INVESTLER SOLUTIONS
Behind the Scenes•December 24, 2025

Why I Applied to NAR REACH: My Experience With the National Association of Realtors Startup Accelerator

By Ryan Persad

I just applied to NAR REACH, the National Association of Realtors' premier startup accelerator program backed by Second Century Ventures. With 300+ global REACH companies, $8B+ in aggregated valuations, and $2.9B in capital raised, REACH is the real estate industry's most prestigious accelerator. Here's my experience applying with the Investler Solutions ecosystem—why I chose to apply, what the application process was like, and why I think NAR REACH has the right intentions for scaling real estate technology startups.

I just applied to NAR REACH.

Let me say that again: I just applied to NAR REACH.

NAR REACH is the National Association of Realtors' premier startup accelerator program. It's created by Second Century Ventures (SCV), a global technology venture fund backed by the National Association of Realtors (NAR)—one of the most influential organizations in real estate.

And I think it's one of the most interesting programs in proptech.

Here's why I applied, what the application process was like, and why I think NAR REACH has the right intentions for what they're trying to do.

What Is NAR REACH? The Real Estate Industry's Premier Startup Accelerator

NAR REACH is a premier technology scale-up initiative designed to accelerate the growth of innovative startups within the real estate sector. Established in 2013 by Second Century Ventures (SCV), NAR's strategic investment arm, REACH has expanded globally, now operating across seven major markets: the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Latin America, Israel, and the Middle East. Second Century Ventures is the venture capital fund behind NAR REACH, investing in and accelerating proptech companies that are transforming the real estate industry.

The numbers are impressive:

  • 300+ global REACH companies supported since inception
  • $8 billion+ in global aggregated valuations
  • $2.9 billion in global assets and capital raised
  • Access to NAR's network of over 1.5 million members and industry executives

In 2024, NAR REACH was honored as the "Accelerator of the Year" by PropTech Outlook, underscoring its pivotal role in fostering innovation within the real estate industry. This recognition highlights NAR REACH's impact on the proptech ecosystem and its commitment to scaling innovative real estate technology companies.

Second Century Ventures (SCV) is recognized as the most active global venture fund in real estate technology. By leveraging NAR's vast membership and industry connections, Second Century Ventures invests in and accelerates companies that are poised to redefine the future of real estate, financial services, banking, home services, and insurance. SCV operates NAR REACH as its flagship accelerator program, connecting portfolio companies with NAR's network of 1.5 million+ real estate professionals.

This is the real deal.

Why I Applied: The Investler Solutions Ecosystem

When I saw the NAR REACH application, I knew I had to apply.

But here's the thing: I didn't apply with just one product. I applied with the entire ecosystem.

I applied with Investler Solutions—the parent company that encompasses our entire vertically integrated real estate technology ecosystem:

  • Investler.com - AI-powered consumer search platform for real estate listings
  • InvestlerRealty.com - Virtual real estate brokerage with 100+ active licensed agents
  • Brokurz.com - White-label, all-in-one virtual brokerage platform for real estate brokers

Why the ecosystem instead of a single product?

Because NAR REACH gives applicants the ability to make a well-guided decision based on everything we've built and where we're headed. Our trajectory. Our vision. Our entire approach to real estate technology.

The ecosystem is the product. The individual companies are just components.

When you're applying to a program like NAR REACH, backed by Second Century Ventures and the National Association of Realtors, you want to show them the full picture. You want to show them how everything connects. You want to show them the bigger vision.

That's why I applied with Investler Solutions.

The Application Process: What NAR REACH Asked For

The application process was straightforward, but comprehensive.

I applied at nar-reach.com/apply-to-reach on November 26, 2025.

NAR REACH asked for a good bit of information:

  • Company details - Name, website, description
  • Founder information - Background, experience, commitment
  • Milestones - What we've achieved, where we're at, where we're going
  • Market opportunity - The problem we're solving, the market size
  • Traction - Users, revenue, growth metrics
  • Why REACH - Why we want to be part of the program

The application took me less than an hour.

Actually, let me be more specific: the application itself took less than an hour, but I spent an hour on it because I like to put a lot of thought into things. I wanted to make sure every answer was thoughtful. Every milestone was accurate. Every detail was precise.

I also sent over a pitch deck.

Because when you're applying to a program like NAR REACH, you want to give them everything they need to make an informed decision. You want to show them the full picture. You want to make it easy for them to understand what you're building and why it matters.

The pitch deck was comprehensive. It covered:

  • Our vertically integrated ecosystem
  • Each of our three products and how they connect
  • Our traction and milestones
  • Our vision for the future of real estate technology
  • Why we're building what we're building

I wanted to make sure they had everything they needed.

The Confirmation Issue: Why I Followed Up

Here's something interesting: I didn't receive a confirmation email.

After submitting the application, I expected to get some kind of confirmation. A "we received your application" email. Something that let me know the submission went through.

But I didn't get one.

So I did what any founder would do: I followed up.

On December 15, 2025, I sent an email directly to hello@narreach.com—the contact email listed on the NAR REACH website. I just wanted to confirm that they received the application. I wanted to make sure everything went through correctly.

They confirmed that they did.

Blair Kennedy from Second Century Ventures | REACH responded the same day, confirming receipt of my application submitted on November 26, 2025. She let me know that their team would share updates with all applicants as they move through the review process.

That was it. Simple. Direct. Professional.

But here's what I learned: When you're applying to programs like NAR REACH, don't assume silence means rejection. Don't assume no confirmation email means they didn't receive it. Follow up. Be proactive. Make sure your application is in the right hands.

That's what I did. And I'm glad I did.

Why I Think NAR REACH Has the Right Intentions

Here's what I think: NAR REACH has the right intentions for what they're trying to do.

They're not just another accelerator. They're not just another program. They're backed by the National Association of Realtors (NAR)—one of the most influential organizations in real estate. They're operated by Second Century Ventures (SCV)—the most active global venture fund in real estate technology. NAR REACH portfolio companies like PredictAP, Trackxi, Final Offer, Scout, and Chirpyest demonstrate the quality and innovation Second Century Ventures is looking for.

They have access to 1.5 million+ NAR members. They have connections to industry executives. They have a global network across seven major markets.

They've supported 300+ companies. They've helped raise $2.9 billion in capital. They've created $8 billion+ in aggregated valuations.

This isn't just a program. This is a movement.

NAR REACH is helping startups scale in real estate. They're connecting innovative technology companies with the resources, mentorship, and network they need to succeed. They're fostering innovation within the real estate industry.

And I think that's exactly what proptech needs.

The real estate industry is fragmented. It's slow to adopt new technology. It's resistant to change.

But programs like NAR REACH are changing that.

They're bridging the gap between innovation and adoption. They're connecting startups with the industry. They're helping technology companies understand the real estate market, and they're helping the real estate market understand technology.

That's why I applied.

What Makes NAR REACH Different

NAR REACH isn't just another accelerator. Here's what makes it different:

1. Industry Access

NAR REACH participants get access to NAR's network of over 1.5 million members. That's 1.5 million real estate professionals. That's 1.5 million potential customers, partners, and advocates. NAR REACH portfolio companies like Scout, Trackxi, and Chirpyest leverage this network to scale their real estate technology solutions.

Most accelerators can't offer that.

2. Global Reach

NAR REACH operates across seven major markets: the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Latin America, Israel, and the Middle East.

That's a global network. That's international expansion opportunities. That's scale.

3. Real Estate Focus

NAR REACH is specifically focused on real estate technology. They understand the industry. They understand the challenges. They understand what it takes to succeed in proptech.

Most accelerators are generalist. NAR REACH is specialist.

4. Second Century Ventures Backing

Second Century Ventures is the most active global venture fund in real estate technology. They're not just running an accelerator—they're investing in companies. They're building a portfolio. They're creating value.

That's strategic. That's long-term. That's valuable.

5. Track Record

300+ companies. $8 billion+ in valuations. $2.9 billion in capital raised.

That's not just a program. That's a proven track record. NAR REACH portfolio companies include successful proptech startups like PredictAP (AI accounts payable automation), Trackxi (transaction management), Final Offer (negotiation platform), Scout (AI email outreach), Kukun (real estate data platform), Unlock (home equity access), and many more innovative real estate technology companies.

What I'm Hoping For

I'm super excited to see what's to come from NAR REACH.

If we get accepted, here's what I'm hoping for:

  • Mentorship from industry leaders who understand real estate technology
  • Access to NAR's network of 1.5 million+ members
  • Strategic guidance on scaling our vertically integrated ecosystem
  • Connections to potential customers, partners, and investors
  • Validation that what we're building matters to the real estate industry

But even if we don't get accepted, the application process was valuable.

It forced me to think about our ecosystem in a different way. It forced me to articulate our vision clearly. It forced me to explain how everything connects.

That's valuable regardless of the outcome.

The Application Window: When to Apply

For anyone reading this who's interested in NAR REACH:

Applications for the 2026 REACH Residential program in the United States were open from November 3, 2025, to February 10, 2026. I submitted my application on November 26, 2025, during this application window.

You can apply at nar-reach.com/apply-to-reach.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Technology companies that bring innovation, efficiencies, and value to the real estate marketplace
  • Companies committed full-time to their ventures
  • Companies ready to engage actively in the program

If you're building something in proptech, you should consider applying.

Recent NAR REACH Cohorts: What They're Looking For

Looking at recent NAR REACH cohorts, I can see what they're looking for:

2025 REACH Commercial Cohort included:

2024 REACH Cohort included:

They're looking for innovation. They're looking for companies that solve real problems. They're looking for technology that makes a difference.

That's what we're building.

Learn more about NAR REACH portfolio companies:

  • 1031 Specialists - 1031 exchange services
  • BreatheEV - EV charging reservation platform
  • Connexus - Procurement and vendor management
  • Forty5Park - AI-powered valuation platform
  • Packsmith - AI-driven logistics and distribution
  • PredictAP - AI accounts payable automation
  • REKalibrate - Customer data platform for CRE
  • Verv Energy - HVACR monitoring and energy management
  • Chirpyest - Social commerce for real estate professionals
  • Final Offer - Real estate negotiation platform
  • Kukun - Home improvement and data platform
  • Notable - Pay-at-close financing solutions
  • Purlin - AI tools for real estate transactions
  • Scout - AI email outreach for agents
  • Trackxi - Transaction management platform
  • Unlock - Home equity access platform

Why This Matters: The Future of Proptech

NAR REACH matters because it's helping shape the future of proptech.

The real estate industry needs innovation. It needs technology. It needs companies that are solving real problems.

Programs like NAR REACH are making that happen.

They're connecting startups with the industry. They're fostering innovation. They're helping technology companies scale.

That's why I applied.

I believe in what we're building. I believe in our vertically integrated ecosystem. I believe in our vision for the future of real estate technology.

And I believe that programs like NAR REACH can help us get there.

The Bottom Line

I just applied to NAR REACH, the National Association of Realtors' premier startup accelerator program backed by Second Century Ventures.

I applied with the Investler Solutions ecosystem because I wanted to show them the full picture. I wanted to show them how everything connects. I wanted to show them our vision.

The application process was straightforward but comprehensive. It took me an hour because I wanted to put thought into every answer. I sent a pitch deck. I followed up to confirm receipt.

I think NAR REACH has the right intentions. They're helping startups scale in real estate. They're fostering innovation. They're connecting technology companies with the industry.

I'm super excited to see what's to come.

Whether we get accepted or not, the application process was valuable. It forced me to think about our ecosystem differently. It forced me to articulate our vision clearly.

That's valuable regardless of the outcome.

If you're building something in proptech, consider applying to NAR REACH. Applications for the 2026 REACH Residential program are open until February 10, 2026.

This is radical transparency. This is how we're building Investler Solutions.

And this is why I applied to NAR REACH.

Learn more about NAR REACH:

About Investler Solutions:

#NAR REACH#NAR REACH accelerator#National Association of Realtors#Second Century Ventures#SCV#real estate accelerator#proptech accelerator#startup accelerator#real estate technology#proptech

Share This Article

TwitterLinkedInFacebookRedditEmail
← Back to Journal