Lula partners with Platinum Realty to help home buyers, sellers find quality contractors
October 31, 2018 | Elyssa Bezner
New homeowners — and even those selling — need contractors, said Bo Lais. It’s a reality understood by Platinum Realty, a new partner for home services tech startup Lula.
“Lula is really excited about assisting Platinum Realty agents throughout that process because new home owners are constantly asking their real estate agents who they should use when they need something done around the house, whatever the case may be,” said Lais, founder and CEO of Overland Park-based Lula. “We’re being trusted by Platinum Realty to be that go-to partner for them and their agents so that whenever contractors are needed, we’re there to fill that void for them.”
Lula — an app-based offering that directs consumers to quality contract professionals, upfront pricing, and same-day services for homeowner’s needs — plans to use the relationship with the real estate firm to expand it service throughout Northwest Arkansas and St. Louis, he said.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to offer our agents a higher level of service,” said Scott DeNeve, founder and CEO of Platinum Realty. “As a company, we have been finding ways to leverage technology for the benefit of real estate agents since our beginnings in 2005. We see this partnership as another way we can support our agents’ success.”
Lula’s app launched in Kansas City in November 2017 with the platform working to raise funds from investors since founding in January 2016. The company reported a $420,000 funding round from Kansas City area investors in February.
Platinum Realty is one of the fastest-growing companies in Kansas City, Lais said. And with both Northwest Arkansas and St. Louis easily reachable — coupled with existing relationships with investors in those areas — the expansion seemed like an obvious next step, he added.
“Northwest Arkansas is actually a really fast growing area, but it is going to be the smallest market that we’re in, so I’m going to test that market and see what kind of results we get,” said Lais.
2018 Startups to Watch
stats here
Related Posts on Startland News
Photos: Founders score electric vibes, human connections with Startup Crawl’s return
Even tech startups benefit from one-on-one conversations with peers and the public, founders said, reflecting on the connections, collisions and real-time feedback earlier this month during Startland News’ Startup Crawl in downtown Kansas City’s Power & Light District. “It was an incredible experience that allowed for free-flow conversations and engaging activities between myself and the…
How Kelly Clarkson’s well-timed Father’s Day gift boosted a KC entrepreneur’s nonprofit
Life’s recent whirlwind initially shocked James Hogue — the newly-minted “rad dad” who earned a shoutout (and a couple thousand dollars) on the Father’s Day edition of Kelly Clarkson’s hit daytime talk show. “My first thought was, ‘Is this really happening?’” the Kansas City dad and certified doula said. The founder of Fathers Assisting Mothers…
Venture Noire is ready to activate KC with focus on improving outcomes for Black entrepreneurs
Venture Noire comes to Kansas City late this month with a two-day event to help early-stage entrepreneurs plan their next moves and reintroduce the Northwest Arkansas-based nonprofit to local business owners. Planned for June 26-27 at Keystone CoLAB, the “KC’s Playbook for Entrepreneurial Excellence” event is expected to feature a boot camp with workshops on…
Wild Way closing: Coffee camper drips bittersweet blend of emotions as owner’s cup runs dry
Nearly six years after she began serving lattes in her popular Wild Way coffee camper, Christine Clutton is saying goodbye to the business at the end of the month, she confirmed. Wild Way Coffee — featured on the Peacock series “The Simple Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” and approved by KC-raised actor Jason Sudeikis —…