Engrain, a vendor of interactive mapping and data visualization, announced that it had closed a $12 million Series A round from RET Ventures. That makes a total of $16.7 million in funding to date with seed rounds in 2019 and 2020, according to startup data source Crunchbase.
The news comes on top of an additional announcement that Zillow had integrated the company’s software to provide visual location information at its site on apartments and amenities on 3,600 multifamily properties.
“With this capital in hand, Engrain will invest in a wide range of platform improvements, including an innovative marketplace with automated processes around license management and sharing property maps with vendors,” a press release stated. “Engrain will also add pathfinding capabilities for visitors to navigate the most efficient paths around the property and surrounding community — a valuable tool for prospective residents, delivery personnel, contractors and maintenance staff.”
Engrain currently has three main offerings. One is SightMap, which provides interactive property maps. Initially designed for website display, the software can be integrated into property management software applications, according to the company’s website. Prospective tenants can undertake a “personalized self-tour” as property owners and managers can use the tool’s marketing analytics. Visual content can be available at the unit, room, or suite level.
TouchTour brings the visualization capabilities to high-resolution touchscreen displays in a leasing center to “virtually guide prospective renters through the community.” It can be used in multifamily, senior living, or student housing settings.
Asset Intelligence is a product for asset management staff and provides map-based visualizations of property performance data, “making it easier to identify trends, outliers, and patterns.” It offers “a fully integrated, interactive heat map of your property and custom dashboard that shows your percentage leased, proforma variances, days on the market and more.”
The Zillow announcement said that people looking for apartments on the site “can now see the exact location of available units — and even what their view would be — at thousands of participating properties.”
“Zillow Rentals’ new integration with Engrain’s interactive map platform lets renters understand what floor an available apartment is on; if it’s facing a shared outdoor space, like a garden or pool; or if the view is of a street or parking lot,” the release said. “The interactive maps also allow renters to click on available units to book a tour or request to apply, in much the same way they would select concert tickets when buying online.” Prospective renters can use the capability on Zillow’s site or app.
