By Krysten Brenlla
While South Florida’s economy and job market are thriving, the real estate market has become saturated: between bidding wars and increased competition on popular platforms like Zillow and Realtor, traditional methods of searching for new accommodation are complicated to say the least.
Originally from West Africa, when Sixtus Kuudaar was accepted to Florida State University, he and his family spent hours searching for the perfect apartment to settle into. However, once they arrived in Tallahassee, they noticed that the apartments in person were not what they seemed. online. Likewise, when Alexis Leonard returned to her hometown of Miami after studying at Florida State University, she found a house she loved — until she realized the listing had been changed.
So, the two teamed up to co-found the Miami startup. Ciya in 2021 – formerly known as VisionX. In their early days, VisionX was a tool that used AI to determine if property photos had been altered. If this were the case, the platform would provide a warning to its users.
Now, over two years later, Ciya has transformed into an all-in-one real estate platform.
“Searching online for a new home was stressful, time-consuming and expensive,” said Kuudaar, CEO and co-founder of CIYA. “I kept asking myself: Why hasn’t technology penetrated this industry? I decided to solve this problem.
Ciya updates now include an online application that allows sellers to list their homes on their local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) without the need for a traditional agent. Through a simple signup process, sellers have the option to select different listing packages and, depending on the package they choose, they will have a new listing on their local MLS and other real estate sites premises in a few minutes. Ciya’s Standard and Premium plans include upgrades such as professional HDR photos, advertising and promotional items, virtual tours, and real estate/marketing staffing and assistance.
For those looking to buy a home, the Ciya app uses artificial intelligence to match a potential buyer to their specific criteria. Additionally, Ciya has integrated an AI cold calling feature to help real estate agents and sellers develop leads. Functionality includes automated calls, AI-based interactions, lead management, and integration into software systems.
“For buyers, Ciya is like TikTok for real estate,” Kuudaar continued. “First, a user must create a free account, then when they log in, it will ask them for their home criteria. As the buyer scrolls through homes that match their criteria, they can like those that match what they are looking for, and using artificial intelligence technology, the app will show the user more houses similar to those he is looking for. I loved.
The co-founders initially scaled Ciya with the help of pitch competitions at Florida State University and the TechCrunch pitch competition in San Francisco. Soon after, they saw the booming real estate market in Miami and South Florida and applied to participate. at Endeavor Miami. They were accepted and the program ultimately helped Ciya enter the Miami market.
“The Miami real estate market is very large and the city itself is so diverse and offers huge opportunities to break into the tech industry,” Kuudaar said. “To me, Miami has the potential to become the next San Francisco when it comes to technology.”
Ciya’s main goal is to continue to grow the platform into a one-stop shop for buyers to find and close on their home in record time. Once a buyer is matched to a potential home through Ciya, they then help them pre-qualify to purchase a home immediately and will connect the buyer with a real estate agent to assist with their home buying process. purchase. Ciya also has a network of title companies and brokerages that buyers can use.
“The biggest opportunity for buyers using Ciya is that we are dramatically reducing the time it takes for a buyer to purchase a home,” Kuudaar said. “For most people, it takes about four months to close on a house. With Ciya, we help people close on a house in about three weeks.
In the future, Kuudaar and Leonard are looking to break into the rental market to help renters find roommates and rental properties in South Florida. With this new update, Ciya will seamlessly connect potential renters with roommates and display homes that meet their criteria, price range, and location needs.
Additionally, in the future, Kuudaar and Leonard hope to expand their services to different markets outside of Florida, such as Texas and North Carolina.
“Ciya’s big vision is to make it a one-stop shop for real estate,” Kuudaar said. “We want Ciya to have everything available to users, whether they are renting, selling or buying their next home.”
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Krysten Brenlla is a media relations specialist for Jackson Health System, where she manages media relations for the health system’s cardiology, neurosurgery, rehabilitation and Miami Transplant Institute service lines. Prior to her position at Jackson, Krysten worked at Florida International University as an account manager for the FIU Engagement Office. In 2022, Krysten earned her master’s degree in Global Strategic Communications from FIU.
