^{Investing in the next generation of} Real Estate Technology

At this year’s Blueprint conference, RET Ventures’ Multifamily & SFR Summit explored how owners and operators can turn technology into measurable operational value. Two additional sessions during the main Blueprint program extended that conversation, examining a related challenge: as technology becomes more accessible, how can operators use it to create a lasting competitive advantage?

For Steven DeFrancis, Founder & CEO of Cortland, the answer starts with the resident. In a mainstage conversation with RET Ventures Partner & Managing Director Christopher Yip, DeFrancis discussed Cortland’s decision to vertically integrate its operations based on the belief that multifamily is fundamentally a consumer business. By bringing select functions in-house, from property management to pest control, Cortland aims to reduce friction, control costs and deliver a more consistent resident experience.
That same philosophy informs the company’s approach to technology. Rather than adopting tools simply because they are available, Cortland prioritizes solutions that improve service and strengthen investment and operational decisions. DeFrancis also highlighted the importance of translating operational data into actionable insights, allowing the company to better understand performance and identify opportunities for improvement.

The breakout session, “If AI Commoditizes Leasing, What Makes You Different?” explored what this challenge looks like as AI transforms the renter journey. Moderated by RET Principal Aaron Ru, the panel featured Garrett Hrncir of Continental Properties, Kim Garfield of UDR and Tyler Christiansen of Funnel. The discussion centered on a growing possibility: as operators adopt similar AI tools for prospect engagement, property discovery and virtual tours, technology itself may become less of a differentiator.

Instead, operators will need to be more intentional about where automation adds value and where human interaction will do more to change the outcome. AI can make leasing faster and more accessible, but personal attention still matters when prospective residents have specific concerns, need help navigating a decision or are considering whether to renew. The opportunity is to use technology to streamline routine tasks while allowing employees to focus on the interactions that build trust and strengthen the resident experience.
The Bottom Line: As AI becomes more embedded in rental housing, differentiation will depend on how thoughtfully operators apply it. From Cortland’s vertically integrated model to the evolving role of human interaction in leasing, both conversations reinforced that technology is most valuable when it addresses real operational challenges and supports a better resident experience.

‍

‍

 Key Takeaways from RET Ventures’ Blueprint Multifamily & SFR Kick-Off Summit

Last month, RET Ventures hosted its fourth annual Multifamily & SFR Summit at Blueprint in Las Vegas, bringing together leading owners and operators, technology investors and startup executives for conversations about the technologies and strategies shaping the future of rental housing. Across four sessions, panelists explored how data, AI and automation are moving from emerging technologies into core components of property operations.

The Summit kicked off with “Data to Dollars,” led by RET Vice President Melissa Fagan, alongside Bobbi Steward of Revyse, Scott Pechersky of ECL Prop Solutions and René Bilodeau of Pacific Urban Investors. The conversation examined how owners can turn data into measurable operational value. Panelists discussed using data to identify gaps and inefficiencies, create workflows that minimize leakage and demonstrate the value of new technology during implementation.

A key takeaway was that successful technology adoption starts with a clear business case and a defined path to ROI. Just as importantly, organizations need clean, well-structured data to ensure AI and other tools can actually deliver useful insights.

Next, “AI in Action,” moderated by Jameson Hartman, Industry Principal at RET, brought together Paul Seifert of Continental, Mariana Estrada of RPM Living and Sorin Michnea of SuiteSpot to explore how owners are evaluating the return on AI investments. 

While some use cases offer clear, quantifiable savings, panelists noted that ROI also comes from time saved, more standardized workflows, stronger employee engagement and better resident service and retention. But realizing lasting value from AI requires looking beyond immediate efficiencies. Owners need to maintain control of their data and prioritize technology partners committed to interoperability, ensuring their systems can share information and adapt as new tools emerge. Without these safeguards, seemingly valuable AI investments can create long-term dependence on individual vendors, limiting flexibility and ultimately undermining the value owners are working to achieve.

The Summit then turned to scale during the fireside chat “The 100,000 Home Operating System,” featuring Dave Feldman, CEO of Progress Residential, alongside RET Partner Christopher Yip. The session explored how technology is enabling SFR operators to manage increasingly large and geographically dispersed portfolios. 

Dave and Christopher discussed how cloud-based systems, automation and AI are allowing teams to centralize what makes sense while keeping employees focused on the moments where human involvement matters most. From AI-powered prospect nurturing to using data to identify friction in the resident experience, the conversation highlighted the shift toward a more resident-centric operating model.

The final session, “AI Agents 2.0,” brought together Aaron Ru, RET Principal, and portfolio company executives Ruchir Baronia of Frontdesk and Maximilian Gajdel of STAN.AI to look at how the next generation of AI agents is moving beyond narrow, fixed workflows.

Panelists discussed the importance of context, open integrations and an agent’s ability to take action across systems rather than simply answer questions or initiate individual tasks. They also emphasized that successful AI deployment must start with clearly defining the problem to be solved. Organizations that can identify a specific use case, establish success criteria and systematically test the technology will be better positioned to move AI from experimentation into production.

The Bottom Line: Across the Summit, one theme stood out: the next phase of technology adoption in rental housing will be defined less by what AI can do in theory and more by how effectively it solves real operational problems. Moving from experimentation to lasting value requires a clear technology master plan, including well-defined workflows, an understanding of existing data and systems architecture, and clear expectations for technology partners. Without that foundation, owners and operators may see short-term gains but face costly changes down the line as their needs evolve and new AI capabilities emerge. Clean data, connected systems and measurable outcomes remain critical, but so does building an infrastructure that can adapt as the technology advances.

‍

‍

Last month, RET Ventures hosted its annual Multifamily Kickoff Summit at Blueprint in Las Vegas. The event brought together leading multifamily owners and operators, technology investors, and startup executives for an afternoon of timely discussions exploring shifting industry priorities, innovations shaping the future of the space, and market dynamics influencing technology creation, demand, and adoption.

To start the Summit, RET Vice President Jameson Hartman led a conversation titled “Doing More with Less: The ROI Imperative in Multifamily Technology,” alongside expert panelists Christi Weinstein, COO at BH Properties, Elik Jaeger, CEO & Founder at SuiteSpot, Cameron Skaff, Director of Client Strategy at Funnel, and David Walther, CRO at Asset Living.

The panel explored how multifamily owners approach technology decisions in an environment where efficiency, cost savings, and ROI are front and center. Panelists discussed the growing push toward centralization, highlighting how the most successful organizations are finding ways to achieve more with leaner teams by strategically deploying tech like automation and AI. A key takeaway from the conversation was that the true ROI of a solution depends not only on financial savings but on how well solutions align with existing workflows and empower teams to operate more effectively.

Next, RET Vice President Jaymie Fung Bingham moderated “From Data to Action: Bridging the Gap for True AI Integration,” wit insights from David Stifter, CEO & Co-Founder at PredictAP, Scott Pechersky, CTO at RPM Living, and Ian Andrews, SVP at Avanti Residential.

‍

‍

The discussion centered on how the industry can move beyond surface-level AI adoption to achieve real operational impact. Panelists agreed that while AI has made significant progress in real estate, true success requires connecting insights to execution. They explored how better data integration, workflow automation, and inter-system communication are essential for making AI actionable and turning analysis into tangible results.

‍

‍

‍

Rounding out the event, RET Managing Partner Christopher Yip led “Investing in the Future of Multifamily Technology,” alongside panelists Kyle Johnson, VP at Volition Capital, Steve Biringer, VP of Strategy at AppFolio, Roman Pedan, CEO & Founder at Kasa, and Brandon Tobman, CEO at GetCovered.

This conversation offered a candid look at how investors and founders are navigating a maturing proptech market. The panel examined the nuances of investing in multifamily technology, where long sales cycles, integration requirements, and operator-driven feedback loops shape valuation and product development. Panelists agreed that the most promising startups are those solving real operational pain points, building measurable value for owners, and demonstrating the discipline to scale sustainably in a tighter capital environment.

‍

In addition to the discussions at the Multifamily Summit, RET Principal Aaron Ru joined Blueprint’s SFR & BTR Summit to moderate “Scaling Smarter: Unlocking Operational Efficiency in SFR” with experts Bo Lais, CEO & Co-Founder at Lula, Jackie Lee, CEO at Brandywine Homes USA, Alex Fahsel, CEO & Co-Founder at Property Shield, and Ed Wagner, Sr. Director of Engineering at Invitation Homes.

The session explored how technology is helping SFR operators scale portfolios efficiently while improving the resident experience. Panelists shared how innovations in maintenance, leasing, and acquisition are driving performance gains across geographically dispersed assets, underscoring how tech-enabled operations are essential for the sector’s continued growth.

The Bottom Line: As the multifamily and SFR sectors continue to evolve, one theme was clear throughout the conference: technology adoption is entering a more focused, results-driven phase. Operators and investors are looking beyond hype to find tools that deliver measurable ROI, streamline operations, and enhance the resident experience. RET Ventures remains committed to driving that progress by bridging the gap between innovation and real-world application, helping shape the technologies that are defining the future of the real estate industry.

‍