Get ready to hear about new tech that is ready to shake up the real estate industry—and which companies’ innovations will rise to the top. The National Association of REALTORS® has revealed six trailblazing companies will compete in the 2025 Tech & Innovation Pitch Battle, on Nov. 15 in Houston, during NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience.
Now in its seventh year—and for the first time part of NAR’s annual conference—the Pitch Battle will spotlight emerging PropTech startups who are redefining how real estate works, connects, and grows. Each finalist will take the stage to present their solution in a four-minute pitch, followed by a four-minute rapid-fire Q&A with a panel of expert judges.
Their challenge: to prove how their technology delivers measurable impact and meaningful change for the industry.
“The Battle highlights innovation and impactful solutions to some of real estate’s most pressing challenges,” says Dan Weisman, NAR’s director of Innovation Strategy. “We’re thrilled to bring these transformative technologies to a broader audience this year at NAR NXT.”
What’s at Stake
- Big stage with national visibility: Contestants pitch live before peers, investors, and industry leaders at NAR’s largest annual event.
- Real-time business feedback: Four minutes to present their innovation, followed by rapid-fire feedback and a Q&A with expert judges.
- Powerful connections: Access to coaching and networking with leading innovators, decision-makers and investors.
- Bragging rights: Gain recognition alongside NAR’s Tech & Innovation community and join an elite circle of standout Pitch Battle competitors and winners.
- Grand prize: And of course, a $15,000 cash prize for the winner.
Presented by NAR’s Tech & Innovation team and sponsored by Second Century Ventures, NAR’s strategic investment arm, the Pitch Battle has a strong track record of identifying game-changing startups. Past winners—including Tether RE, BoxBrownie, Curbio, Feather, Revive and Productive.ai—have gone on to make major waves across the global real estate landscape.
Meet the 2025 Pitch Battle Finalists
1031 Specialists
Presenter: Jonathan Hilley, CEO
1031 Specialists operates as a Qualified Intermediary, helping clients complete 1031 exchanges to defer capital gains taxes while leveraging advanced automation and software for accuracy and transparency. The company’s scalable systems and technology streamline operations, allowing them to set new standards in client service.
Arqaios, Inc.
Presenter: Bruce Ross, Founder & CEO
Arqaios transforms ordinary outlets, switches, and vents into AI-enabled fixtures that automate energy use, detect emergencies and enhance occupant safety—without cameras or wearables. By embedding intelligence directly into a building’s infrastructure, Arqaios sets out to deliver a seamless path to safer, smarter and more sustainable spaces.
LernMore, LLC
Presenter: Leslie Lerner, Founder & CEO
LernMore is a document and contract understanding platform that exlaines complex terms as simple language with real-life examples, FAQs and multilingual support. By prioritizing transparency and comprehension, LernMore hopes to empower professionals and clients to sign with clarity and confidence—transforming one of real estate’s most common friction points into a trust-building opportunity.
NEO – New Estate Only
Presenter: Christian Calusa, Founder & CEO
NEO is a multilingual platform that partners with MLSs and associations to help agents sell new construction more efficiently. As a comprehensive new construction platform in Florida and Texas—that is now expanding nationwide—NEO connects builders, agents and buyers in one centralized, data-driven platform built for the global marketplace.
Pairgap
Presenter: Nikki Merkerson, Founder
Pairgap helps banks, housing organizations, and real estate partners source qualified co-buyers and provide them with legal protections through proprietary “real estate prenups” and compatibility scoring. With partnerships—like with JPMorgan Chase—Pairgap is making homeownership attainable by building trust, compliance and financial readiness into every match.
SingleKey
Presenter: Joseph Wibe, Director, Growth & Partnerships
SingleKey is redefining rental risk across North America. Its AI-powered tenant screening and rent guarantee solutions protect landlords from income loss while promoting fair, transparent rental experiences for tenants. Serving over 150,000 property owners across Canada and the U.S., SingleKey is making renting safer, simpler, and more predictable for everyone involved.
The 2025 Tech & Innovation Pitch Battle promises to showcase not just ideas, but actionable innovations ready to reshape real estate. Join us in Houston on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 3:30 p.m. CT to see who will take home the title of Pitch Battle Champion—and $15,000 in cash prizes.
Read more about NAR Tech & Innovation initiatives at NAR NXT.
Author
Rebecca Frabizio
Rebecca Frabizio is Manager, Innovation, Education and Engagement within the Strategic Business, Innovation & Technology group at the National Association of REALTORS.
NAR Tech & Innovation is the real estate industry’s collective for technology connections, content, and collaboration, connecting the entire real estate ecosystem: PropTech founders, NAR members, brokers, MLS leaders, tech companies and investors.
Part of the NAR’s Strategic Business, Innovation & Technology (SBIT) group, Tech & Innovation is focused on researching trends, building relationships and understanding technologies that bridge the gap between current and near-future business solutions, while also looking to the future to prepare real estate professionals for success in the evolving market.
Through real-time updates, an emerging tech blog, in-person PropTech meetups, webinars and dedicated programming at NAR conferences, Tech & Innovation aims to create a continuous learning experience for real estate professionals and the PropTech Community. Join the Tech & Innovation newsletter list to stay updated on events, news and innovation.
