Block management proptech raises £21m to disrupt ‘inefficient’ sector

A year-old proptech start-up has raised £21million from investors as its seeks to revolutionise the way the UK managing agent/block management sector operates.

Called Supa, it was co-founded in 2025 and is led by Calum Brannan (main image, left) who many within the property industry will recognise as the name behind landlord platform Howsy before it was sold in 2022 to Dexters. Supa’s Chief Product Officer Alexis Johnson (main pic, right) is also a Howsy former senior.

Supa, which is powered by AI, has taken an unusual approach to getting its tech embedded within the managing agent sector, namely by buying into the market via the acquisition of seven block management firms.

The new cash has been raised via a seed funding round led by five big venture capital and specialist investment outfits plus a debt facility from a big but unnamed UK lender.

Those acquired include Hunters in Sussex, FW Block Management in Hertfordshire, and Lamberts in London.

Via these acquisitions Supa now looks after 20,000 properties having bought these local but established managing agents, keeping their name and team, and then rebuilding their back office using its AI tech.

Eagle-eyed readers may note that this is a very similar to Dwelly, which is expanding at a similarly fast pace via the same approach.

Savings

Similarly, Supa is counting on its software to deliver savings.  The software takes on repairs scheduling, service charge reconciliation, safety checks and chases contractors, cutting the time managers spend on admin by up to 90%, it is claimed.

Supa says the benefits its software brings would, once it become more widespread, help allay the criticisms often levelled at the block management sector in particular a lack of transparency over fees and value for money.

“Residents are paying more every year and too often getting less,” says Brennan. “Bloated portfolios and ageing systems leave residents with their calls going to voicemail. We’re doing the opposite. We keep the local firms, take the admin off their desks, and put managers back inside buildings instead of behind a phone queue. Everyone should know what their service charge pays for and get an answer when they call.”

Sebastian Peck, Founding Partner at Supa backer KOMPAS VC, says: “When a block is well-managed, it operates quietly in the background; when it’s poorly managed, it can negatively impact residents’ finances, safety, and daily quality of life.

AI economies

“Supa is harnessing the power of agentic AI and economies of scale to lift industry standards, improving communication, responsiveness, and quality of service delivery.

“We are very proud to back the founders and their extraordinary team as they build a category-leading property management business with global ambitions.”

Finella Taylor, CEO of FW Block Management [one of the acquired firms], adds: “It was very important to me to preserve the legacy of our company. Supa understood that. They weren’t looking to rebrand us, they wanted to keep our identity, which is why I’d recommend them to any managing agent looking to sell.”