Italian real estate fintech Piece just raised a €650k pre-seed financing round from Startup Gym, a venture studio that played a crucial role in the startup’s early-stage development and growth trajectory.
The fresh capital will enable Piece to strengthen its real estate investor community, establish the necessary technological infrastructure, and streamline operations to source, manage, and offer properties in Italy and beyond.
With Piece, investors can now start investing in real estate for as little as €50, granting them ownership of a fraction of the property, monthly dividends from rental income, and potential capital appreciation upon sale.
Kentaro Sohara, co-founder of Piece, expressed his excitement about the funding round, stating: “We believe that everyone should have access to real estate investment opportunities. With the support of StartupGym and our esteemed investors, we are confident in our ability to revolutionise the real estate investment landscape and empower a new generation of investors.”
Paolo Galvani, a board member of StartupGym, said: “Many younger people view real estate as a dull and expensive investment option compared to Crypto and Stocks. Although several platforms have emerged in these areas, none have been specifically designed for real estate investments. Recognising this opportunity, StartupGym believes that Piece has the potential to become the industry standard for real estate investment, providing access to both retailers and the younger generation. We are thrilled to support Piece in their mission to democratise access to real estate and revolutionise the investment landscape.”
Japanese entrepreneur Kentaro Sohara, known for his successful ventures including Sendyou, teamed up with co-founders Lorenzo Dellarossa, former Head of Product at Casavo, and Riccardo Momigliano, former go-to-market manager at Doctolib, to found Piece in 2023. The startup’s mission is to democratise real estate investments, making them accessible to the younger generation facing formidable challenges in entering the housing market.
Riccardo Momigliano, expressed his perspective, stating: “Today, there are many who don’t have the opportunity to invest in real estate due to difficulties in obtaining bank credit, lack of experience, and excessively high prices. At Piece, we believe that real estate investments need to be reinvented and, above all, democratised.”
Lorenzo Dellarossa, highlighted: “Currently, there is no tech-driven solution in the Italian market that allows you to purchase only a fraction of a property, thereby excluding the majority of the younger generation from real estate investment. With Piece, we aim to create a new technology that makes real estate investment accessible to everyone, completely transparent, and secure.”
Leveraging local partnerships, Piece ensures the mitigation of operational risks such as tenant audits. Additionally, investors have the option to sell their property fractions in a secondary market as effortlessly as owning stocks.
