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We pioneer solutions to end the global housing crisis by empowering…
Key people at New Story.
New Story was founded in 2014 by Brett Hagler (Founder/CEO) and Matthew Marshall (Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer).
Since its inception, NS has raised over $80 million to build thousands of homes across Latin America and impact ~20,000 individuals. In 2021, NS launched a venture capital fund, Hometeam Ventures, focused on early-stage construction and housing innovations. NS graduated from Y Combinator and is a 4x recipient of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Company.
New Story was founded in 2014 by Brett Hagler (Founder/CEO) and Matthew Marshall (Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer).
Key people at New Story.
New Story is a nonprofit organization pioneering innovative, scalable solutions to end the global housing crisis by empowering low-income families to become land and homeowners in thriving communities. Since its founding in 2014, New Story has raised over $80 million and built thousands of affordable homes across Latin America, directly impacting around 20,000 individuals. It combines philanthropy, impact investment, and cutting-edge construction technology—including 3D printing—to create sustainable, community-scale housing projects. In 2021, New Story expanded its impact by launching Hometeam Ventures, a venture capital fund investing in early-stage startups innovating in construction and housing technology, thus fostering systemic change in the affordable housing ecosystem[1][2][5].
Founded by Brett Hagler and co-founders Alexandria Lafci, Matthew Marshall, and Mike Arrietta, New Story emerged from Hagler’s experience witnessing prolonged homelessness after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Frustrated by the slow recovery and lack of scalable solutions, the team created New Story to leverage technology, transparency, and market-driven models to build entire communities rather than individual homes. Early traction included successfully building 100 homes in 100 days after being accepted into Y Combinator, which helped scale their operations and refine their approach. Since then, New Story has expanded to multiple countries including Mexico, El Salvador, Bolivia, and Haiti, with a goal to house one million people by 2030 through affordable, sustainable housing[3][5][4].
New Story rides the convergence of social impact and construction technology trends, leveraging advances like 3D printing, automation, and innovative financing to tackle the global affordable housing shortage. The timing is critical as urbanization and housing insecurity grow worldwide, and traditional construction methods prove too slow and costly. By demonstrating scalable, tech-enabled housing models, New Story influences both the nonprofit and startup ecosystems, inspiring new approaches to housing finance, land development, and community empowerment. Its venture fund further catalyzes innovation by supporting startups that can disrupt and improve housing affordability and construction efficiency globally[2][4][7].
Looking ahead, New Story aims to scale its impact dramatically, targeting to house one million people by 2030 through expanded community developments and broader adoption of 3D printing and other construction innovations. Trends such as increased digital financing, modular construction, and sustainable building practices will shape their journey. Their influence is likely to grow as they continue blending nonprofit mission with venture investment, fostering a new ecosystem of housing innovation that could redefine affordable housing worldwide. This positions New Story not only as a builder of homes but as a catalyst for systemic change in the global housing crisis[1][2][4].
