With the prop-tech industry constantly changing, Lily Liu, founder of Piñata, is making a real difference. She's shaking things up in the rental market. With a background that combines a deep understanding of technology with a keen insight into the real estate market, she has positioned Piñata at the forefront of this sector. Uncover the motivations that drove her into the prop-tech industry, the unique challenges and opportunities that shaped Piñata, and the innovative strategies that have propelled the platform to national success.
As the founder of Piñata, Lily is focused on changing the renting experience. While real estate has been resistant to change, the advent of incredible tech has made it clear that the old ways of doing things are no longer viable or desirable. The fragmented nature of the real estate market and the seismic shift toward a hospitality mindset among a new generation of landlords and property owners were the key factors that drew Lily to encourage change in this industry.
Piñata App
Lily's personal experience has influenced the direction of the Piñata platform. Growing up in an entrepreneurial immigrant family from Taiwan taught her to think creatively under pressure and push for innovative solutions even when constrained. Her mindset factors into everything they do at Piñata, where the goal is to deliver an exceptional experience that renters and landlords love while still being a thriving business.
Piñata is recognized as the first national rent rewards and financial program with a simple concept: Pay Rent, Get Rewards, and Build Credit. The platform partners with America's best landlords and property management companies to offer a new super amenity that rewards and gives renters the credit they deserve for their largest monthly expense. What sets Piñata apart is the pace at which people receive rewards, happening in months rather than years.
With Piñata now serving millions of renters nationally and processing over $2.6B in rent payments, Lily attributes their growth and success to focusing on building a product that renters and landlords can't live without. She emphasized that if they do that well, everything else will follow.
As Piñata continues to make waves in the prop-tech industry, its innovative approach and commitment to transforming the rental experience are poised to shift the real estate landscape in the near future.
Photography by: Courtesy of (from top): Lily Liu, Founder of Piñata; Piñata App
