Technology

Funnel launches new standalone multifamily AI platform: Fenix, powered by Sierra

Published

1 year ago

April 8, 2025

Optional resolution-based pricing model aligns ROI with multifamily owner and manager business outcomes

TAMPA, Fla., April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Funnel, the proven AI-infused multifamily CRM, today announced the launch of Fenix, in conjunction with selected purchased assets of LeaseHawk and powered by Sierra. Fenix will allow multifamily owners, operators and managers looking to take the first steps toward centralization and a streamlined operating model with tools formerly only available to Funnel platform customers.

Fenix is a new standalone AI product for managers and operators that has been custom-built for multifamily and will transform the entire customer journey, from prospect to resident.Funnel acquired selected LeaseHawk assets — including call center technology, voice AI, call scoring, and standalone self-service tools — and is re-platforming them within Fenix to create better, more flexible solutions for managers and operators.Sierra is a conversational AI platform that helps businesses build better, more human customer experiences, and its technology will be leveraged for the first time in multifamily to power Fenix.

A new chapter for multifamily
Funnel was introduced in 2019 as a platform to enable a new era of flexible operations powered by our renter-centric® CRM. Since then, we’ve had the privilege of working with some of the largest and most pioneering property management companies that were early adopters of centralization. Our vision then and now is that through centralization, AI, and automation, Funnel delivers three wins for everyone in our industry: millions in annual cost savings for operators, bigger and better jobs for teams, and exceptional renter experiences. LeaseHawk has a long history with AI and voice technology, including ACE Insights, which enhances the performance of leasing agents and identifies renter behaviors and trends. Combining this expertise with Funnel’s experience serving more than a million units and optimizing hundreds of millions of conversations across email, text, chat, and voice will accelerate the launch of a more adaptable, standalone AI product that better meets the needs of today’s operators. This move creates a clear runway for operators to grow with us in their centralization journey, starting with standalone AI and evolving into Funnel’s full platform.

What is Fenix and who benefits from it?
Fenix is a new flexible, standalone and scalable AI solution. Unlike AI solutions that attempt to serve multiple industries, Fenix is purpose-built for multifamily and delivers the standalone, industry-specific AI solution needed to provide the high-quality, adaptable support that renters and residents need. It enables:

Owners and managers excited by the promise of centralization, AI and automation and ready to move to this new operating model by scaling efficiencies and driving optimized renter communications. Until now, Funnel customers could not buy a standalone AI product without upgrading to multifamily’s only proven AI-infused CRM.Current (and future) Funnel customers to use agentic AI and improve every step of their leasing process — from inquiry, through application to screening, move-in, residency, and renewal.

“We are thrilled to announce our standalone AI product, Fenix,” said Tyler Christiansen, CEO, Funnel. “We’ve had a privileged seat to go all-in on empowering the new operating model with 9 of the 15 largest apartment owners and hundreds of others who ran their businesses more efficiently, created more engaging careers for their teams, and optimized their prospect and resident experiences. From its inception, Funnel believed in building software for the humans of multifamily, rather than software to replace the humans of multifamily. We are excited to offer Fenix to a new market of operators and managers and help them on their path toward centralization and the new operating model.”

Fenix is powered by Sierra
Sierra is the conversational AI platform co-founded by Bret Taylor — Chair of OpenAI, former Co-CEO of Salesforce, CTO of Meta, and co-creator of Google Maps — and Clay Bavor, an 18-year Google executive where he most recently led Google Labs. Sierra helps businesses build better, more human customer experiences with AI. Through this re-platforming, Fenix is the only company in multifamily with advanced conversational AI capable of executing process-based workflows including — renewals negotiations, mid-lease changes, adding guarantors, ID verification, and more — setting a new benchmark for AI, automation and customer engagement.

Unlike conventional AI tools that simply answer questions, Fenix AI agents — built on Sierra — take a proactive approach to resolving customer inquiries efficiently, boosting self-service resolution rates and average handle time. Fenix customers can quickly and easily adapt the tone, response cadence, and personalization of responses through a unique workflow studio.

“We are excited to partner with Fenix and Funnel to bring the best customer experience to renters and best value to owners and managers,” said Clay Bavor, co-founder of Sierra. “Our AI agents are easy to communicate with, not only understanding and answering people’s questions but also solving their problems — reducing friction, improving efficiency and enhancing the experience for both renters and multifamily operators.”

Resolution-based pricing — only pay for what’s working
AI’s capabilities have evolved beyond basic automation to delivering real resolution, and the industry deserves a pricing model that reflects that change: resolution-based pricing. Operators shouldn’t be pigeonholed into paying based on a unit count or seat basis, but rather will have the option to align on the actual results Fenix delivers or the tasks it completes. This approach ensures operators are only paying for what actually gets done and demonstrates Fenix’s ability to provide true ROI.

“As one of LeaseHawk’s earliest customers and a co-development partner, we saw firsthand how AI could transform an industry,” said Josh Gampp, SVP and Chief Technology Officer at UDR, Inc. “Funnel has a proven track record of building multifamily-specific best-in-class technology and working hand-in-hand with their partners to innovate not just their products, but the entire multifamily operating model. There’s no better company to evolve the entire industry’s adoption of the new operating model through AI and agentic automations.”

Media Contact:

Funnel
Hannah O’Leary
Sr. Manager, Corporate Communications
hannah.oleary@funnelleasing.com

About Funnel
Funnel provides a win to three vital groups: operators looking to reduce costs and improve efficiencies; stretched-thin onsite teams who demand a better long-term career; and renters who demand a better customer experience. Funnel’s proven AI-infused CRM is the enterprise-grade solution industry leaders, owners, and operators trust to deliver a streamlined, consistent, and connected experience from first inquiry through years of renewals, while simultaneously saving operators quantifiable money through the operational flexibility only a renter-centric® platform can provide. We call it Renter Management Software; our clients call it the new operating model.

About Fenix
Fenix ushers in the next era of the new operating model and AI to multifamily. Fenix is both a standalone multifamily AI solution that goes beyond answering questions to actually solving problems and intelligently powers Funnel’s Prospect and Resident AI agentic workflows transforming the renter experience. With optional resolution-based pricing, operators only pay for real results — ensuring AI works as hard as their teams, and in partnership with their teams. Fenix is backed by Funnel, the industry leader in Renter-Centric® technology.

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SOURCE Funnel

Technology

VYLIT OPENS ITS CREATOR ADVISORY BOARD, GIVING CREATORS EQUITY IN THE PLATFORM

Published

45 minutes ago

July 23, 2026

Reality star & chef Dom DeAngelis, model & creator Cydney Moreau, and creator-entrepreneur Crystal Jackson named as founding members, with applications now open for creators who want a voice in how the platform is shaped

MIAMI, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Vylit, the 18+ creator-first social platform co-founded by Ami Gan, former CEO of OnlyFans, and seasoned entrepreneur Kailey Magder, is opening applications for its Creator Advisory Board, which will include a select group of creators that will have a strong voice in shaping the platform they use and earn on.

Vylit is inviting creators not just to join the platform, but to help build it, with real shares in the company reserved for those who contribute to its growth, culture and direction. The Creator Advisory Board will give creators a direct voice in building Vylit’s community, the platform’s development and creator tools, along with ownership in the business they’re helping grow.

Applications are now open. Creators can apply by emailing vylit@vylitworld.com with their name, bio and social handles.

Vylit is launching the board with three founding members who show the range of creators it’s built for.

Dominic DeAngelis, known from YouTube and Vanderpump Villa, where his culinary skills earned recognition from viewers around the world, has been using the platform to share behind-the-scenes and day-in-the-life content with his subscribers — the kind of direct, monetized relationship with fans that Vylit is designed around.

“Social media sucks right now. The algorithms are negative, you don’t even see the people you follow anymore, and creators are struggling to find real connections with their fans,” said DeAngelis. “I’m thrilled to be part of a platform that’s doing it differently. Vylit is actually listening to creators and building with us, not just for us.”

Cydney Moreau, a Louisiana-born former track athlete turned model and creator with a following across fitness, fashion and lifestyle, balances her work with life as a mom. Vylit is where she’s turning that following into a business for the first time, on her own terms.

“As someone who is monetizing my content for the first time, knowing that I will have a say in how the platform treats other creators means everything,” said Moreau. “It’s not every day a platform actually wants creators in the room while they’re building it. Knowing Vylit is making decisions with our interests at heart gives me the confidence to build here, and I’m excited to help shape where this goes.”

Crystal Jackson, known to millions of followers as Mrs. Poindexter, is the co-founder of EssentL, a company building business infrastructure and benefits for creators. A former engineer turned multi-platform creator and entrepreneur, she brings an operator’s understanding of what creators actually need from the platforms they build on.

“I’ve spent years building an audience and a business across platforms that weren’t built for today’s creator ecosystem,” said Jackson. “What drew me to Vylit is that they’re handing creators actual ownership and a real say in the decisions that affect us. That’s not something I’ve seen anyone else do, and I want to help build it right.”

Since launching, Vylit has positioned itself as the “HBO of social media,” a space between traditional social media and adult subscription platforms, where creators can be expressive, marketable and in control. The Creator Advisory Board takes that further. Rather than building the platform for creators and handing it over, Vylit is building it with them, giving them direct ownership and a say in its direction.

“The users driving value should have a say in the business,” said Ami Gan, Co-Founder and CEO of Vylit. “Creators understand culture and digital monetization better than anyone. At Vylit, that expertise earns them a real seat at the table.”

“We didn’t want to build another platform where creators show up after the fact,” added Kailey Magder, Co-Founder and COO of Vylit. “We want them involved from day one, shaping the product, the community and the direction of the business.”

Vylit truly puts creators in charge, giving them real ownership and a direct say in how the platform evolves. The Creator Advisory Board is just the start.

To learn more, visit https://vylitworld.com/

To access the media kit, click here.

ABOUT VYLIT
Vylit is an 18+ creator-first social platform redefining how adults share, discover and monetize content. Co-founded by Amrapali (Ami) Gan and Kailey Magder, Vylit was created to fill the gap between traditional social media and creator platforms, offering a premium digital experience for expression. Built as “the HBO of social media,” the platform allows topless content while prohibiting explicit material, giving creators greater freedom. Vylit combines social connectivity with built-in monetization, interest-based discovery through its Vybe Matching Engine, and in-house AI Image Generation and Chat tools designed for its users. Learn more at www.vylitworld.com.

FOR PRESS INQUIRIES
pr@vylitworld.com

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SOURCE Vylit World

Technology

CNBC Names PayJoy one of the World’s Top FinTech Companies of 2026

Published

45 minutes ago

July 23, 2026

Recognition highlights PayJoy’s leadership in emerging market consumer finance

SAN FRANCISCO, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CNBC and Statista have named PayJoy to the “World’s Top Fintech Companies 2026,” which honors companies providing digital funding and bank-independent lending solutions for individuals and businesses. PayJoy is a leading financial services provider for underserved consumers across emerging markets.

Now in its fourth edition, the ranking identifies 500 leading companies across eight fintech market segments worldwide, including Payments, Neobanking, Wealth Technology, Digital Assets, Enterprise Fintech, Insurtech, Regtech, and Alternative Financing. Companies were evaluated using an aggregated scoring model built on both general and segment-specific KPIs, drawing on desk research from publicly available sources alongside company self-reports submitted through an open application process.

PayJoy’s inclusion reflects its work bringing credit access to the emerging middle class in Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Panama, Peru, Ecuador, South Africa, the Philippines, and Indonesia, nine countries where traditional financial infrastructure has long excluded first-time borrowers.

“This recognition from CNBC and Statista is a meaningful validation of the work our team does every day,” said Doug Ricket, PayJoy CEO and Co-Founder. “Millions of people across the markets we serve are building credit for the first time through PayJoy. Being named among the world’s top fintech companies reflects the scale and impact of that work.”

For more information on the full ranking, visit https://www.cnbc.com/worlds-top-fintech-companies-2026/

About PayJoy
PayJoy expands credit access across emerging markets through point-of-sale financing and card offerings. Its proprietary secured-credit technology enables first-time borrowers to responsibly build financial stability and participate fully in the modern economy. Through its cutting-edge machine learning, data science, and anti-fraud AI, PayJoy has financed over $3.5 billion of loans to more than 20 million people and employs over 1,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.payjoy.com/

Contact
payjoy@thekeypr.com

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SOURCE PayJoy

Technology

Youngstown Innovation Hub Breaks Ground at YBI’s 107 Building

Published

45 minutes ago

July 23, 2026

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As the United States works to strengthen its aerospace and defense manufacturing base, the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense broke ground today on YBI‘s 107 Building in downtown Youngstown, positioning the region as a national proving ground for advanced and additive manufacturing. The Hub is managed by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM).

Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense breaks ground at YBI’s 107 Building.

The Hub is one of four Innovation Hubs established across Ohio as part of a statewide initiative to strengthen innovation-driven economic growth. Once complete, it is projected to generate approximately $161.6 million in economic impact, create 450 new jobs, and produce 185 new STEM credential opportunities and 40 internship opportunities by 2029.

The groundbreaking comes as Ohio was recently ranked the No. 1 state for business in America by CNBC’s 2026 America’s Top States for Business rankings, up from No. 5 in 2025.

Ohio Lt. Governor Jim Tressel attended and delivered remarks at the ceremony.

“Today is about more than renovating a building. It’s about building opportunity for Ohioans,” said Lt. Governor Tressel. “The Mahoning Valley has always been defined by the people who make things, solve problems, and never stop working toward a better future. This Innovation Hub builds on that proud tradition while preparing the next generation for in-demand careers in manufacturing.”

Hub and YBI leadership also spoke at the ceremony.

“Today’s groundbreaking of the Youngstown Innovation Hub represents much more than the start of a building renovation. It reflects what can happen when state, regional, industry, academic, and community partners come together around a shared vision for the future of manufacturing, aerospace and defense innovation,” said Megan Malara, Ph.D., director of the Youngstown Innovation Hub.

The renovation is made possible in part by a $750,000 state capital investment. Ohio State Sen. Al Cutrona and state Rep. Lauren McNally were credited with helping advance the funding request through the legislative process. YBI also recognized the broader Lake to River legislative delegation, including state Reps. Nick Santucci, Tex Fischer, Monica Robb Blasdel, Dave Thomas, and Sarah Fowler Arthur, for their support, as well as U.S. Sens. Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno for their support of the project in the U.S. Senate.

Speakers at the ceremony included Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel; Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development; Mary Mertz, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources; Julius Oliver, 1st Ward Councilman for the City of Youngstown; State Sen. Al Cutrona; State Rep. Nick Santucci; State Rep. Lauren McNally; and Megan Malara, Ph.D., director of the Youngstown Innovation Hub. Barb Ewing, CEO of YBI, served as master of ceremonies.

The City of Youngstown, which committed $1.35 million in local matching funds to the project, was represented at the ceremony. John Wilczynski, executive director of America Makes, attended, and Barb Ewing recognized Kimberly Gibson and Alexander Steeb of America Makes for their roles in advancing the project.

Upon completion, the five-story, 130,000-square-foot concrete-framed building will offer flexible space for offices, workspaces, and display areas, along with robust power capacity to support multiple high-demand tenants. The building’s security features, including limited access points and naturally separated manufacturing bays, are designed to meet U.S. Department of War contracting criteria, positioning tenants to compete directly for federal defense work.

“It’s great to finally be transitioning from talking about this project to actually working on it. We appreciate all the support we’ve had from our political leaders and the community. YBI is proud to be a part of the project team that’s changing the trajectory of the Mahoning Valley,” said Barb Ewing, CEO of YBI.

Companies looking to expand, relocate, or enter the aerospace and defense manufacturing sector are encouraged to visit the Youngstown Innovation Hub website at youngstownhub.us.

About the Youngstown Innovation Hub for Aerospace & Defense

Managed by the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM), the Youngstown Innovation Hub is a national proving ground for advanced and additive manufacturing, strengthening U.S. aerospace and defense supply chains and workforce development. Learn more at youngstownhub.us.

About YBI

YBI is a globally recognized economic development nonprofit, advancing innovation and growth across Ohio and beyond. Through a flexible suite of high-quality entrepreneurial services and resources, YBI supports startups, small businesses, and manufacturers at every stage of development. For more information, visit ybi.org.

Media Contact:
Jessica Sprowl, Marketing and Communications Director, YBI
jsprowl@ybi.org

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SOURCE YBI