LeaseLock
500 GlobalMarina Del Rey, US · Founded 2016 · Delaware corporation · 69 employees on LinkedIn · 12 known investors
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LeaseLock offers Zero Deposit, a product that replaces upfront security deposits for renters while providing risk protection and bad-debt coverage for property owners and managers. It integrates with existing property management systems to serve multifamily housing operators.
Also known as LeaseLock · Zero Deposit
Founders & leadership
LeaseLock was founded in 2016 by Derek Merrill, Reichen Allen Kuhl, and Reichen Kuh.








Investors · 12
How we know: open dataset · 500 Global portfolio 2026-08 · Not right? Tell us
How we know: American Family Ventures's portfolio page · the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Clocktower Ventures's portfolio page · the VCSheet dataset · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Evolution VC Partners's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Mucker Capital's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: RWT Horizons's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: Vertex Ventures's portfolio page · Not right? Tell us
How we know: a partner's Signal profile · Not right? Tell us
How we know: a partner's Signal profile · Not right? Tell us
How we know: a partner's Signal profile · board seat on SEC Form D · Not right? Tell us
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$49.5M disclosed across 2 rounds · 2018–2020
▶$39.3MraisedFeb 2021 · 43 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Reichen Allen KuhlExecutive Officer, Director
- Derek MerrillExecutive Officer, Director
- Bryan StolleDirector
- Todd KatlerDirector
- Karim Abdel-Ghaffar PlazaDirector
- Ted RuppExecutive Officer
- Olivier GratryExecutive Officer
- Offering amount
- $52.7M
- Amount sold
- $39.3M
- First sale
- Dec 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
▶$10.2MraisedNov 2018 · 29 investors · InsuranceRule 506(b)
- Derek MerrillExecutive Officer, Director
- Brian StolleDirector
- Reichen Allen KuhlExecutive Officer, Director
- Heidi LawsonDirector
- Offering amount
- $10.2M
- Amount sold
- $10.2M
- First sale
- Mar 2018
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026LeaseLock provides Zero Deposit, a deposit-replacement product for rental housing. Instead of collecting an upfront security deposit from a renter, participating properties offer deposit-free move-in while LeaseLock supplies lease coverage that offsets the owner's exposure to bad debt and damages at move-out. The offering is positioned as a flexible amenity that properties can extend to residents alongside risk management technology.
The product is designed to be embedded into a property's existing property management systems and workflows, so that coverage attaches at the lease level without separate deposit handling or associated paperwork. LeaseLock frames the benefits to operators as reduced liability from holding deposits, faster leasing and lower vacancy from a frictionless move-in process, and broader financial coverage per lease than alternatives such as surety bonds. Related offerings referenced by the company include LeaseLock Shield and LeaseLock Central.
The company operates as an insurance-linked business, listing Texas insurance licenses (#2256561/2268502) and an address at 5050 Quorum Drive, Suite 700, Dallas, Texas.
Business model
LeaseLock supplies lease coverage that substitutes for cash security deposits at rental properties, integrating with the operator's property management systems and providing risk protection and bad-debt recovery on covered leases; the company holds insurance licensing in Texas.
Traction
The company cites that 91% of residents prefer $0 deposit communities and publishes customer statements, including one operator reporting a 6% increase in applications, a 3.6% increase in leases and 4x more financial coverage per lease, and another reporting recovery of the majority of bad debt.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography
Market position
Supplier of deposit-replacement and lease coverage products to the rental housing industry, competing with conventional security deposits and surety bond providers.
Positioned against traditional cash security deposits and surety bonds, which the company and its customers describe as expensive for renters and as providing insufficient coverage for owners; LeaseLock cites larger per-lease financial coverage and reduced deposit-handling liability.
Technology
Risk management technology that attaches lease-level coverage and integrates with existing property management systems and leasing workflows, removing separate deposit collection and administration steps.
Go-to-market
Direct enterprise sales to property management companies and owners, with demo requests and "talk to an expert" contact paths on the company website, and customer testimonials used as portfolio-level proof points.
Owners, operators and property management companies of rental housing portfolios across asset types, and by extension their residents. Named customers include ResProp Management, Avenue 5, Pegasus Residential Management, Core Realty Holdings and Strata Equity Group.
Geography
United States rental housing; the website lists a Dallas, Texas office and Texas insurance licenses.
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Founder mafia
2 people who came through LeaseLock went on to found or lead other companies.
Related companies · 9
Companies working in the same space as LeaseLock.
Legal entities · 1
corporate structure▸Research sources · 1
primary sources listed
- leaselock siteleaselock.com · web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does LeaseLock do?
- LeaseLock's Zero Deposit replaces rental security deposits with lease coverage that protects property owners against bad debt.
- Who founded LeaseLock?
- LeaseLock was founded by Derek Merrill, Reichen Allen Kuhl, Reichen Kuh in 2016.
- Who are LeaseLock's investors?
- LeaseLock's investors include 500 Global, American Family Ventures, Clocktower Ventures, Evolution VC Partners, Mucker Capital, Niya Partners, RWT Horizons, Sand Hill Angels and 4 more.
- How much funding has LeaseLock raised?
- LeaseLock has disclosed $49.5M raised across 2 rounds.
- Where is LeaseLock headquartered?
- LeaseLock is headquartered in Marina Del Rey, US.















