Flat, a Purdue-connected startup, sees growth with AI-driven approach taking the guesswork out of home repairs 

Flat’s recent funding round – which included an investment from Purdue Innovates Ventures – expands the app’s ability to provide customized home maintenance & repair action items using its AI-driven technology. 

Every homeowner knows the feeling that comes with an unexpected home repair, often with an eye-watering bill to follow. Flat is on a mission to take the unforeseen out of home management. The company, co-founded by Purdue alumnus Brent Hasse, is based in Chicago but holds onto its Hoosier roots with growing relationships with Purdue and other Hoosier-based companies like Angi.  

That’s no accident. 

“I’m a third-generation Boilermaker and my time at Purdue was critical in helping me develop personally and professionally,” Hasse said. “Now as we are looking to grow our business, the opportunity to leverage the scale and network Purdue Ventures offers really is a full circle moment.” 

The intuitive app provides customized home maintenance & repair action items using their AI-driven Flat 360 Home Health Report which helps homeowners keep track of maintenance tasks, both large and small. Additionally, they offer a Book Now feature in addition to a vetted list of contractors to help when necessary home repairs arise. 

Flat isn’t directly available to homeowners; instead, it provides a way for real estate industry partners to engage and provide value to their clients, critical in a world of ever-rising interest rates. The app also includes nationwide data, so unlike competitors who only operate regionally, Flat can work with major national B2B companies. They’ve already partnered with insurance companies, real estate groups and players in the housing industry to provide a big value-add for their potential customers. 

Now, Flat is using its Boilermaker connections to rapidly accelerate their growth. 

True to its vision of championing Purdue-connected, early-stage companies, Purdue Innovates Ventures was one of multiple investors in Flat during its late 2023/early 2024 funding round. Ventures invests in venture-scale startups like Flat that show exceptional promise and can benefit from the strengths of Purdue University and its relationships around the world. 

Dan Moyers, associate director of Purdue Innovates Ventures, explains why Flat was the perfect investment. “At Ventures we think of ourselves as capital plus plus plus. Flat is a great example of how a strategic founder like Brent saw value in our unique combination of capital and support. We know that in venture everyone’s money is green, so we’re laser-focused on providing impactful support to our portfolio companies post-investment. Everything we do to is to help our portfolio companies like Flat grow and go faster.” 

Hasse agrees. “We’ve seen a strong upward trajectory by opening our dynamic data pipeline to key partners in the real estate ecosystem to provide a better experience for homeowners. With Purdue’s support, we’ve been able to further accelerate our growth and build new partnerships in the space.” 

About Flat  

Flat is the operating system for your home. Flat combines technology and hands-on help to streamline tracking, managing, and completing the routine tasks a home requires to stay in good working order, all within one software platform. For more information on Flat, visit www.flathomecare.com or contact brent@flathomecare.com. 

About Purdue Research Foundation 

Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires and sells property; protects and licenses Purdue’s intellectual property; and supports creating Purdue-connected startups on behalf of Purdue. The foundation operates Purdue Innovates which includes the Office of Technology Commercialization, Incubator and Ventures. The foundation manages the Purdue Research Park, Discovery Park District, Purdue Technology Centers and Purdue for Life Foundation. 

For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org. For more information about involvement and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact Purdue Innovates at purdueinnovates@prf.org. 

Writer/Media contact: Polly Barks, pbarks@prf.org  

Sources: Brent Hasse and Dan Moyers.