/Companies

LeaseLock

500 Global

Marina 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.

DMDerek Merrill
Derek MerrillCEO & Founder2016–2022Derek Merrill is Executive Officer and Director at LeaseLock, which offers Zero Deposit, a lease insurance product that replaces security deposits for renters while providing coverage to property owners. The product is integrated across over 500,000 apartment homes.
RA
Reichen Allen KuhlCo-founder
RK
Reichen Kuh
JSJanine Steiner Jovanovic
Janine Steiner JovanovicChief Executive OfficerJanine Steiner Jovanovic is CEO of LeaseLock, which offers a zero-deposit rental product that replaces traditional security deposits while providing risk protection for property owners and managers.
OGOliver Gratry
Oliver GratryChief Financial OfficerCFO of LeaseLock, Oliver Gratry has nearly two decades of experience building companies in the US and Europe.
GWGreg Willett
Greg WillettChief EconomistGreg Willett brings over three decades of experience in rental housing market analysis across multifamily and single-family sectors. As Chief Economist at LeaseLock, he leads market insights and risk analytics for the company's Zero Deposit product.
SSSudip Shekhawat
Sudip ShekhawatChief Technology OfficerSudip Shekhawat is Chief Technology Officer at LeaseLock and brings over two decades of technology leadership in PropTech, Insurtech, and FinTech, including prior roles at RealPage and ILG where he contributed to platform work ahead of exits valued above $1B, and experience scaling SaaS products from $10M to $200M+ in revenue and integrating large acquisitions.
JLJohn Lis
John LisChief Revenue OfficerChief Revenue Officer at leaselock site
LWLaura Williams
Laura WilliamsSenior Vice President, OperationsShe previously worked on custom business intelligence solutions and analytic technologies.
MSManoj Sigdel
Manoj SigdelSenior Vice President, EngineeringHe has held leadership roles building engineering organizations and technology functions at startups and public companies, including managing data platforms, AI systems, and global delivery operations across multiple continents.
ABAndrew Bowen
Andrew BowenSenior Vice President, Strategic PartnershipsAndrew Bowen has worked in multifamily real estate for over 30 years, with experience in revenue management, operations, and asset management. He is Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at LeaseLock, which provides deposit alternatives and risk protection for rental properties.
GSGoli Sarange
Goli SarangeSenior Vice President, LegalSenior Vice President, Legal at leaselock site

Investors · 12

Reported raises · per SEC filings

Form D private placements

$49.5M disclosed across 2 rounds · 2018–2020

▶$39.3MraisedFeb 2021 · 43 investors · Other Technology
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • 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
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗
▶$10.2MraisedNov 2018 · 29 investors · Insurance
Rule 506(b)
Officers, directors & promoters on the filing
  • 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
Full filing on SEC EDGAR ↗

Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.

Company profile

researched Aug 2026

LeaseLock 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 reported
HeadcountAug 202669
Residents who prefer $0 deposit communitiesJan 202591%

Company-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

RhinoRhino provides a digital platform that replaces security deposits for renters with a more affordable alternative, while offering property managers and owners a modernized process for tenant screening and asset protection in the rental housing market.
ZillowZillow operates an online real estate marketplace where consumers can search homes for sale and rentals across US and Canadian cities, view mortgage rate information, and access home financing through Zillow Home Loans. It covers residential property listings, apartments and houses for rent, and mortgage services nationwide.
BaselaneBaselane provides accounting and financial management software for real estate investors and landlords, helping them track cash flow, manage property finances, and optimize tax deductions.
RoostRoost helps renters improve their financial outcomes and assists property owners in managing compliance risks. The company prioritizes privacy protection in its operations.
DoorloopDoorLoop is a cloud-based property management platform that combines rent collection, tenant screening, e-leases, maintenance, and accounting in one system, with AI automation across leasing, maintenance, and communications. It serves landlords, property managers, and real estate investors managing portfolios of any size.
TheGuarantors (Exited)TheGuarantors offers lease guarantee and security deposit alternative products for the single-family rental market, covering missed rent and certain property damages, utilities, and fees for landlords. Its coverage helps property owners qualify more renters and reduce bad debt from defaults.
FlexFlex provides a platform that allows renters to make flexible and predictable rental payments, helping households manage financial volatility while providing property managers operational stability. The company also offers eviction prevention support programs through Flex for Good.
AziboAzibo is a property management platform that enables landlords to collect rent, screen tenants, manage leases, track maintenance, and handle accounting and tax preparation. The platform serves residential and commercial property owners of all portfolio sizes.
Avail (fka Rentalutions)A messaging platform feature for property managers and rental companies that links conversations to tenant lifecycle stages and provides filtering and alert capabilities.

Companies working in the same space as LeaseLock.

Legal entities · 1

corporate structure
leaselock siteDelaware

▸Research sources · 1

primary sources listed

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.