Second Century Ventures

Second Century Ventures is a Chicago-based venture capital firm that focuses on real estate technology and related sectors. Founded in 2009, it backs early and mid-stage companies in real estate tech, software as a service, big data applications, digital media, fintech, and business services. The firm aims to promote innovation in the real estate industry and supports portfolio companies with strategic resources. It is backed by the National Association of Realtors, a nationwide trade association with extensive industry reach, enabling access to a large network and expertise to help portfolio companies scale. The firm emphasizes collaboration across regions including North America, Europe, and Asia, and seeks opportunities that leverage technology to transform real estate processes and services.

Mark Birschbach

Managing Director

Todd Carpenter

Investor

Tom Ellis

Investor

Dave Garland

Managing Partner

Bob Gillespie

Executive Director

Past deals in Home Decor

Unlock

Series B in 2024
Unlock Technologies specializes in providing homeowners with innovative solutions to access their home equity without the burdens of traditional loans or mortgages. The company's primary offering, Home Equity Agreements, allows homeowners to receive cash in exchange for a share of the future value of their property. This financial product eliminates the need for monthly payments or interest, as repayment occurs when the homeowner sells their property or the agreement reaches its predetermined term. By facilitating these transactions, Unlock enables individuals to address various financial needs, such as paying off debts or financing home improvements and education. Through this approach, the company seeks to empower homeowners to unlock the value of their properties in a more flexible and accessible manner.

Curbio

Series B in 2022
Curbio Inc. is a home renovation service provider based in Potomac, Maryland. Founded in 2017, the company specializes in pre-sale home renovations designed to assist real estate agents and homeowners in preparing properties for sale. Curbio leverages technology to enhance the home improvement process, offering features such as virtual estimates and automated communication, which streamline project management. By partnering with real estate agents, Curbio delivers a hassle-free experience aimed at ensuring homes are market-ready and sold quickly. The company employs a unique pay-at-closing model, allowing homeowners to manage costs effectively while preparing their homes for listing. Originally established as MaxSalePrice, Inc., Curbio rebranded in October 2018 to better reflect its focus on the real estate market.

Curbio

Series C in 2020
Curbio Inc. is a home renovation service provider based in Potomac, Maryland. Founded in 2017, the company specializes in pre-sale home renovations designed to assist real estate agents and homeowners in preparing properties for sale. Curbio leverages technology to enhance the home improvement process, offering features such as virtual estimates and automated communication, which streamline project management. By partnering with real estate agents, Curbio delivers a hassle-free experience aimed at ensuring homes are market-ready and sold quickly. The company employs a unique pay-at-closing model, allowing homeowners to manage costs effectively while preparing their homes for listing. Originally established as MaxSalePrice, Inc., Curbio rebranded in October 2018 to better reflect its focus on the real estate market.

Setter

Funding Round in 2020
Setter Inc. is a Toronto-based company founded in 2016 that specializes in connecting homeowners with personal home managers through its application. The platform enables users to easily book a variety of home maintenance and repair services, including window cleaning, landscaping, furnace installation, and countertop replacement. By providing personalized recommendations and managing all aspects of home improvement, Setter aims to simplify the process of maintaining and enhancing residential properties. As of November 2020, Setter operates as a subsidiary of Thumbtack, Inc., further expanding its reach in the professional services market.

Staging & Design Network

Debt Financing in 2020
Staging & Design Network is an innovative online marketplace tailored for the home staging and interior design community. It has established the first shared rental pool for home furnishings, addressing the critical need for sufficient inventory in real estate staging, which can enhance home sale prices by up to 18% and significantly reduce time on the market. The platform allows members to store their unused furniture, generating rental and sales income while enabling efficient inventory tracking and automated accounting. In addition to facilitating revenue sharing among members, the network offers professional design assistance, a service directory, rental insurance, and white glove delivery and setup. This comprehensive approach not only enhances the profitability of home stagers, interior designers, builders, and realtors but also positions Staging & Design Network to capitalize on a substantial market opportunity estimated at $140 billion.

Curbio

Series A in 2019
Curbio Inc. is a home renovation service provider based in Potomac, Maryland. Founded in 2017, the company specializes in pre-sale home renovations designed to assist real estate agents and homeowners in preparing properties for sale. Curbio leverages technology to enhance the home improvement process, offering features such as virtual estimates and automated communication, which streamline project management. By partnering with real estate agents, Curbio delivers a hassle-free experience aimed at ensuring homes are market-ready and sold quickly. The company employs a unique pay-at-closing model, allowing homeowners to manage costs effectively while preparing their homes for listing. Originally established as MaxSalePrice, Inc., Curbio rebranded in October 2018 to better reflect its focus on the real estate market.

Twofold Spaces

Seed Round in 2019
Twofold Spaces is a manufacturer specializing in configurable furniture solutions designed to optimize limited workspaces in both office and home environments. Founded to address the challenges posed by increasingly crowded living and working conditions, the company provides mobile, flexible designs that cater to the evolving needs of the modern workforce, particularly in the context of the post-Covid landscape. Its products aim to enhance the functionality and safety of spaces, allowing for seamless adaptation to varying work scenarios. Based in Portland, Oregon, Twofold Spaces focuses on delivering solutions that enable companies and individuals to utilize their available areas effectively, supporting the shift towards hybrid work models.

Curbio

Funding Round in 2019
Curbio Inc. is a home renovation service provider based in Potomac, Maryland. Founded in 2017, the company specializes in pre-sale home renovations designed to assist real estate agents and homeowners in preparing properties for sale. Curbio leverages technology to enhance the home improvement process, offering features such as virtual estimates and automated communication, which streamline project management. By partnering with real estate agents, Curbio delivers a hassle-free experience aimed at ensuring homes are market-ready and sold quickly. The company employs a unique pay-at-closing model, allowing homeowners to manage costs effectively while preparing their homes for listing. Originally established as MaxSalePrice, Inc., Curbio rebranded in October 2018 to better reflect its focus on the real estate market.

Staging & Design Network

Funding Round in 2019
Staging & Design Network is an innovative online marketplace tailored for the home staging and interior design community. It has established the first shared rental pool for home furnishings, addressing the critical need for sufficient inventory in real estate staging, which can enhance home sale prices by up to 18% and significantly reduce time on the market. The platform allows members to store their unused furniture, generating rental and sales income while enabling efficient inventory tracking and automated accounting. In addition to facilitating revenue sharing among members, the network offers professional design assistance, a service directory, rental insurance, and white glove delivery and setup. This comprehensive approach not only enhances the profitability of home stagers, interior designers, builders, and realtors but also positions Staging & Design Network to capitalize on a substantial market opportunity estimated at $140 billion.

HomeDiary

Funding Round in 2016
HomeDiary is a platform that lets homeowners and real estate professionals visualize and manage properties through a 3D interactive rendering and virtual floor plans. The service provides three-dimensional floor plans, room planner tools, and the ability to combine floor plans with photos and videos into interactive online presentations for valuation, marketing, and sales workflows. Users can log inventory, document maintenance and improvements, and track ideas, enabling ongoing asset management. The platform supports real estate agents in staying connected with clients and assists housing planners in creating and updating interior designs, decoration plans, and layouts. It is powered by FloorPlanOnline, the inventor of the Interactive Floor Plan Virtual Tour, and serves homeowners, agents, and planners seeking to Dream, Manage and Do more with their homes.
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