BLCK Turnkey Investment Marketplace Closes Pre-Seed Funding Round

United States: based in Miami turnkey investment market noir [pronounced ‘block’] has completed a pre-seed cycle funded by Microsoft Black Partner Growth Initiativebefore a planned launch in the first quarter of 2023.

Described as the first market of its kind to exploit the rental arbitration industry via technology, BLCK seeks to enable people to unlock passive income by bidding on long-term leases for pre-approved short-term rental properties so they can start and grow their own rental businesses.

Rental arbitrage – the practice of managing properties or short-term rental properties without owning them – has become increasingly popular with hosts to earn money and rent out units as so-called “ rentalpreneurs”. The team behind BLCK says their marketplace will not only help streamline the rental adjudication process, but will also bring the model to the general public, allowing anyone to become a full-fledged short-term rental host and earn rewards. income.

Scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2023, BLCK will soon allow potential hosts to browse and bid on properties the market has already secured from owners, while allowing them to calculate potential profits during peak and off-peak periods. season. Users who successfully bid will be able to start operating listingable units on platforms such as Airbnb as soon as they create their homepage.

While Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky recently revealed that Airbnb would need to recruit “millions” of new hosts to meet growing demand for short-term/flexible accommodations, BLCK is well positioned to launch more hosting opportunities, according to its founder and CEO, Samella. Watson, who also founded a customer experience startup Sebiya.

Last week, Airbnb announced that it was introduction of “Airbnb-friendly” apartments, a listing service exclusively for assets that allow short-term rentals in the United States. As part of its drive to make accommodation more “accessible” to more people, the home-sharing platform will allow tenants to find accommodation and sublet it on Airbnb on a part-time basis when they are staying away from home, while partnering with leading landlords, including Equity Residential and Greystar Real Estate Partners LLC, to strengthen its presence in the multifamily space.

BLCK also operates in the fintech space, as Watson explains: “We use blockchain smart contracts, which will allow BLCK to focus on innovation and efficiency while cutting out traditional intermediaries such as banks, brokers and attorneys for the entire rental process. We’re doing something new in 2022, so why not make it the most profitable, the most innovative? »

Daniel Ikem, Head of Partner Development at Microsoft Black Partner Growth Initiative, said that BLCK shows promise in the professional services industry: “I think BLCK represents the generation of innovative solutions providing housing as a service and will certainly make waves in major vacation destinations across the country. I believe BLCK will succeed because Samella showcases the tenacity and creativity needed to succeed in the tech industry as a black female founder.

Looking ahead, Watson is now aiming to raise a seed funding round for BLCK and is putting her work at Sebiya on hold to fully focus on her new project.

Now works in teams of four [Watson as CEO, a chief technology officer [CTO], blockchain architect and senior data analyst]BLCK selected AirDNA as its data partner, Sebiya as its customer experience partner, and ResidentScore by TransUnion as the preferred vendor for tenant screening. He is also currently in talks with a potential furnishing partner, tenant insurance partner and cleaning partner as he seeks to make the guest experience more turnkey at his properties.

BLCK is targeting an initial launch with 30 units in West Palm Beach, Chicago and the US Virgin Islands. Prospective owners and hosts are encouraged to join the company’s waiting list at this link.

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