Startup Fund Spotlight: Rent Spot Me and the Rise of Inclusive Innovation
T. Duke Lund’s Disruptive Housing Platform Featured by MSN
At CJF America, we believe that visionary ideas deserve visionary backing—especially when they are built by and for underserved communities. That is why we are proud to feature T. Duke Lund, co-founder and CEO of Rent Spot Me, on our Startup Fund platform.
Launched in September 2023, Rent Spot Me is already redefining what housing access looks like in the 21st century—especially for gig workers, freelancers, digital creators, and independent contractors. What began as a solution to founder Duke Lund’s personal struggle securing housing without traditional income documentation has evolved into a $68 million-backed venture poised to transform the rental industry at scale.
With a mission rooted in economic justice, CJF America’s Startup Fund exists to invest in disruptors who are too often overlooked by traditional capital markets. Our commitment is to fund innovators who are building solutions for their communities—not around them. Rent Spot Me embodies this perfectly.
In collaboration with Neyius, the family office equity firm affiliated with our Fund, we proudly contributed $40 million to Rent Spot Me’s initial funding round—making it one of the largest investments to date under the Startup Fund’s banner.
“Rent Spot Me is more than a company—it’s a movement,” said Nick Gallardo, Managing Partner of the Startup Fund and CFO of CJF America. “T. Duke Lund is offering a direct response to the exclusion millions of Americans face in the housing market. That’s the kind of leadership we invest in.”
This partnership represents more than just financial backing. It reflects CJF America’s broader mission: to empower communities through capital, connection, and capacity. By supporting scalable ventures like Rent Spot Me, we amplify solutions that directly respond to systemic inequities—whether in housing, finance, education, or health.
Rent Spot Me’s rapid success and the ongoing acquisition interest from major fintech firms like Dave Inc. and Chime further affirm the value of investing in bold ideas from nontraditional founders. The future of innovation lies in inclusion—and CJF America is proud to be part of that future.
About the Startup Fund
The CJF America Startup Fund is a mission-driven venture capital initiative that invests in early-stage startups led by founders from marginalized backgrounds. It is a subsidiary program under the Courtney Jordan Foundation in America and serves as a catalyst for economic growth, empowerment, and sustainable innovation.
To learn more about the Startup Fund or to apply for investment consideration, visit SuFund.org.
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