NAR’s REACH Labs Puts Innovation at the Forefront with Launch of First Multi-Association Program

1 August 2022

CHICAGO (August 1, 2022) – The National Association of Realtors®’ REACH Labs program, which identifies and connects innovative early-stage startups to the Realtor® community, today announced its expansion to Chicago to launch its first multi-association and multiple listing service (MLS) REACH Lab. Collectively representing over 46,000 Realtors®, the new REACH Lab will be jointly run by the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors®, the Chicago Association of Realtors®, the North-Shore Barrington Association of Realtors® and Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED).

Chicago represents a deep pool of startup innovation, with local tech firms raising $7 billion in 2021, according to venture data firm Pitchbook. Through the REACH Labs program, Chicagoland startups developing solutions for real estate and adjacent industries like mortgage, home services and insurance have a significant opportunity to connect with thousands of real estate professionals.

“Chicagoland has an incredible technology ecosystem, and the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors® is committed to bringing opportunities to our members that keep them on the cutting edge,” said Kate Sax, vice president of professionalism and career development for the Mainstreet Organization of Realtors®. “REACH Labs will allow us to connect Mainstreet members with new technologies and provide them with a path of entry to local startups that will help build their businesses with an eye on the future.”

The REACH Labs program helps Realtor® associations engage with the startup community and source innovation for its members efficiently and effectively. REACH Labs are staffed and operated by local associations or MLSs with support from the REACH scale-up program, created in 2013 by NAR’s venture arm, Second Century Ventures. Each REACH Lab presents selected startups to their members through quarterly “innovation showcases”. REACH Labs Chicagoland will host its first innovation showcase in the fourth quarter of 2022.

“Chicagoland is rich in new technology, and the Chicago Association of Realtors® is excited to help bring emerging technology to Realtors® throughout the area,” said Zack Wahlquist, Chicago Association of Realtors® chief operating officer.

In other regions where REACH Labs is already established, Realtors® have connected with tech companies that modernize the home tour experience, allow agents to manage deals more seamlessly from start to finish and provide home buyers with connections to local contractors.

“MRED is always looking to serve the industry and provide products that improve our subscribers’ workflow,” said Katrina Bressler, director of customer experience at MRED. “While we already work with many wonderful providers across the country, I’m excited to be a part of a movement that enables local startups to connect with us and support our subscribers and community.”

“The North-Shore Barrington Association of Realtors® has a long history of supporting its members through our personalized service and tech support,” said Michael Gazdzik, NSBAR IT and member support director. “We could not be more excited to work with our neighboring associations to bring the latest in technology to all our members.”

“We are thrilled to establish the first multi-association REACH Labs program in Chicago, where the startup scene is thriving,” said Dave Garland, managing partner, Second Century Ventures. “This partnership will set the stage for tech entrepreneurs to scale their businesses by meeting the needs of a dynamic Realtor® community.”

Second Century Ventures, NAR’s strategic technology investment arm, launched the REACH Labs program in the third quarter of 2021 with the Austin Board of Realtors®, the Denver Metro Association of Realtors®, the Miami Association of Realtors®, and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors®. It has expanded the program to include the Greater Tampa Realtors®, the Metro Texas Association of Realtors®, the Orlando Regional Realtor® Association and the multi-association Chicagoland program, extending the program to reach nearly 200,000 Realtors®.

For startups looking to get involved with the Chicagoland REACH Labs program, contact Kate Sax at kate@succeedwithmore.com.

About REACH

REACH is a unique technology scale-up program created by Second Century Ventures, the most active global fund in real estate technology. Backed by the National Association of Realtors®, REACH leverages the association’s more than 1.5 million members and an unparalleled network of executives within real estate and adjacent industries. The REACH program helps technology companies scale across the real estate vertical and its adjacent markets through education, mentorship and market exposure.

About NAR

The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

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Dubai Land Department, Second Century Ventures Celebrate Start of REACH Middle East

12 February 2026

DUBAI, UAE (Feb 12, 2026) With the endorsement and backing of Dubai Land Department (DLD) and Dubai Technology Entrepreneurship Campus (Dtec), Second Century Ventures, the strategic investment arm of the National Association of Realtors® and the world’s most active global real estate technology fund, is proud to announce the start of the 2026 REACH Middle East programme. The inaugural cohort includes innovative proptech companies from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and India, who marked the accelerator’s launch with booth presentations at PropTech Connect, one of the world’s largest real estate exhibitions. The programme has been specifically designed to support the wider goals of the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), and the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033. Supporting regional and international start-ups, REACH will provide a proven framework, financial backing, tailored mentorship, enhanced network and investor access, long-term alumni support and access to a global proptech community. The eight-month accelerator is designed to scale opportunities for the programme cohort and to drive deeper connections among company founders. The initiative is driven by Siddiq Farid and Karim Helal, two leaders with extensive experience in the GCC’s real estate and technology markets. Farid founded the highly successful real estate fractionalisation company, SmartCrowd, while Helal is one of the region’s most recognisable entrepreneurs and a founding board member of the Dubai PropTech Business Council. Majid Al Marri, CEO of Real Estate Registration Sector at Dubai Land Department, commented: “REACH Middle East will directly contribute to the goals of Crown Prince of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s inspiring Real Estate Strategy 2033. The selected start-ups are developing innovative solutions for citizens and residents that will enhance the real estate ecosystem and underline Dubai’s role as a global leader in the property sector.” Siddiq Farid, Managing Director of REACH Middle East, said: “This programme brings together strategic influence and financial support to spur innovation within the real estate sector. With the robust backing of Dubai Land Department and Second Century Ventures, as well as world-class industry mentors, the programme provides our cohort companies with the very best chance of becoming future unicorns.” “The Middle East real estate market, with Dubai as a focal point, has become a hotbed for some of the most innovative minds in technology. The latest expansion of the REACH programme will support exciting new ideas and propel the region’s prop-techs to excel on the global stage,” added Dave Garland, Managing Partner at Second Century Ventures. Hans Henrik Christensen, Vice President and General Manager of Dtec, commented: “We are proud to welcome and support REACH, and provide a collaborative and entrepreneurial environment to stimulate these exciting start-ups.” Companies accepted to the 2026 REACH Middle East programme include: Asano : a real estate development intelligence platform that unifies financial, development and spatial data to improve capital planning across large-scale real estate projects Coraly : an AI-powered growth platform for real estate agencies Fixit : an AI employee solution for real estate sales, helping agencies sell faster and smarter HoloX : creator of digital twins for off-plan real estate sales, transforming complex master plans into interactive 3D experiences Rewa : a platform that turns rental payments into rewarding financial experiences for tenants, while enabling landlords and property managers to collect rent digitally Takeem : a digital rental platform to simplify processes, save upfront fees, pre-qualify tenants and de-risk landlord investments by protecting rental income Watad : an AI-powered building materials procurement platform with embedded finance This is the first expansion of the REACH programme to the Middle East region, part of a global network that has supported more than 300 new businesses worldwide since its establishment in 2019. The programme launch coincided with Dubai’s PropTech Connect 2026, one of the world’s biggest real estate technology conferences and exhibitions, hosted in partnership with Dubai Land Department. Cohort members and REACH partners, as well as 14 global REACH companies exhibited. Visit https://www.nar-reach.com/middle-east for more information.

Second Century Ventures Selects Four Tech Companies for 2026 REACH Canada Program

by Mike McAra • 20 October 2025

CALGARY, AB (October 20, 2025) – Second Century Ventures, the strategic investment arm of the National Association of REALTORS®, today announced the selection of four dynamic technology companies for its 2026 REACH Canada program. This year’s cohort is focused on creating a more secure, efficient, and accessible real estate journey by integrating verifiable digital identity, foundational data infrastructure, innovative housing affordability models, and modern financial services into a cohesive ecosystem. "Our mission with REACH has always been to identify and nurture the technologies that will define the future of real estate," said Dave Garland, Managing Partner of Second Century Ventures. "The 2026 REACH Canada cohort exemplifies this by bringing together companies that address critical points across the entire homeownership lifecycle. From establishing trust with verifiable identity and providing the data backbone for new applications, to creating new pathways to homeownership, these innovators are building a more connected and accessible experience for everyone." Second Century Ventures is the most active global venture fund in real estate technology, with a portfolio of over 310 companies worldwide. SCV operates the global REACH scale-up program in seven major markets: U.S. Residential, U.S. Commercial, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Latin America, Israel, and the Middle East. The 2026 REACH Canada selection marks the 6th cohort of high-growth companies to be scaled through the program since its Canadian launch in 2020. "The 2026 REACH Canada class is uniquely positioned to address some of the most pressing needs in the industry today, particularly housing affordability and the pace of innovation," said Lynette Keyowski, Managing Partner of REACH Canada. "We are seeing a clear demand for greater security, more powerful developer tools, and creative solutions to financial barriers. This cohort directly answers that call, offering solutions that build trust, empower innovators, and introduce new models for accessing homeownership. We are excited to champion these founders as they redefine the Canadian real estate landscape." The four companies selected for the 2026 REACH Canada program are: Credivera : A secure digital identity platform that allows accredited professionals and their clients to instantly verify credentials and identities, fostering unprecedented trust and security in every transaction. Repliers : A real estate data platform providing developers with the APIs and tools needed to build and scale next-generation real estate applications, accelerating innovation across the industry. Cedar : A housing affordability solution that lowers the financial barriers to homeownership by separating the cost of the land from the home itself. Neobanc : A modern financial services platform offering tailored business banking for real estate professionals and innovative financial products for their clients, streamlining everything from commission payouts to closing costs. REACH Canada will provide its 2026 cohort with a comprehensive curriculum featuring education, mentorship, exclusive networking opportunities, and significant exposure to the global real estate marketplace. Learn more about the companies selected for the REACH Canada program and how you can get involved at www.narreach.ca . About NAR The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. About REACH REACH is a unique technology scale-up program created by Second Century Ventures, the most active global fund in real estate technology. Backed by the National Association of Realtors®, Second Century Ventures leverages the association's members and an unparalleled network of executives within real estate and adjacent industries. The REACH program helps technology companies scale across the real estate vertical and its adjacent markets through education, mentorship and market exposure. For more on REACH, visit www.narreach.com # # # Information about NAR is available at nar.realtor . This and other news releases are posted in the newsroom at nar.realtor/newsroom .