High-Level Overview
Fund That Flip, Inc. is a fintech platform providing fast, affordable loans to experienced real estate investors for fix-and-flip projects on 1-4 family homes. It connects borrowers—real estate developers—with individual and institutional investors via an online marketplace, funding purchases, renovations, and resales typically within 6-18 months. The platform serves flippers, rental upgraders, and refinancers by offering up to $25 million per project with 24-hour funding commitments and 5-7 day closings, targeting 9.5% annual yields for investors while approving under 8% of applicants.[1][2][3][6]
Growth has been strong: founded in 2014, it has originated over $1.5 billion in loans, returned 99.6% of principal to investors, raised $37.8 million in funding, and employs 213 people across offices in New York and Cleveland.[2][3]
Origin Story
Fund That Flip was founded in 2014 in New York City by Matt Rodak (CEO) and Dan Morena, both real estate investors who faced chronic capital-raising challenges in their own deals.[1][3][4] Rodak, an early JOBS Act adopter with insurance expertise (CPCU), assembled a team of industry veterans and bootstrapped the product amid potential disruptions in real estate finance.[1] Morena brought technologist experience as a 3x Inc. 5000 founder.[1]
The idea emerged from personal pain points: traditional lenders were slow and costly for short-term flips. They built an online platform to underwrite, originate, and service loans efficiently, leveraging technology for speed and transparency. Early traction came from their investor networks, evolving into a nationwide operation with territory managers and over $1 billion managed by recent years.[2][4]
Core Differentiators
- Low-Risk Underwriting: Maintains loan-to-value (LTV) ratios at or below 65% of after-repair value (ARV), often around 57%, providing equity cushions; first-position liens ensure investor priority in foreclosures.[2][5]
- Speed and Efficiency: 24-hour approvals, 5-7 day funding via streamlined online process; technology reduces paperwork and enables 6-18 month terms covering up to 85% purchase price and 100% rehab.[3][4][6]
- Investor-Friendly Returns and Liquidity: Targets 9.5% yields (often exceeded), 99.1-99.6% principal return rate, high transparency on deals (terms, APR, property details); low uncured defaults with managed foreclosures.[2][5]
- Borrower Access to Capital: Affordable rates via diverse investor pool (institutional/HNW individuals); value-add support like custom terms and dedicated underwriters; finances diverse projects including flips, rentals, demos.[2][6]
- Proven Scale: $1.5B+ funded, Inc. 500 recognition, $2M+ VC backing from Sprint VC, Sand Hill Angels; rebranded elements toward Upright for broader real estate debt.[1][3][5]
Role in the Broader Tech Landscape
Fund That Flip rides the fintech disruption of real estate finance, democratizing access to fix-and-flip capital amid rising property prices and illiquid traditional lending.[2][5] Timing aligns with post-JOBS Act crowdfunding growth, enabling non-bank platforms to crowdsource from accredited investors and bypass banks' slow processes—critical as flipping volumes hit billions annually.[1][2]
Market forces favor it: housing shortages boost rehab demand, tech efficiencies cut costs (1-2% investor fees, 2-4 borrower points), and low LTVs mitigate downturn risks.[5][6] It influences the ecosystem by lowering barriers for local developers, revitalizing neighborhoods, and offering passive real estate exposure to investors, filling gaps in private markets.[2]
Quick Take & Future Outlook
Fund That Flip's low-risk profile and tech-driven scale position it for expansion into multifamily/commercial debt and potential full rebrand to Upright, building on $1.5B+ track record.[5] Rising interest in alternative assets and AI underwriting could push yields higher while volumes grow; watch for regulatory shifts in crowdfunding or housing policy impacts.
As a bridge from founder frustrations to billion-dollar lending, it exemplifies fintech solving real estate's capital crunch—poised to transform more neighborhoods and portfolios ahead.[2][4]