Dubai-based renovation technology startup Reno has raised $4 million in a mix of equity and debt to accelerate its regional expansion. The funding aims to support the company’s ambition to build what it describes as the region’s first end-to-end operating system for renovations. This milestone underscores growing investor interest in technology that simplifies complex, offline-heavy sectors such as home and commercial refurbishment.
Building a Tech-Driven Renovation Platform
Reno positions itself as a comprehensive, app-based platform that manages the full renovation cycle for residential and commercial projects. Instead of dealing with multiple contractors, designers, and financiers separately, users interact through a single, supervised interface. This integrated approach is designed to deliver clearer timelines, more predictable costs, and higher-quality outcomes for both homeowners and property investors.
AI-Powered Roadmap and Product Innovation
The latest round will fund the launch of Reno’s new app, planned for early 2026. The updated platform will introduce real-time AI-powered design tools, instant budget estimates, and an intelligent materials engine that helps users make decisions with greater confidence from day one. By embedding data-driven features into each step of the process, Reno aims to reduce uncertainty and bring more transparency to renovation planning.
Financial Flexibility and Investor Backing
A key component of Reno’s model is its financing proposition, including its Renovate Now, Pay Later solution. This feature allows customers to initiate projects without paying the full cost upfront, then repay once value or income is realized from the upgraded property. The $4 million round was backed by 500 Sanabil, Hub71, Plus VC, Zero 100 VC, FlyerOne Ventures, Sandstorm VC, AngelSpark, and Swiss Founders Fund, reflecting confidence in both the product and its regional scaling potential.
Improving the Homeowner Experience
For individual homeowners, the company emphasizes reduced disruption and clearer oversight. One early user, busy professional and father of two, Camillo Schobesberger, managed his renovation remotely while receiving daily updates, transparent budget tracking, and milestone-linked payments. According to Camillo, this structure minimized stress, avoided unexpected costs and temporary relocation, and ultimately increased his property’s value by nearly 40 percent.
Unlocking Value for Property Investors
Reno is also targeting institutional and professional property owners who need to upgrade multiple units at speed. Seraya co-founder and CEO Ibrahim Shami, whose company operates short-term rentals in the UAE, used Reno’s Renovate Now, Pay Later options to scale renovations without heavy upfront capital outlays. By aligning repayments with incoming rental revenue, he doubled his renovation pace from two to four apartments per month, turning renovation bottlenecks into a growth driver for his portfolio.
Founders, Mission, and Regional Expansion
Founded in 2024 by CEO Marc Michel, CCO Amr Hosny, and COO Farah Karabeg, Reno blends technology with human expertise from interior designers and renovation specialists. The platform centralizes design, project management, contractor oversight, and financing into a single, structured workflow, with milestone-based processes that enhance accountability. With the new capital, the company plans to deepen its presence in the UAE and expand across the wider GCC while continuing to refine its technology stack and customer experience.
Reno’s latest funding round highlights the growing demand for structured, technology-enabled renovation services in the Gulf region. By combining AI-driven planning tools, transparent oversight, and flexible financing, the company is attempting to modernize a traditionally fragmented and stressful process. If it executes its roadmap as planned, Reno could emerge as a reference point for how renovation projects are conceptualized, financed, and delivered across the region.