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Tether RE, a technology startup that provides a suite of tools to enhance the safety and productivity of real estate professionals, was named Thursday as the winner of the sixth annual Pitch Battle at the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2024 Innovation, Opportunity & Investment (iOi) Summit in Chicago.
Twelve companies bringing solutions to the real estate market, from 3D-printed homes to HELOCs, competed in the “Shark Tank”–style contest hosted by Second Century Ventures, NAR’s strategic investment arm. The contestants presented four-minute pitches to more than 400 conference attendees, including venture capitalists, futurists and real estate professionals. The Pitch Battle also was livestreamed to thousands of virtual attendees.
Tether RE cofounder Vanessa Martin explained the core features of her company’s innovation, including 24-hour safety monitoring, client verification, SOS alerts, proximity safety timers and fall and crash alerts. The Tether RE platform also enhances agent productivity by integrating tools such as turn-by-turn navigation, automatic mileage and expense tracking, and personalized agent branding. As the Pitch Battle victor, Tether RE will receive a prize package that includes $15,000, a national platform to help gain market share, and a booth at NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience—the association’s annual conference—this November in Boston.
“Last year alone, 30,000 real estate agents were victims of violent crimes,” Martin said. “We are proud of the platform we’ve created, and we know it will help agents when they need it most. It’s time to focus on what matters because the most important part of any deal is making it home safely.” ‘’
“This year’s Pitch Battle showcased exceptional innovations that are setting new benchmarks in the real estate sector,” said Dan Weisman, NAR director of innovation strategy. “The ingenuity displayed by Tether RE represents the progressive strides we support at the iOi Summit and NAR’s ongoing efforts to enhance the services provided to real estate professionals and consumers alike. We congratulate Tether RE on their outstanding achievement.”
In-person and virtual iOi audiences also voted on the Pitch Battle’s Crowd Favorite, which was awarded to Tuesday, a social MLS app built exclusively for agents. Tuesday CEO Coleton Boyer illustrated how the company’s mobile-first approach has streamlined real estate market intelligence into a user-friendly social feed. “It’s the energy of your Tuesday meeting, the ease of your Instagram feed and the exact same data you get on the MLS,” Boyer said.
See the full list of 2024 Pitch Battle finalists.