-enabled project management process. Initially focusing on windows, doors, and hardwood flooring in New England, Renoviso expanded its services to include roofing and siding and extended its geographic reach to the Greater New York and Philadelphia areas. The company generated revenue by completing these renovation projects, handling everything from sales and permitting to managing a network of roughly 100 subcontracted installers.

Renoviso's platform was its core product, offering a seamless customer interface for building project quotes and a backend system to manage logistics, scheduling, and communication. This full-service solution proved attractive to both customers and investors. The company successfully raised a $1.4 million seed round in 2015, a $3.5 million Series A in 2016 led by Bessemer Venture Partners, and a further $7 million in 2018. By 2018, the company had 19 employees focused on sales, project management, and technology development, and it had reached $5 million in annual sales within its first two years. However, the company appears to have ceased its original operations. The Renoviso website now operates as an independent resource providing DIY home renovation tips, stating that the original founders have moved on to new ventures.