Further Launches with $4.1M Pre-Seed to Guide First-Time Homebuyers

Newly launched startup Further announced it has raised $4.1 million in a pre-seed funding round to help first-time homebuyers navigate the complex process of purchasing their first home. The round, led by investors including Link Ventures, Vesta Ventures, F4, FiDi Ventures, Flex Capital, Gaingels, Andrew Paradise, Jeff Fagnan, and Ryan Moore, will support the company’s mission to simplify homeownership planning for Millennials and other first-time buyers facing unprecedented affordability challenges. The funding round, which closed on November 1, 2024, marks the company's emergence from stealth just months after its founding in spring 2024.

Further’s platform aims to provide powerful yet easy-to-use financial planning tools tailored to the unique needs of first-time buyers. With skyrocketing housing prices and increased complexity in the buying process, Further seeks to replace traditional, makeshift tools like spreadsheets with a more intuitive, guided experience that helps buyers plan with confidence. By offering personalized, actionable insights, Further aspires to bridge the knowledge gap for new buyers in a housing market where the average age of first-time homeowners has shifted to the mid-30s.

Founded by experienced executives, Further’s leadership includes CEO Kevin Bennett, former founding CEO of fintech unicorn Caribou, and COO Chris Baker, who brings experience from EverQuote and major banks like Bank of America and Santander. CTO Nassir Samatar, formerly of Amazon, Coupang, and Rover, rounds out the team with his background in scalable tech platforms. With this team and initial funding, Further is poised to make a significant impact on the homebuying process, aiming to empower a new generation of homeowners with the tools to manage the financial challenges of purchasing their first homes.