Funding Roundup: Zefir, Jubenial

This week's funding roundup includes another iBuyer that is no longer an iBuyer, and an interesting marketplace for the older generation...

French proptech Zefir raises $11.75M amid iBuying U-turn

Zefir, a proptech company based in France, has raised €11 million to accelerate its 'collective sales' product that replaced its previous iBuying proposition.

The round was raised by previous investors including Sequoia, Heartcore, Stride, Third Kind Venture, and new investor Zigg Capital. The firm will use the funds to invest in product developments and AI.

Zefir says it accelerates the meeting between buyers and sellers—and the final transaction—from 100 days to 58 days at no additional cost. The company's website says it has achieved €200 million in transactions from its collective sales model since January 2023.

Zefir launched an iBuying model in 2023 but has since reversed its decision to focus on streamlining the transaction.

Spanish senior citizens marketplace Jubenial raises €100k seed round

Jubenial, a Spanish real estate portal for elderly people, has raised $100k from LaFinca Ventures Camp. The firm only launched in February 2024.

Jubenial claims to be "the first real estate marketplace specialised in liquidity solutions through real estate assets for senior citizens."

Jubenial is for elderly homeowners who want to improve their pensions and for investors seeking the best returns in a market with exponential growth forecasts.

The firm will use its funds to improve its suite of products and services and reinforce its co-investment project in housing for retirees.

According to a blog on Jubenial's website:

"Operations are carried out through the Jubenial marketplace , which has been developed as an easy and intuitive space in which individual clients will be able to share their own properties, as well as real estate agencies, while investors will be able to access the greatest aggregation of residential properties for the elderly, with a wide range of investment alternatives."

The startup offers liquidity to elderly homeowners, including turning equity in their properties into an annuity. There is also a 'bare property' investment scheme whereby an elderly homeowner can sell their property to an investor but continue living in it.

Rodolfo Nevado, co-founder at Jubenial, said:

"Jubenial aims to be the benchmark in the present and future of the real estate sector for the elderly, an area with strong potential and possibilities for exponential growth. All this by leveraging on such important values as innovation, experience and trust that lead us to offer the latest solutions in a marketplace prepared to lead and positively transform the way in which we address the housing needs of those over 65 years of age and giving response to the needs of investors."