Rental culture is being reinvented.
Co-sign. Sekra, a wellness apartment concept backed by Uber founder Travis Kalanick and Equinox exec Harvey Spevak, closed a $12.5M seed round co-led by Fifth Wall and 8VC.
The brainchild of serial entrepreneur Oliver Ripley—whose Habitas hotel chain also leverages social wellness principles—Sekra will feature sleep-optimizing circadian lighting, longevity-supporting social events, and values-based applicant screenings.
Non-trad. Rethinking social norms, young people are starting families later and renting longer, sparking new opportunities at the intersection of wellness, real estate, and experience design.
From adventure travel-filled micro-retirements to Disloyalty’s hotel membership program and Outsite’s international co-living setup, stepping off the beaten path is in. Meanwhile, materialism is out; 69% of consumers want to own less stuff as a lifestyle choice, opting to spend on social experiences instead.
New norms. Young renters want healthy perks. With wellness real estate pushing toward $1.1T by 2029, Sekra joins The WELL and Hines in developing mindful work-life arrangements.
Takeaway: Human connection, IRL experiences, and freedom to log off are the new luxuries. As AI kills digital culture, remote workers are seeking fresh physical spaces.
