Commercial real estate professionals are navigating a rapidly changing landscape, with pressure to reduce costs, improve efficiency, attract tenants and find new sources of revenue. A new group of real estate technology startups is offering up some solutions.
Second Century Ventures—the strategic investment arm of the National Association of REALTORS®—selected eight companies for its 2026 REACH Commercial program, an accelerator designed to help scale emerging real estate technology companies focused on solving industry challenges.
“Great technology doesn’t wait for an easy market. It shows up when money is tight and everyone’s looking for a way through,” says Dave Garland, managing partner of Second Century Ventures. “That’s exactly what these eight companies do: get owners paid faster, run buildings leaner and turn dead space into revenue.”
The latest cohort reflects the growing role technology is playing in commercial real estate, with startups focused on everything from energy efficiency and building operations to payments, parking, security and retail leasing.
“Our 2026 REACH Commercial cohort emerged from the most competitive applicant pool we’ve seen to date,” says Bob Gillespie, managing partner of REACH Commercial. “This cohort of companies aren’t just promising ideas; they have real customers, real revenue, and the traction to scale. We’re excited to help accelerate that growth across our network.”
Related: 6 Startups Looking to Disrupt Residential Real Estate in 2026
The Startups to Watch
The following REACH companies were selected for offering technology solutions designed to address some of commercial real estate’s biggest pain points.
CenterCheck
CenterCheck provides store-level sales monitoring for retailers and shopping centers, delivering accurate sales reporting, shopper demographics and transaction journey insights for physical locations.
Embue
Embue uses AI-powered controls and sensing technology that touts it can help apartment buildings reduce utility costs by 25% within the first hour of use. It provides owners with measurable savings without requiring a hardware overhaul.
HelloPackage
HelloPackage offers an AI-powered package management system for multifamily and student-housing communities that combines computer vision, driver coordination and hands-on service to help leasing teams spend less time managing packages and more time focused on leasing and residents.
Parkquility
Parkquility uses license plate registration technology to streamline parking management, helping property owners maximize net operating income while creating a smoother experience for drivers and visitors.
RentFlow
RentFlow is a platform designed to align commercial rent payments with business tenant cash flow, helping owners receive payments on-time while transforming rent and cash-flow data into real-time asset intelligence.
Shortlyst
Shortlyst connects property owners with vetted, activation-ready brands for short-term retail opportunities, helping fill vacant space, generate revenue and increase foot traffic.
SKLUT
SKLUT offers a mobile-first facial recognition access platform that connects commercial, residential and event venues across New York City into one system that enables seamless entry and exit from a single mobile device.
SnapRefund
SnapRefund provides payment automation for insurers and insurance agents, streamlining refunds and improving efficiency across claims and billing workflows.
