What Stake does

Stake Technologies, Inc. operates an AI-powered renter network platform that combines cash back rewards on rent payments, credit building, banking services, and apartment locating into a vertically integrated ecosystem. The core product, Cash Back on Rent, rewards renters for on-time payments, lease signings, and renewals across the Stake Network of 20,000+ properties (550,000+ homes), with cumulative cash back earned by renters exceeding $50M and averaging $350 per renter per year. The platform is augmented by Credit Builder (rent reporting powered by Array), Stake Checking with Visa Debit Card (FDIC-insured banking via Midland States Bank and Transpecos Bank partners), Express PayCheck (early payroll access via Pinwheel), and Stake Neighborhood Cash (card-linked offers through Visa, Mastercard, Amex, and Fidel API). The March 2026 acquisition of UMoveFree extended the platform upstream into apartment search across Texas markets (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio), and the February 2026 Colorado Renter Rewards partnership added a government-sponsored renter equity program funded by Proposition 123.

Revenue is generated through a hybrid model combining property network fees and revenue share (properties fund cash back as part of attracting and retaining tenants), banking interchange and partnership economics from checking/debit products, apartment locator referral fees via UMoveFree, and interchange from card-linked offers. Pricing to renters is freemium — Cash Back and basic features are free, with enhanced benefits unlocked through direct deposit into Stake Checking. Go-to-market is dual-sided: product-led growth targeting renters through the mobile app and website, combined with direct sales to property owners/managers and channel partnerships including government housing authorities. The company is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, employs 51-100 people, and is led by co-founder and CEO Rowland Hobbs.

The company has raised approximately $24M in disclosed US funding across a $4M seed (September 2021), $12M Series A led by RET Ventures at a $52M valuation (June 2022), and $8M debt and equity financing led by LAGO Capital (March 2026). Stake also holds NMLS registration (#2535498) for financial services operations and recently expanded into Denmark following a five-year operating license.

Name

Stake

Legal name

Stake Technologies, Inc.

Website

https://GetYourStake.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Stake operates an AI-powered renter network offering cash back on rent, credit building, FDIC-insured checking accounts, early payroll access, and apartment locating to individual renters, property owners, and government housing authorities across the US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Property network revenue share: Properties in the Stake Network fund Cash Back as part of attracting and keeping great renters. Properties pay a fee or share revenue for each door in the network, generating recurring revenue based on the number of properties and renters enrolled.
2. Banking services partnership: Stake offers checking accounts and debit cards in partnership with Midland States Bank and Transpecos Bank, generating revenue through interchange fees and banking partnerships.
3. Apartment locator services: Through UMoveFree acquisition, Stake provides apartment locating services generating referral or finder fees from property partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Stake operates an AI-powered renter network that rewards renters with Cash Back on on-time rent payments, lease signings, and renewals across 20,000+ participating properties. It bundles the core Cash Back program with FDIC-insured Stake Checking, a Visa debit card, rent-based credit building, early payroll access, and card-linked neighborhood cash back, while also providing B2B tools and revenue-share programs for property owners and government-sponsored renter equity initiatives.

Product overview

Stake is a vertically integrated, AI-powered renter network platform offering a unified ecosystem of financial services for renters. The core product is the Cash Back on Rent program, which rewards renters for on-time payments, lease signings, and renewals. This core is augmented by acquired platform UMoveFree (apartment locating in Texas markets), Credit Builder (credit reporting powered by Array), Stake Checking (banking via Midland States Bank and Transpecos Bank), Express PayCheck (early payroll via Pinwheel), Stake Visa Debit Card, Stake Neighborhood Cash (card-linked offers via Fidel API), and Stake Saver. For property operators, Stake offers Listings and Renewals management, Revenue Share, and Tenant Equity Vehicles. The March 2026 acquisition of UMoveFree expanded the platform from apartment search through lease signing, rent payments, and financial wellness, while the February 2026 launch of Colorado Renter Rewards marked the first government-sponsored program on the platform. The platform serves 550,000+ homes across the US, having delivered over $50 million in total cash back to renters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UMoveFree: Largest apartment locating platform in Texas, offering apartment search with cash back rewards for renters. Part of the Stake Network since March 2026 acquisition.
• Stake Neighborhood Cash
• Stake Checking
• Credit Builder
• Colorado Renter Rewards

Products and services

• Cash Back on Rent Core reward program that pays renters Cash Back for on-time rent payments, lease signings, and renewals across thousands of Stake Network properties, with no points, blackout dates, or limits. For individual renters at participating properties.
• UMoveFree (Apartment Locating) Apartment locating platform serving Texas markets (Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio) that helps renters find homes and earn Cash Back at lease signing. Wholly-owned subsidiary of Lighthouse, acquired by Stake in March 2026; over 5 million renters served historically and over $35 million in delivered Cash Back rewards.
• Stake Checking FDIC-insured checking account built for renters, offered in partnership with Midland States Bank and Transpecos Bank. Includes Cash Back on rent payments, Express PayCheck early payroll access, and Stake Visa Debit card. For individual renters.
• Stake Visa Debit Card Debit card issued by Midland States Bank pursuant to a Mastercard license, enabling Stake Checking holders to earn enhanced Cash Back within the Stake Neighborhood Network at participating merchants. For Stake Checking account holders.
• Stake Neighborhood Cash Card-linked Cash Back program that earns rewards at thousands of neighborhood brands and local restaurants using any eligible debit or credit card, with real-time transaction tracking via Fidel. For individual Stake members.
• Listings and Renewals (for Properties) Property management platform for listings, locators, and renewal management that helps apartment operators close vacancies faster and keep residents longer through Stake Network integration. For property owners, managers, and operators.
• Revenue Share (for Properties) B2B revenue share program that pays property operators a share on every door enrolled in the Stake Network, aligning incentives for property participation in renter Cash Back rewards. For property owners and managers.
• Tenant Equity Vehicles Wealth creation platform for renters, enabling property equity participation through shared-equity arrangements that give tenants a stake in property appreciation. For renters, property owners, and program sponsors.
• Colorado Renter Rewards Government-sponsored renter equity program powered by Stake that enables renters in Proposition 123 properties to earn 2% cash back on rent, credit bureau reporting, savings matches, and equity distributions for long-term participants. First government entity to join The Stake Network. For state housing authorities and renters in qualifying affordable housing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4x revenue growth in 2025
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Estes Park Housing AuthoritycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Acquired Fall River Village for $35 million in October 2024 and implemented the Colorado Renter Rewards program for 66 workforce housing units.
• Lighthouse / UMoveFreeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 March 2026Acquired by Stake in March 2026. UMoveFree is Texas's largest apartment locating platform with over 5 million renters served and $35 million in delivered Cash Back rewards. Adds 20,000+ properties to Stake's network.
• Property FindercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Participated in Series B funding and is advancing regulated real estate tokenization through a collaboration with Stake after receiving In-Principle Approval from Dubai's VARA.
• Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Partnered with Stake to launch Colorado Renter Rewards, the nation's first state-sponsored cash back program for renters in Proposition 123-funded properties, with Fall River Village as the first participating property.
• Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026Partnered with Stake to implement Colorado Renter Rewards program, providing the financial infrastructure and regulatory framework for statewide renter equity initiatives.
• CircacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2024Stake acquired Circa to develop its Cash Back rent payments platform, enhance property performance through loyalty integration, and improve payment processing speed and collection efficiency.
• Enterprise Community Partners' Renter Wealth Creation FundcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Stake partnered with Enterprise Community Partners' fund to deliver renter wealth creation programs, having generated $327,238 in cash back across 1,207 residents in seven properties.
• Midland States BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking services partner providing FDIC-insured checking accounts and Stake Visa Debit Card. Stake is a fintech company, not a bank, with banking services provided by this partner.
• Transpecos BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanking partner providing FDIC-insured checking accounts. Works alongside Midland States Bank to provide banking infrastructure for Stake's checking and debit card products.
• PinwheelcoreTechnology or IntegrationProvides Express PayCheck feature enabling early access to salary and payroll. Powered by Pinwheel integration for direct deposit early access.
• ArraycoreTechnology or IntegrationPowers the Credit Builder feature that reports rent payments to all major credit bureaus. Provides the infrastructure for renter credit-building capabilities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bilt Rewards: Bilt Rewards is the most direct competitor to Stake: it offers rewards (points) on rent payments, integrates with property operators, and bundles credit-building and travel/lifestyle rewards for renters. Both companies pursue a renter network funded by properties and financial partners.
• Esusu: Esusu is a renter-focused fintech that reports rent payments to credit bureaus and offers financial wellness tools to renters and property managers. Stake's Credit Builder product directly competes with Esusu's core rent-reporting offering.
• Rhino: Rhino is a renter fintech offering security deposit alternatives and renter insurance, integrated with property operators. It targets the same renter and property manager personas as Stake and competes for the same property-network relationships.
• TheGuarantors: TheGuarantors provides renter financial products including deposit alternatives, lease guarantor services, and renter insurance, sold through property operators. Comparable business model to Stake's property-network-driven renter financial services.

Broad incumbents

• Zillow: Zillow is the dominant U.S. rental search and listing platform with a far broader real estate marketplace footprint. Stake's UMoveFree-acquired apartment locating capability competes with Zillow's rental search at the top of the renter funnel.
• Apartments.com (CoStar): Apartments.com, owned by CoStar, is a leading national apartment search platform with extensive property operator relationships. Directly comparable to Stake's apartment locating and listing business but at much larger scale.
• Chime: Chime is a large consumer fintech operating through bank partnerships (similar to Stake's relationship with Midland States Bank and Transpecos Bank). Comparable in distribution model and FDIC-partner architecture, though Chime targets the broader consumer market rather than renters specifically.

Emerging players

• Avail: Avail (owned by Move/Realtor.com) provides landlord and renter tools for screening, leasing, and rent payments. Comparable to Stake's property operator tools, particularly Listings and Renewals, but focuses on smaller landlords rather than institutional properties.
• RentRedi: RentRedi is a rent payment and property management platform for landlords, with rent reporting to credit bureaus. Comparable to Stake's payment and credit-building features but sold B2B to landlords rather than B2C to renters.

Others

• Pinwheel: Pinwheel is the payroll connectivity provider that powers Stake's Express PayCheck feature. Listed here as a technology/integration peer because Stake's early-payroll capability is built on top of Pinwheel's infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/getyourstake
• Facebookfacebook.com/getyourstake
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/getyourstake
• Instagraminstagram.com/getyourstake

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors18 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stake