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London-based AI-powered home-buying agent Jitty has raised $3.8 million in seed funding led by REA Group, aiming to disrupt traditional property search with advanced collaborative tools and visualisation as it plans rapid UK expansion.<\/p>\n
Jitty, the UK\u2019s pioneering AI-powered home-buying agent, has successfully secured USD 3.8 million in a seed funding round led by the global digital property powerhouse REA Group. This marks a pivotal milestone for the London-based startup as it pivots towards accelerated expansion across the UK property market. Besides REA Group, recognised for its ownership of key real estate platforms such as realestate.com.au, Housing.com, and Realtor.com, the funding round also attracted investments from Goodwater Ventures, notable angel investors Joe Cross and Lenny Picardo, and returning backers including Gradient Ventures\u2014Google’s AI-centric venture fund\u2014and True Global.<\/p>\n
Since its inception, Jitty has facilitated over 250,000 property searches and established partnerships with influential industry players such as Nested, Meyers, Boardwalk, and Keller Williams Scotland. The company\u2019s growth trajectory is supported by a team composed of former product leaders from Deliveroo, Wise, Zego, and Nested. Leveraging advanced artificial intelligence technologies\u2014including large language models (LLMs), computer vision, and natural language search\u2014Jitty offers a visually driven, image-first property search experience. Notably, the app allows buyers to shortlist, annotate, and share properties collaboratively, aiming to replace traditional tools like spreadsheets and messaging apps, thus creating a dedicated, streamlined workspace tailored for property decision-making.<\/p>\n
Graham Paterson, CEO and co-founder of Jitty, emphasised the significance of this funding round, stating it would enable the company to accelerate its rollout across the UK, expand strategic partnerships, and reinforce its mission to reshape the home-buying experience through innovation. He welcomed REA Group\u2019s involvement as a strategic partner, highlighting their global expertise and ongoing commitment to driving innovation as essential assets for scaling the business.<\/p>\n
REA Group\u2019s chief product and audience officer, Melina Cruickshank, underscored the importance of immersive property discovery, noting that the future lies in helping buyers visualise properties as if they were physically present. She praised Jitty\u2019s rapid progress in redefining traditional property discovery through computer imagery, expressing excitement about their future developments.<\/p>\n
Though this latest seed round represents a new chapter in Jitty\u2019s funding journey, it builds on previous investments. Earlier in 2023, the startup raised $2 million in pre-seed funding led by Gradient Ventures, alongside participation from venture firms like Sequoia and Atomico scout programs. That initial funding was crucial for developing the AI-powered property search engine designed to interpret floor plans, photos, and descriptions using machine learning, while cross-referencing data with public and third-party sources\u2014a technology foundation now further enhanced as Jitty prepares for broader rollout.<\/p>\n
Jitty\u2019s approach contrasts with traditional property portals such as Rightmove, Zoopla, and OnTheMarket by positioning itself not merely as a listing platform but as a comprehensive digital home-buying agent. The founders argue that as property data becomes increasingly accessible and affordable, the competitive edge will go to platforms that provide buyers with maximum value through AI-enhanced, collaborative search and decision-making tools.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Jitty is not only focused on UK expansion but has set its sights on international growth, leveraging the global expertise of REA Group and the momentum gained from widespread adoption. As the home-buying landscape evolves, AI-driven platforms like Jitty are poised to challenge entrenched industry models by transforming how consumers search for and engage with property markets.<\/p>\n