Six proptech startups faced off in the “ultimate entrepreneur showdown” Sunday at NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience in Houston.
In the seventh annual “Pitch Battle” competition, judges named NEO the winner. The company aims to streamline connections in the new-home marketplace.
Each of the six finalists—vying for the $15,000 grand prize—had four minutes to pitch how their technology could elevate residential or commercial real estate, followed by questions from a panel of peer judges. The event was presented by the National Association of REALTORS® Tech & Innovation group and sponsored by Second Century Ventures.
Global New Construction Platform
NEO is a multilingual platform partnering with MLSs and associations to centralize new-construction listings and better connect agents, builders and buyers. Founder Christian Calusa calls it the “global listing service for new construction”—a modern infrastructure where verified builder data flows seamlessly to the agents who move the market.
“When communication flows, the system thrives,” Calusa says. “Builders gain global visibility; agents gain reliable information; buyers gain confidence. … Our goal is to make NEO visible across the industry and show how it empowers every [real estate professional] to work smarter with new construction. … We’re here to challenge how new construction is shown, shared and sold—and NAR’s stage is the best place to do it,” he says.
Winning the Pitch Battle earns NEO not only the $15,000 prize but also recognition from industry leaders and a platform to grow partnerships, pilot programs and adoption of its technology across the real estate sector.
“The caliber of pitches this year was truly impressive,” says Dan Weisman, NAR director of innovation strategy. “NEO exemplifies that forward-thinking spirit, pairing innovation with meaningful impact. It’s inspiring to see ideas like these empowering real estate professionals, enhancing the client experience and shaping the future of our industry.”
SingleKey Takes ‘Crowd Favorite’ Award
The 2025 Pitch Battle “Crowd Favorite” Award, voted on live by NAR NXT attendees, went to SingleKey, a tenant-screening and rent-guarantee platform. SingleKey helps property owners de-risk rentals through advanced screening, real-time data and guaranteed rent protection.
Your reputation is on the line when landlords trust you to find qualified tenants, says SingleKey’s Joseph Wine. “We believe screening only truly works when it’s backed by a guarantee. We’re transforming leasing into a profitable opportunity for [real estate professionals]. Historically, rentals were seen as high-effort, low-reward, but SingleKey changes that. By combining high-quality screening data with protections like guarantees and insurance, we make leases faster, safer and reputation-proof.”
To see the full list of 2025 Pitch Battle finalists, visit tech.realtor/pitch-battle
