UAE’s Reno Secures $4 Million to Build the GCC’s First AI-Powered Renovation OS

Dubai-based Reno is scaling its ambitious vision to eliminate the chaos of home renovation. The $4 million equity/debt round will launch an AI-driven app, bringing real-time design and instant budgets to homeowners and investors across the Gulf.

The Problem Reno Solves: An Industry in Chaos

For years, home renovation has been notoriously fragmented, opaque, and stressful. Homeowners and property investors in the UAE and wider GCC face chronic issues: budget overruns, communication breakdowns with multiple contractors, and unpredictable timelines.

Dubai-based Reno was founded in 2024 to tackle this chaos by creating the region's first true end-to-end operating system for renovations. Reno integrates every step—from design and material sourcing to contractor oversight and financing—into one seamless, tech-driven platform.

The Funding: Backing an Operational Revolution

Reno has successfully closed a $4 million funding round, a mix of equity and debt, demonstrating strong investor confidence in its asset-light, tech-heavy model.

The round saw participation from a consortium of prominent regional and international investors, including 500 Sanabil, Hub71, Plus VC, Zero 100 VC, FlyerOne Ventures, and others. This capital is not simply for marketing; it is earmarked to accelerate the company’s technological capabilities and geographical expansion.

The Tech Roadmap: AI, Transparency, and Financing

The central focus of this new capital is the launch of Reno's next-generation mobile application, slated for early 2026. This app will transform the user experience with several game-changing, AI-powered features:

1. Real-time AI-Powered Design: Customers can instantly visualize design changes and see how different styles look in their space.
2. Instant Budget Estimates: The platform will provide immediate, transparent, and detailed cost breakdowns, eliminating budget surprises from the very first consultation.
3. Intelligent Materials Engine: This system streamlines sourcing by suggesting suitable materials based on budget, design, and local availability, providing unmatched clarity in a complex supply chain.

Unlocking Value for Investors and Homeowners

Reno’s model is built on transparency and financial flexibility, which attracts both homeowners and large property investors:

• Transparency and Control: By centralizing project management, contractor oversight, and milestone-linked payments through the app, Reno gives customers 24/7 visibility and ensures payments are only released upon verification of quality deliverables.
• Renovate Now, Pay Later (RNPL): This unique financing solution allows property investors and rental operators (like Seraya, a fast-growing short-term rental operator) to upgrade units without straining cash flow. They can renovate now and repay costs as rental income begins to flow, effectively doubling their portfolio expansion speed.
• Value Maximization: The structured, quality-controlled process has been shown to be efficient, with one customer reporting a 40% increase in property value following their Reno-managed upgrade.

Expansion: Scaling Across the GCC

With its technology proven in the UAE, Reno is poised to use the new funding to fuel expansion across the wider GCC region. The demand for transparent, tech-driven renovation services is high in urbanizing markets like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, where real estate development and investment are booming.

Co-founder and CEO Marc Michel stated the mission clearly: "Our goal is to make home renovations as seamless and transparent as possible. We are building the operating system that will allow busy families and strategic investors across the Gulf to save time, reduce stress, and maximize the value of their properties."