Startup in spotlight: Women-led Occupi lands $3M+ to reinvent how America pays rent

Managing rent payments has long been a challenge. Traditional methods often exclude underbanked renters while forcing landlords to struggle with slow, manual processes. Birmingham-based fintech startup Occupi addresses this gap with an AI-driven platform that supports over 20 payment options, including digital wallets such as Cash App and Venmo. The platform posts payments directly to property managers’ ledgers, streamlining operations and increasing accessibility.
In a significant milestone, Occupi recently closed an oversubscribed seed round of $3.105 million. The funding was led by Fenway Summer and Assurant Ventures, with participation from social impact investors including Halcyon Venture Partners and Sorenson Impact Foundation.
Occupi is a certified woman-owned company, founded and led by women with strong ties to community and innovation. All four of their venture capital partners are female investors who bring deep expertise in finance, housing, and social impact.
Occupi was founded by two seasoned entrepreneurs,Taylor PeakeandEmily Hart, who combine technical expertise, operational experience, and passion for solving real-world problems.
Taylor Peake, CEO and co-founder, grew up in Alabama and owns affordable housing communities in her hometown. “Occupi is personal for me, from the town where I grew up to the communities I own,” she shares. “Very few companies are innovating for the common household. People want options for making their most important monthly payment and streamlined applications in this high-demand housing market.” With a software engineering background and a career launched at 19, Taylor uniquely positions herself at the intersection of fintech and real estate.
Emily Leithauser Hart, COO and co-founder, brings over a decade of product development and strategic communications experience from global retail marketing at Apple and software product launches at MotionMobs. She articulates Occupi’s mission clearly: “Everyone deserves a safe place to live, and your choice of financial service shouldn’t hinder securing and keeping housing. We built Occupi to bridge that gap and ensure financial services are inclusive and accessible to everyone.”
Together, they’ve built Occupi on the belief that financial tools should be accessible and inclusive. Emily adds, “Our roadmap is full of financial tools designed for accessibility and inclusion. Occupi is built on genuine partnership, and we’re fortunate to work with collaborators who care deeply about connection and impact.”
Occupi’s AI-powered platform enables seamless payment processing across multiple property management systems. It aggregates popular payment channels, from Cash App and Venmo to traditional ACH and card payments, allowing residents to pay rent without using inconvenient or exploitative channels.
The platform also simplifies tenant screening, supporting applications from diverse renters, including those without U.S. Social Security numbers who hold ITINs or visas, reflecting the company’s commitment to inclusivity.
Taylor explains Occupi’s technological edge: “By facilitating payment options through our partners, including cash wallets with extensive retail networks, residents can make payments without standing in long lines or using outdated in-person walk-in systems. We’re replacing money orders, PayNearMe, Western Union, Paylease, and similar systems that don’t meet today’s renters’ needs.”
The company eases the administrative burden on property managers by posting all payments directly into their accounting systems, increasing efficiency and reducing errors.
With fresh capital, Occupi is expanding its team, hiring engineers and payment specialists both locally and nationally. The company is strengthening partnerships with payment processors, housing authorities, and proptech platforms to broaden its impact, especially in affordable housing.
Emily outlines the company’s near-term plans: “With the acceleration our strategic investors bring, Occupi is expanding nationwide sales, focusing on affordable and mid-tier multi-family, manufactured housing, single-family, HOAs, and housing authorities. We’re also deepening partnerships with payment processors and proptech companies to support more financial services that everyday Americans rely on and the variety of solutions property managers use.”
Taylor adds perspective on startup challenges: “Startups are difficult for all founders. Even during weeks of growth and significant progress, there are ups and downs each day. Thick skin is essential. Co-founder disputes can become existential issues for companies. Choose your partners and support network wisely. I’m fortunate to work with my partners and our team of investors, advisors, and advocates.”
Occupi aims to enhance features for affordable housing assistance, expand its network of property management software integrations, and become a pillar for financial inclusivity in rental payments.