Cecilian Partners caps a year of extraordinary growth and digital transformation in the new home industry

Amidst a challenging year for startups, this unique tech company bucked the trend — in a big way.

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NEW HOPE, Pa., Dec. 28, 2023 – Cecilian Partners, a growth-stage proptech firm providing end-to-end digital solutions for homebuilders and land developers, saw extraordinary growth in 2023, driven by key customer wins, strategic partnerships, product innovation, and industry recognition. In a year when many startups faced scarce funding and layoffs, Cecilian raised significant capital and increased headcount.

With its software platform quickly becoming the technology standard for master planned communities and homebuilders across the US, Cecilian Partners now counts some of the country’s largest real estate companies as clients. This not only highlights demand for the firm’s transformative technology, but also speaks to the high level of trust earned by its team.

“We really believe we can make a difference for the new home industry, and it shows,” said John Cecilian, Jr., co-founder and CEO. “Our clients trust our expertise in supporting community development and share our commitment to building long-term partnerships.”

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Fast-growing footprint

With this year’s addition of nearly 30 new customers, Cecilian Partners’ roster now includes more than 160 planned communities across the country. Nearly 80 of those communities are in Florida and Texas alone, where new home sales continually rank highest in the nation.

Among the industry-leading real estate firms that chose Cecilian’s technology this year were Hillwood, GreenPointe Developers, Hines, Kennedy Lewis Investment Management, and Lennar. Hillwood Communities, one of the largest community developers in the US, has been a key partner for Cecilian in helping to drive important product innovations and providing critical insights into the process of community development.

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A successful Series A

In its first institutional equity round led by Resolve Growth Partners, Cecilian raised $12 million in growth capital in September. This funding has helped the company increase the pace of product innovation and talent acquisition, including more than 10 new hires in the critical areas of tech, customer success, and sales. Cecilian is also leveraging Resolve’s financial acumen and vertically integrated SaaS expertise to help accelerate growth.

As part of the Series A raise, Cecilian also secured growth capital from Perot Jain, a leading Dallas-based venture capital firm. Perot Jain has a track record of helping early-stage companies drive industry-disrupting innovation by providing patient capital, a strategic network, and tech-enabled expertise.

The relationship with Perot Jain led to Fred Balda, President of Hillwood Communities, joining Cecilian’s advisory board. Hillwood is a strategic partner of Perot Jain, and Balda brings 32 years of real estate domain expertise and community development knowledge to the organization.

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Unmatched tech solutions

From earning its second patent to launching brand-new tech, the Cecilian team never slowed down this year. In June, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a patent for Cecilian’s groundbreaking automated anti-monotony system for new home construction – a key feature of the company’s signature technology platform, The XO. In the fall a global patent was also filed.

The firm also launched two new products in 2023:

• Customer Blueprint. An end-to-end platform for resident lifestyle engagement and HOA community management
• Lot Vault. An innovative lot banking solution for builders, land owners, and investment firms

Combined with Cecilian’s five other platforms, these products provide a complete end-to-end software suite delivering streamlined operations, strategic marketing, enhanced analytics and business intelligence, and data-driven community management and engagement for community builders and developers. Cecilian Partners’ software now forms the backbone of the new home value chain, from land to lots to homes to residents.

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Building bridges

Recognizing that broad-based collaboration helps accelerate digital transformation across real estate, Cecilian Partners actively maintains strategic partnerships with over 15 key industry players. Three of those firms – RCLCO, Land Advisors, and LJA Engineering – were early investors in Cecilian and continue to be trusted advisors today.

Over the past year, Cecilian forged and strengthened relationships with firms offering top-shelf digital marketing solutions, branding, and technology platforms, all purpose-built for the real estate industry. Companies including SmartTouch® Interactive, Overabove, TraceAir, tst ink, Focus 360, and Aireal worked with Cecilian to provide comprehensive tech and marketing solutions for land developers – and helped Cecilian win half a dozen new clients so far.

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Awards and accolades

Rounding out a year of strong growth and achievement, Cecilian Partners also gained recognition as one of the top companies in its region and its industry. 2023 accolades include:

• HousingWire Tech100 List: recognizes the industry’s most innovative technology companies that are transforming the home sales process
• Fire Awards (honoree in the Igniting category): PHL Inno’s premier awards program recognizes 20 organizations and individuals that are leading the region’s innovation scene
• Best Places to Work: Cecilian ranked #2 overall as a top employer among small businesses in the Philadelphia region

Looking ahead to 2024, Cecilian plans to continue focusing on product innovation and customer success while embarking on several new initiatives across the business. These include expanding capabilities in critical areas, enhancing client support, and increasing brand visibility across the country.

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About Cecilian Partners

Since 2019, Cecilian Partners has sought to bridge the digital divide between homebuilders, community developers, and home buyers with its patented technology platform. The firm’s property development software, 3D mapping technology, and data management solutions simplify the complexities of placemaking for builders and developers while offering interactive experiences that transform the home buying experience. Cecilian Partners collaborates with land developers and homebuilders across the U.S. who aspire to modernize their digital footprint and ease everyday pain points associated with building and buying homes. For more information, visit the Linkedin Company Page.