LeaseLock Raises $52M as Insurtech Platform for Real Estate Drives Security Deposits Extinct

SoftBank Ventures Asia joins global investment group led by Westerly Winds and Wildcat Venture Partners to fuel growth of the first AI-driven financial technology platform for enterprise rental housing

MARINA DEL REY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--LeaseLock, the world’s leading insurtech platform for real estate, today announced the closing of a $52 million Series B financing that will expand its industry-leading lease insurance product into the first AI-powered financial technology platform for enterprise real estate. LeaseLock has insured $1 billion in leases to-date, across the nation's largest multifamily operators and preeminent asset owners.

The financing round was led by London-based Westerly Winds (founding partners from BlackRock) and Wildcat Venture Partners, with major investors that include SoftBank Ventures Asia, Vertex Ventures US, Liberty Mutual Strategic Ventures, American Family Ventures, Moderne Ventures, Strata Equity Group, Veteran Capital, and Mucker Capital.

“Security deposits are an inefficient financial instrument for all sides. Through technology, LeaseLock has intelligently solved this problem while setting the foundation for an end-to-end enterprise insurtech platform. We are excited to back the business as it continues to realize its vision,” said Karim Abdel-Ghaffar Plaza, Founding Partner of Westerly Winds.

“As we surveyed the market landscape, LeaseLock stood out as the only company to truly develop a new insurance technology product—leveraged by AI—to deliver a financially sound and impactful solution. We are excited to partner with and support the company in furthering its mission,” said Sherman Li, Partner of SoftBank Ventures Asia.

LeaseLock leverages property management system integrations and data science to engineer a modern financial technology platform for housing operators.

“We’re a technology company at heart, fueled by data, and powered by insurance. We deploy our product directly through enterprise property software systems which drives a material data and product delivery advantage,” said Derek Merrill, Co-Founder and CEO of LeaseLock. “We’re doubling-down on our core deposit replacement product, while investing in new insurance lines, payment and receivables technology, and market channels.”

The pandemic is further pressuring housing affordability. It has become a lightning rod issue for lawmakers at the local and national levels. Restrictive deposit legislation combined with a consumer cash crunch accelerated adoption of LeaseLock Zero Deposit™—resulting in 400% growth in apartment homes on the platform in 2020, reaching more than 1.5 million homes.

Key customers include Greystar, Cushman Wakefield, Avenue5 Residential, Harbor Group, LMC, RKW Residential, Goldman Sachs, ColRich, GoldCor, Olive Tree, TruAmerica, White Oak, Trinsic, and Goodman Real Estate.

“The market is shouting for a better solution to upfront housing costs that serves both the renter and the operator,” said Reichen Kuhl, Co-Founder and President of LeaseLock. “Our technology platform completely removes friction, cost, and regulatory risk from our customers’ operating infrastructure and P&L.”

LeaseLock clients are measuring 6-figure NOI lift per asset, resulting in millions in portfolio asset value increase.

About Us

LeaseLock is the world’s leading insurtech platform for real estate.

Our flagship lease insurance product leverages artificial intelligence to eliminate security deposits from enterprise operating infrastructure—powering a faster, simpler, more affordable rental transaction. LeaseLock seamlessly deploys within the native online leasing checkout, resulting in significant conversion lift—while instantly generating industry-leading coverage for the property on every lease.

LeaseLock has insured over $1 billion in leases backed by insurance rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. Our global investors include SoftBank Ventures Asia, Wildcat Ventures, Westerly Winds, Vertex Ventures US, Liberty Mutual Strategic Ventures, American Family Ventures, Moderne Ventures, and Mucker Capital.