Reno, a UAE-born technology startup building what it calls the region’s first end-to-end operating system for home and commercial renovations, has secured $4 million in a mix of equity and venture debt. The round attracted participation from leading regional and global investors including 500 Sanabil, Hub71, Plus VC, Zero 100 VC, FlyerOne Ventures, Sandstorm VC, AngelSpark, and Swiss Founders Fund.
Reengineering a Fragmented Industry
Established in 2024, Reno is taking aim at one of the region’s most notoriously complex industries: renovations. Traditionally marked by unclear timelines, budget overruns, and scattered contractors, the sector has long been due for modernization. Reno centralizes the entire renovation lifecycle—from design and planning to contractor coordination, financing, and delivery—into one unified platform.
Its milestone-based project management system gives property owners real-time visibility and control, reducing guesswork and creating a transparent flow of communication. One of Reno’s standout offerings is its Renovate Now, Pay Later (RNPL) product, enabling clients to spread renovation payments over time—helping them avoid cash flow hurdles and unexpected shocks during execution.
Strategic Capital for Tech and Market Expansion
With this new round of funding, Reno plans to strengthen its presence in the UAE and expand deeper into the GCC. A major part of the investment will support the development of its next-generation technology stack. Reno is gearing up to launch a new mobile app in early 2026 equipped with features such as:
- AI-driven real-time design previews
- Instant renovation budget estimations
- A smart materials engine for selecting finishes and components
These tools aim to arm customers with clarity and accuracy from day one, making renovation planning more predictable than ever.
“We want to eliminate the uncertainties that homeowners and investors face,” said Marc Michel, Co-founder and CEO of Reno. “Reno is built to make upgrading a property simple, transparent, and tailored to each client’s goals—whether that’s improving their living space or maximizing asset value.”
Real Impact for Homeowners and Investors
The platform is already proving its ability to streamline renovation workflows for both households and real estate operators. Homeowner Camillo Schobesberger shared how Reno transformed what could have been a disruptive process:
“Reno made the renovation journey smooth for my family, minimizing disruption to our daily lives. The upgrades were carefully managed and increased my property value by almost 40%. What is usually the most stressful investment after buying a home became completely manageable thanks to Reno.”
For real estate investors, the RNPL feature is emerging as a powerful operational lever. Ibrahim Shami, CEO and co-founder of Seraya, credits the platform with accelerating his portfolio growth:
“Reno’s solutions turned a bottleneck into an opportunity, allowing us to renovate more units simultaneously. We doubled our monthly expansion from two apartments to four.”
About Reno
Reno is an all-in-one renovation and interior design platform serving both residential and commercial projects across the UAE. Founded by Marc Michel (CEO), Amr Hosny (CCO), and Farah Karabeg (COO), the company merges advanced technology with expert oversight to deliver transparent, reliable renovation services. Reno offers curated design, live project tracking, and its signature Renovate Now, Pay Later financing option, ensuring consistently high-quality results with minimal stress for customers.
