The Center for Real Estate Technology & Innovation (CRETI) has selected four startups for the first cohort of Foundations, a new go-to-market program aimed at helping early-stage proptech companies scale in the real estate industry.
The six-week, non-dilutive program, known as CRETI Foundations, is designed to address a recurring challenge in real estate technology: promising products that struggle to gain traction with owners and operators navigating tighter margins and longer procurement cycles. Rather than focusing on fundraising or product ideation, the program centers on commercialization, operator feedback and real-world execution.
The inaugural cohort comprises:
- Rentflow – A pricing and leasing intelligence platform helping operators optimize rents and leasing strategies in commercial real estate.
- Surface AI– An AI agent platform for property operations, focused on lease audits, due diligence and delinquency workflows.
- Pares – An AI-powered solution focused on operational insights and performance optimization for real estate teams.
- Domiq – An end-to-end agentic AI system that assists, scores and analyzes multifamily leasing teams, 24/7.
According to CRETI, the group was selected based on product readiness and demonstrated owner and manager demand.
CRETI said the program is structured to mirror how adoption actually occurs, with startups engaging directly with property executives through working sessions, feedback forums, and curated introductions.
“We joined CRETI for its practical focus on helping early-stage proptech companies reach the market,” said Alix Maurin, co-founder of RentFlow. “From sharpening our commercial strategy through hands-on guidance and industry mentorship to pitching directly in front of thousands of owners and property managers, CRETI provides a rare, end-to-end path to real adoption.”
Throughout the program, participating companies will work closely with multifamily leaders to refine their commercial strategies, pursue pilot opportunities and position themselves for partnerships and early revenue. The initiative culminates in private briefings with operators and investors, reflecting CRETI’s emphasis on execution over exposure
“Foundations was built to close the gap between strong products and actual adoption,” said Ashkan Zandieh, managing director of CRETI. “In the real estate industry, technology only works if it aligns with operational realities and delivers clear economic value. This cohort reflects that shift in the market.”
CRETI plans to roll out additional Foundations cohorts focused on other real estate segments, including residential, brokerage, multifamily and asset management, as demand grows for programs that prioritize commercialization and operator alignment over traditional accelerator models.
