On December 18, 2023, Montreal-based rental platform Guiker has acquired Toronto-based Willow.ca, a proptech startup providing a fractional real estate investment platform. The acquisition, which was finalized last week, incorporated Willow.ca’s features into Guiker’s platform, facilitating the transfer of all existing Willow.ca users. The transaction value was not disclosed.

Willow.ca, founded in 2019 and launched publicly in early 2022, enabled Canadians to invest in fractional shares of high-value real estate assets. The platform focused on rent-generating properties and received approval from the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) to operate as an exempt market dealer in 2021. Post-acquisition, most of Willow.ca's team was offboarded, with CEO Logan Yergens joining Guiker as Chief Compliance Officer.

Nan Hao, CEO of Guiker, stated the acquisition aims to merge rental and investment opportunities, enhancing returns for users across major urban centers including Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, and Boston. Guiker, established in 2015, enhances the leasing process by linking landlords with tenants and now adds investment capabilities through the integration of Willow.ca’s platform.

This acquisition reflects the current trend of significant transactions in the proptech sector, signaling a continuing evolution in real estate investment accessibility.