Technology

Lower Acquires Movoto, Top 5 U.S. Real Estate Portal, to Accelerate National Growth and Build End-to-End Homeownership Platform

Published

1 year ago

May 13, 2025

Acquisition Combines Lower’s Mortgage Expertise and Retail Network with Movoto’s Digital Reach, Creating Unmatched Value for Consumers and Loan Officers

COLUMBUS, Ohio and AUSTIN, Texas, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Lower, a leading digital mortgage lender, announced the acquisition of proptech innovator and flagship real estate portal, Movoto. This acquisition combines Movoto’s significant reach with Lower’s lending platform and retail network, creating an end-to-end homeownership platform while offering an unmatched growth engine for real estate agents and loan officers.

Locally Grounded, Digitally Powered Homeownership Platform

Integrating Movoto.com—which attracted over 150 million visits in 2024——with Lower’s lending experience marks a significant step in Lower’s mission to be the ultimate destination to buy, refinance, and sell a home. Movoto connects hundreds of thousands of consumers with top local agents and will now pair those realtors and consumers with a Lower loan officer to create a super-team to better serve them right out of the gate.

“The future of our industry lies in blending the best technology with the irreplaceable expertise of local agents and loan officers.” said Dan Snyder, CEO and Co-Founder of Lower. “Movoto is the perfect platform to accelerate this vision, allowing us to create a simpler, smarter path to homeownership. Acquiring Movoto strengthens our position as the challenger platform, enhancing our ability to deliver the best localized and personalized service and capture significant market share.”

Simplifying the Consumer Journey

Homebuyers on Movoto.com will gain early and on-demand access to Lower’s expert, local loan officers, simplifying crucial decisions around affordability. Connecting with trusted professionals, who have a deep knowledge of their local market from the start, makes answering the big questions – “Where should I live?” and “How much can I afford?” – easier than ever. In the future, the seamless connection between consumer, agent, and loan officer will deliver historically-impossible features at scale.

“The bigger portals touch almost everyone online but fail to help those customers through the whole process. By focusing on how technology empowers local connections we can deliver better service to the consumer and build a business that generates far more profit per visitor.” said John Berkowitz, CEO of Movoto, who will join Lower as President of Real Estate.

Growth Engine for Real Estate Agents and Loan Officers

Lower’s acquisition of Movoto represents a transformative leap in empowering real estate agents and loan officers with a true growth engine. By seamlessly connecting local originators to thousands of motivated homebuyers and top-performing agents in their markets, Lower is eliminating one of the biggest barriers to growth: customer acquisition. This digital-first platform delivers a steady stream of high-intent buyers looking to get pre-approved – right from day one – allowing originators to focus on building relationships and closing deals.

“Modern technology should work for the local loan officer, not replace them,” said Craig Montgomery, Chief Strategy Officer & Head of Retail at Lower. “Movoto arms originators and agents with real-time opportunities and puts them at the center of the homebuying journey – right where they belong. It’s the kind of innovation that puts originators in a position to win consistently.”

Leadership and Integration

Adam Wiener, Lower’s President, who helped to scale Redfin’s traffic from startup to public company with 50 million monthly visitors, brings expertise perfect for further accelerating Movoto’s growth.

“Movoto provides a unique opportunity to engage consumers from the start of their home-buying journey, through the purchase process and for the entire time they own that home until it’s time to sell and buy the next one,” said Adam Wiener, President of Lower. “Integrating Lower’s lending strength will lead to an end-to-end ecosystem that creates clients for life.”

The combined company will have more than 1,000 employees with offices in Columbus, OH and Austin, TX. Immediately after closing, the teams will integrate Movoto into the Lower brand. The financial details of the transaction are undisclosed. Houlihan Lokey served as the exclusive financial advisor to OJO Labs (the prior parent company of Movoto) through the merger.

Combined with the acquisition of Neat Labs and the launch of the LowerOS mortgage platform last fall, this acquisition further positions Lower for rapid growth into a broader fintech organization.

About Lower

Founded in 2014, Lower is one of the fastest-growing mortgage lenders in the country with more than 30,000 5-star online reviews and commitment to world-class customer service. Lower operates a digital platform to meet customers online through its website, and a network of distributed retail branches to meet customers in their local neighborhoods across the country. Lower is one of Accel Partners flagship investments and is also backed by SoFi, and Veritex Bank. The company is committed to being the best lender for consumers and originators and becoming the place to buy, refi, and sell.

About Movoto

Movoto is a real estate technology company that empowers people to make smarter decisions throughout the home journey. Through its proprietary platform and the Movoto portal, OJO connects homebuyers with personalized guidance, trusted agent partnerships, and data-driven insights.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lower-acquires-movoto-top-5-us-real-estate-portal-to-accelerate-national-growth-and-build-end-to-end-homeownership-platform-302454312.html

SOURCE Lower, LLC

Technology

Alcott HR Appoints Michael Pascucci as Director of Strategic Projects

Published

1 hour ago

June 20, 2026

FARMINGDALE, N.Y., June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Alcott HR announces Michael Pascucci as Director of Strategic Projects. Michael brings over ten years of experience in HR operations and project management.

Before joining Alcott HR, he held senior roles leading technology upgrades and launching new employee benefits programs. This experience supports Alcott’s initiatives, helping the company grow while putting clients first.

As Director, Michael drives operational excellence at Alcott HR by leading strategic projects. He maintains processes to ensure Alcott stays flexible and personalized during growth. Michael focuses on projects that further enhance client support.

Improving Data Accuracy: Michael connects Alcott’s main systems with partners. Automating these connections streamlines onboarding and enrollment, ensuring benefits and payroll are accurate and secure. This gives clients confidence their information is in good hands.

Creating a Seamless Client Experience: Michael is improving how Alcott manages projects and client renewals. With consistency in these processes, Alcott delivers a seamless, dependable experience, especially during year-end reporting and enrollment.

Building for Growth: By replacing manual tasks with digital solutions, Michael helps Alcott grow with its clients. This allows the team to focus on building relationships and offering expert HR guidance to help clients achieve their goals.

“Michael doesn’t just manage projects, he builds systems that help our team excel,” said Kristen Bartolotta, Sr. Director of Operations at Alcott HR. “His ability to transform complex processes into streamlined solutions has improved our efficiency and enhanced our client service.”

“Working with the talented Alcott team has been a great experience,” said Michael Pascucci. “I’m excited to continue working across departments to improve our processes, boost efficiency, and help the company keep growing.”

Through these efforts, Michael helps Alcott deliver even greater value to clients by driving innovation, strengthening relationships, and ensuring every organization can reach its potential.

About Alcott HR: Alcott HR is an IRS Certified* and ESAC Accredited, Professional Employer Organization that provides a comprehensive range of human resources solutions to small and mid-sized businesses. With nearly four decades of experience, Alcott HR offers customized services that allow businesses to manage their workforce more effectively while staying compliant with state and federal regulations. Their services include payroll, benefits, risk management, and HR support, designed to help businesses grow and succeed.

The IRS does not endorse any particular certified professional employer organization.

Media Contact:
Sarah Zulawski
Marketing Specialist
szulawski@alcotthr.com
(716) 241-8893

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alcott-hr-appoints-michael-pascucci-as-director-of-strategic-projects-302805721.html

SOURCE Alcott HR

Technology

Alcott HR Appoints Michael Pascucci as Director of Strategic Projects

Published

1 hour ago

June 20, 2026

Through these efforts, Michael helps Alcott deliver even greater value to clients by driving innovation, strengthening relationships, and ensuring every organization can reach its potential.

The IRS does not endorse any particular certified professional employer organization.

Media Contact:
Sarah Zulawski
Marketing Specialist
szulawski@alcotthr.com
(716) 241-8893

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/alcott-hr-appoints-michael-pascucci-as-director-of-strategic-projects-302805721.html

SOURCE Alcott HR

Technology

Vaultzy and Miracle University Pilot Demonstrates AI-Powered Document Management for Students. Expansion Planned for California Foster Youth Programs

Published

2 hours ago

June 19, 2026

A successful student pilot demonstrates how secure digital records and AI guidance can help them access education, employment, housing, and life opportunities

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 19, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Vaultzy, an AI-powered document management and life assistant platform, today announced the successful completion of a pilot with Miracle University, demonstrating how secure digital records and intelligent guidance can help students overcome barriers to education, employment, and economic mobility.

California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, noted, “Never expired. Never lost. Your vital documents, all in one secure place.”

For many students, particularly those facing economic hardship or life disruptions, lost identification, unavailable transcripts, and scattered paperwork can delay enrollment, employment, housing applications, financial aid, and access to public services. Vaultzy was created to address this challenge by providing a secure, user-controlled platform for lifelong document management.

Beyond document storage, Vaultzy recently launched the first version of its AI-powered Life Agent. The platform allows users to interact with their personal records and receive guidance related to major life transitions. By understanding what documents a user has available, the Life Agent can help identify requirements and next steps for education, employment, healthcare, government services, financial planning, and other important milestones.

The pilot was conducted in partnership with Miracle University, a Sacramento-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students who have left the traditional education system earn their high school diplomas and achieve academic and career success. The initiative focused on helping students digitize, organize, and securely manage their most important records while introducing them to emerging technologies that can support their long-term success.

“Our mission is to help students overcome barriers and unlock their full potential,” said Dr. Kadhir Raja, Founder of Miracle University. “Students need access to their documents, confidence in managing important life transitions, and guidance on what comes next. Vaultzy helps bring all of these together, empowering students to navigate education, employment, housing, and other life opportunities with greater confidence and independence.”

The pilot demonstrated the importance of giving individuals lifelong access to trusted records while providing the tools and guidance needed to use them effectively. As California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA, noted, “Never expired. Never lost. Your vital documents, all in one secure place.”

Looking ahead, Vaultzy plans to continue expanding its AI-powered capabilities. “We envision a future where every individual has a trusted AI companion that not only safeguards their records but also helps guide them through life’s most important transitions,” said Avanti Ramraj, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Vaultzy.

The success of the Miracle University pilot is helping inform broader discussions with educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, financial institutions, and public-sector leaders interested in modernizing how individuals manage and access trusted records while receiving guidance through important life transitions. One of the most promising opportunities is the potential application of Vaultzy within programs serving foster youth, seniors, and other underserved populations.

About Vaultzy

Vaultzy is an AI-powered document management and life assistant platform that helps individuals securely store, manage, and share important records throughout their lives. Combining secure document management, document intelligence, multilingual assistance, and agentic AI capabilities, Vaultzy is building the infrastructure for lifelong document ownership and trusted digital identity.

About Miracle University

Miracle University is a Sacramento-based nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students overcome educational barriers and achieve academic, personal, and professional success. Through mentorship, education, and community support, Miracle University equips students with the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to transform their futures.

Media Contact
Anupriya Ramraj, Vaultzy, 1 510-255-0657, contact@vaultzy.ai, www.vaultzy.ai

Twitter, LinkedIn

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/vaultzy-and-miracle-university-pilot-demonstrates-ai-powered-document-management-for-students-expansion-planned-for-california-foster-youth-programs-302805103.html

SOURCE Vaultzy