Agile Homes

Radically changing the way houses are built

Founders: Craig White, Linda Farrow

Sector: Housing

Location: Bristol, UK

Agile Homes use unique technology to build high quality, low carbon, affordable homes fast; on land that is free, and hidden in plain sight. Agile started by building a flexible, environmentally friendly home called ’TAM’ to the highest standard without requiring planning permission in just 10 weeks. They can create homes in spaces that would otherwise not be viable for developers by identifying micro-sites in gaps, corners, and overlooked areas. Access to housing is one of the biggest barriers for people experiencing homelessness.

The Venture Studio was attracted to Agile Homes' capability to deliver affordable and dignified homes at speed whilst involving the community in every step of the process.

Lanu

Making planning easier by analysing the development potential for every property in the UK

Founders: Shane O'Donnell, Luke Coburn

Sector: Housing

Location: London, UK

Lanu is on a mission to make planning easier for everyone by analysing the development potential for each property in the UK. By doing so they will be able to optimise existing housing stock at scale and bring vacant properties back into use.

The Venture Studio was attracted to the tangible impact this technology solution could have on ending homelessness. By creating new space for housing within existing stock to serve the needs of those in most in housing need, Lanu removes the need to solely rely on new housing development.

GoodPAYE

Doubling the number of UK payroll givers for charities by 2030

Founders: Good Giving was founded in partnership with four other major charities including WaterAid, RNIB, the Royal British Legion, and Barnardo’s. Richard Packman is the Managing Director.

Sector: Fundraising

Location: London, UK

GoodPAYE is a 100% charity-owned and technology-led business on a mission to revolutionize the way Payroll Giving is delivered. Using modern digital fundraising techniques and technology efficiencies, we will double the number of UK payroll givers and raise an additional £150m for charities by 2030.

The Venture Studio was attracted to GoodPAYE's potential to increase the accessibility and uptake of Payroll Giving, driving exponential benefit to charities, employers, and their employees.

Urban Intelligence

Helping local authorities identify and prioritise sites with the greatest development potential

Founders: Daniel Mohamed

Sector: Planning (Technology)

Location: Cardiff (HQ) & London

Communities across the UK are in desperate need of affordable housing in the right places. However, 16% of local authorities achieved less than 75% of their housing target. Urban Intelligence solves this problem by applying cutting-edge software development and planning expertise to geospatial data. Their Placemaker software helps local authorities identify vastly more development opportunities than the manual alternative and helps them prioritise sites with the greatest development potential. Through Placemaker, Planning Officers can access data that enables them to challenge viability assessments made in planning applications and deliver much-needed affordable housing as a result.

The Venture Studio was attracted to Urban Intelligence’s ability to increase potential capacity for social housing.

Pfida

A truly unique, ethical financial tech company, with a mission to provide everyone with equal and fair opportunities to save, invest, and own a home without interest and debt. 

Founders: Raza Ullah and Salman Hasan

Sector: Finance (Technology)

Location: London

One-third of problem debt in the UK is related to the loss of housing. Pfida have created a debt-free model of housing finance, where an equity buffer protects the tenancy in the event of loss of income. So far, the average Pfida customer has built up an equity buffer equal to four years’ worth of rent, providing stability of tenure.

Bridge Housing Solutions

Helping homeless people find current available social housing homes

Founders: Priscilla Mazava and Nicola Fahey

Sector: Housing (Technology)

Location: London, UK

Bridge Housing Solutions ends homelessness by helping families find long-term, quality homes and leave temporary accommodations quickly.

The Venture Studio was excited to invest in order to help them build a tech-enabled platform that aggregates data from thousands of Housing Association websites. This helps people find dignified homes quickly and conveniently.

Grand Bequest

A platform that will enable communities to turn empty buildings into impact investments and deliver new social housing at scale.  

Founders: Katherine Gunderson

Sector: Housing (Technology)

Location: Glasgow, UK

Grand Bequest is a property technology company using data analytics, conservation, and sustainability to promote the global redevelopment of vacant buildings, and will transform empty and derelict buildings into environmental, social and governance (ESG) impact investments.

The Venture Studio was excited to invest in a B Corp that is repurposing empty properties as a very real solution to help end homelessness.