- VAUNT joined Catalyst NYC accelerator to validate and scale its US market strategy
- Founded in 2020, the Romanian startup streamlines residential real estate sales through its flexible SaaS platform.
- VAUNT will benefit from Catalyst NYC’s mentorship, resources, and US expansion opportunities in view of the prospective 2025 fundraising
This April, the proactive Romanian-born proptech VAUNT got admitted to the Catalyst NYC acceleration program, among 16 other startups. VAUNT’s participation in the program signifies the company’s international scaling and is a crucial part of its go-to-market strategy in the US.
VAUNT and Catalyst NYC in a Nutshell
Founded in 2020 by Irina Constantin (CEO) and Razvan Mitre (CTO), VAUNT is a Romanian B2B SaaS proptech startup improving residential real estate sales through its powerful, easy-to-use platform. It streamlines sales and marketing by helping businesses manage housing portfolios, track client interactions, launch marketing campaigns, display properties in 2D, oversee finances, and access real-time analytics. Dedicated to customer success, VAUNT actively integrates user feedback, offers tutorials, and continuously enhances its features. As a compound startup, it is building a suite of interconnected tools to serve as the essential infrastructure for residential sales, driving efficiency, transparency, and growth in the real estate market.
In 2024, VAUNT reported significant progress:
- 73 clients
- Over 100 projects listed in 2024
- EUR 1B+ worth of listed projects
- EUR 488M of recorded transactions
- Facilitating 7% of real estate deals in Romania
- 74% overall YoY growth
As for Catalyst NYC, it is part of NYU Tandon Future Labs, a network of public and private innovation spaces and programs designed to support early-stage startups in New York City. The Catalyst NYC acceleration program welcomes startups from industries such as Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Data & Analytics, HealthTech, Smart Cities, and companies operating at the intersections of these fields. Through tailored support and resources, Catalyst plays a vital role in accelerating the growth of the businesses shaping the future. To date, they have helped over 470 companies that have collectively raised USD 5.2B in funding and achieved 57 successful exits.
Ground for Sustainable International Growth
Reportedly, VAUNT is already break-even, so participation in the program is about building momentum, validating their US go-to-market strategy, and consequent scaling with confidence.
Irina Constantin, Co-Founder and CEO at VAUNT
‘We’re not chasing vanity metrics, we’re focused on meaningful traction that drives the business forward. We’re tracking engagement and retention closely to ensure we’re solving a real pain point. Our goal is to learn fast, iterate faster, and lay the foundation for sustainable growth in an ever-changing market,’ Ms Constantin tells ITKeyMedia.
‘Our strategy starts with building real relationships. We’re focused on working closely with a handful of people who see the value early on and can help us shape the product for the US market. We’re also big on transparency – clear data, proven results, and consistent support. Trust takes time, but we’re not starting from zero. VAUNT has already helped residential developers close over USD 800M in transactions, and we’re bringing that proven track record to the US with a long-term mindset,’ the CEO continues.
What VAUNT Brings to the US
According to her, this mindset was the co-founders’ driver for building VAUNT with scalability and flexibility in mind from day one. The product needed to be feasibly beneficial for any real estate developer, no matter the size. In practice, this translated into features like custom lead pipelines and, more recently, custom automations, AI generation tools, so teams can tailor the sales process to their specific needs.
Speaking of CRM in particular, our platform already supports multiple currencies and localized data across various European countries. For the US, the CRM and financial modules are likewise designed to adapt. When it comes to payments, the natural way is to integrate with providers that are fully compliant and tailored to the local market.
As such, one of the company’s and platform’s biggest strengths is the rolling out speed. The main challenge now is making sure to get in front of as many users as possible and continuing to learn their needs.
Expectations and Goals
Catalyst NYC’s six-month program offers startups access to learning sessions, expert mentorship, and resources from New York University. Participants also receive about USD 350K value of benefits, including financial and pitching coaching, partner perks from Amazon and Google, and workspace at the Data Future Lab office in Brooklyn. The program equips startups with the tools and support needed to accelerate their growth in a dynamic innovation ecosystem.
Wrapping up 2024, VAUNT mentioned plans of smart fundraising in 2025. In this regard, participation in the Catalyst NYC accelerator opens doors to valuable potential clients, partners, and investor conversations.
‘Our goal is to plug into the ecosystem and connect with the right people who can support our big vision. We’re already break-even, so this next milestone is about accessing the resources that will help us scale to seven-figure revenue,’ Ms Constantin concludes.
Kostiantyn is a freelance writer from Crimea but based in Lviv. He loves writing about IT and high tech because those topics are always upbeat and he’s an inherent optimist!
