Sekra

About Sekra

Sekra is a residential concept launched in early 2026 by Oliver Ripley, the founder of the hospitality brand Habitas, with Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick as a founding investor and board member. The company aims to disrupt the multifamily real estate market by developing and managing luxury apartments targeted at affluent, younger renters. The venture was established to address a perceived gap in the housing market, where community, shared values, and well-being are often secondary to location and price. In January 2026, Sekra announced it had raised $12.5 million in a seed funding round co-led by venture capital firms Fifth Wall and 8VC.

Sekra's business model focuses on creating branded, experience-led rental communities that command premium rents. The company plans to initially acquire, renovate, and operate existing properties before moving into ground-up construction projects. Geographically, Sekra is targeting coastal U.S. cities, as well as international hubs like Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The target demographic is the growing segment of Generation Z and young professionals under 40 who are renting for longer periods.

The core of Sekra's product is a lifestyle-centric offering that integrates technology, hospitality-inspired services, and curated cultural programming. Apartments will feature technology aimed at enhancing well-being, such as sleep-optimized circadian lighting, adaptive climate controls, and integrated smart home systems for appliances. A proprietary technology platform will manage operations and resident interactions. Beyond the physical space, Sekra intends to build a strong sense of community through a resident onboarding process, social events, and access to on-site wellness experts, including nutritionists and longevity practitioners. The name 'Sekra' itself is derived from Egyptian mythology, combining Sekhmet, the goddess of healing, and Ra, the sun god, to symbolize balance and well-being.