Deferred, a technology-powered Qualified Intermediary focused on transforming 1031 real estate exchanges, has secured $3.6 million in seed funding to expand its platform and make tax-deferred property transactions more accessible to individual investors.
The round was led by B Capital and Fika Ventures, with participation from strategic investors including founders and executives from Ramp, Zillow, SoFi, Compass, Opendoor, Plaid, and Newfront, according to an announcement.
The company plans to use the funding to scale its technology and further simplify the exchange process, which has traditionally been complex and costly for non-institutional investors.
Founded in 2024 by PropTech entrepreneurs Judd Schoenholtz, Alex Farrill, and Aaron LaRue, Deferred aims to democratize access to 1031 exchanges—a mechanism that allows real estate investors to defer capital gains taxes by reinvesting sale proceeds into another property.
Despite the significant tax advantage, fewer than 10% of eligible transactions currently utilize the program, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Deferred’s platform offers AI-powered compliance and automation tools that reduce manual tasks and improve process efficiency.
Its no-fee exchange model eliminates traditional intermediary charges, while clients benefit from shared interest earned on held funds. The company also leverages secure transaction infrastructure to enhance fund safety and prevent fraud.
The seed investment follows Deferred’s recent acquisition of Plenti Financial, formerly 1031 Exchange Advantage, a Qualified Intermediary with a track record of nearly 7,000 facilitated exchanges.
Led by experienced real estate attorney David Greenberger, Plenti adds depth in compliance and regulatory expertise to Deferred’s operations.
Operating in a 1031 exchange market with approximately $100 billion in annual transaction volume, Deferred is positioning itself to bridge the gap between institutional and everyday investors.
Its technology-first approach reflects a broader trend of fintech innovation reshaping the real estate investing landscape.
