This proptech firm aims to protect

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Hello reader,

A few months ago, a friend of mine got scammed by someone impersonating a real estate agent. She was searching for a rental unit, and when she found a place, she transferred the required deposit to what she thought was the landlord’s bank account.

Unfortunately, once she did that, the so-called agent ghosted her, leaving her a few thousand dollars poorer and still effectively homeless.

These housing scams are unfortunately common, not just in Singapore but across Southeast Asia. That’s why Crystal Lee Gonzalez, the co-founder and former CEO of delivery company Pickaroo, decided to tackle this problem in the Philippines head-on by launching proptech platform NoneAway.

Today we look at:

• The NoneAway story
• A collectibles livestreaming platform that has raised fresh funds
• Other newsy highlights such as Baidu’s new AI applications and the improved performance of SoftBank’s Vision Fund

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Image credit: Timmy Loen

Launched in 2023, NoneAway aims to disrupt the Philippine property market through its AI-powered mobile app. It has secured over US$1 million in pre-seed funding.

• The problem at hand: The startup is tackling duplicate and fake property listings, a key issue faced by most open property marketplaces. NoneAway enforces a strict no-duplicate policy, verifies brokers, and requires user selfies for registration.
• Making things easier: The company hopes to streamline the property transaction experience, including discovery, escrow, and closing. Gonzalez says that she wants her startup to be the “Bumble for real estate.”
• Future plans: NoneAway is now accepting early registrations and gearing up to launch its beta version on December 12, with a public release set for early 2025. The company’s goal is to onboard 5,000 brokers and around 1 million users in its first year. It’s also aiming to reach profitability within two years.

Read more: Pickaroo co-founder bets on new startup to fight housing scams

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