Multifamily Unpacked

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Our lane is multifamily tech, how it influences property management companies and ultimately renters' experience finding their next home. To be clear, we’ll stay in our lane. In this podcast, we are privileged to sit down with some of the best minds in multifamily, learn directly from them, and share what we learned with you. We’re here to have honest conversations with the leaders of this industry and the tech that defines it. Tune in to learn about what could be better, and the solutions that are changing the lives of renters, and everyone working at property management companies. No matter if you just Googled the words “multifamily industry” for the first time and stumbled onto our podcast, or are a multifamily veteran, as long as you’re curious about technology and the multifamily industry this podcast is for you. Multifamily Unpacked is presented by Funnel and hosted by Tyler Christiansen.

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60 recent

June 16, 202616 min

The Report — Funnel tested their AI against 3 major competitors, with 169 real renters. They won 6/6

In this episode of The Report, Alex Howe, SVP Marketing + Growth, Funnel and Tyler Christiansen, CEO, Funnel share the results of a study they commissioned to answer a simple question: how does Funnel's AI stack up against the biggest names in the industry? In the spirit of the world's best teams competing at the highest level, they put Funnel's voice and chat AI to the test — independently, blindly, and against competitors' best examples.Funnel won every single matchup. The more interesting story is why — and what it signals about where multifamily AI is headed.The setup:An independent research firm ran six blind, head-to-head studies in April and May169 real American renters tested Funnel’s chat and voice AI against three major competitors: two legacy property management platforms and a self-described "AI leader" in multifamilyRenters had 30 minutes and a broad mandate: schedule a tour, ask about pet policies, and interrupt the voice AI mid-sentence to see how it respondedBy the numbers:Funnel won all six head-to-head matchupsNearly 3 in 4 renters preferred Funnel's chat AI; 2 in 3 preferred Funnel's voice AI81% said Funnel felt more knowledgeable in chat; 67% said the same in voiceIn chat AI, Funnel outperformed the competition by 6-27% in renter satisfaction and 7-52% in human-likeness.In voice AI, Funnel outperformed the competition by 5-10% in renter satisfaction and 4-27% in human-likeness.Four themes renters mentioned oftenWarmth. Competitors were described as "abrupt," "formal," and — my personal favorite — "the audio version of a brochure."Transparency. Funnel answered questions about fees, breed restrictions, and community specifics directly in the conversation. Competitors sent renters to links. Renters noticed, and they didn't like it.The ability to actually listen. In voice, renters could interrupt Funnel, pause, change direction — and Funnel kept up. Competitors talked over them. That was the single biggest complaint in the voice study.Anticipation. Funnel volunteered relevant details before renters had to ask. It felt like the AI was thinking ahead, not just responding.

April 2, 202620 min

Forum 2026 recap: what the leading operators are seeing next

Fresh off Forum 2026, Alex Howe, SVP of Marketing and Growth and Tyler Christiansen, CEO of Funnel, break down the biggest ideas, conversations, and moments from this year’s event. They cover what stood out from sessions with Clay Bavor, Jay Parsons, Kristy Simonett, Mia Hamm, and others, along with what operators should be paying attention to right now around AI, market conditions, leadership, and change. To stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin and connect with Tyler there, too.

March 4, 202632 min

Agentic AI rent payments in ChatGPT + 2026 reality check: trust, transparency, and out-executing the market

In this episode, Alex Howe, SVP Marketing + Growth, at Funnel talks with Tyler Christiansen, CEO, Funnel about what RETTC Tech Executive Summit revealed, and why execution beats hype. They break down the first rent payment inside ChatGPT with BH Management, what “agentic AI” really requires (guardrails, auditability, trust), and why operators can’t automate their way out of a broken operating model. They close on the workforce and policy realities shaping the year ahead and the playbook that’s emerging: standardize the work, then automate what’s repeatable, and keep humans focused on the moments that actually need judgment and care.If you enjoyed this conversation, you’ll love Forum. Register today. To stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin and connect with Tyler there, too.

February 18, 202629 min

Inside the Funnel — Nikki Hand — Multifamily’s future depends on specialization, AI, and human-centered operations

In this episode of Multifamily Unpacked, Nikki Hand, Chief Product Officer and Chief Customer Officer at Funnel, shares how specialization, centralization, and human-centered AI are reshaping multifamily operations. Nikki reflects on Funnel’s evolution since 2020, the industry’s shift to the new operating model, and why AI works best as a teammate, not a replacement. In this episode, you’ll hear about:Why generalist roles are burning out top performers, and how the new operating model solves itHow Funnel’s platform evolved through deep co-development with early partnersWhat the next phase of centralization and AI-driven marketing looks likeHow centralized models improve personalization and renter experienceWhy “partnership first” is core to customer success at FunnelThe origin story of Camden’s Birdie and Funnel’s early bet on AIIf you enjoyed learning about centralization, AI, and what the new operating model means for the future of multifamily, you'd love Forum. Register today. https://meet.funnelleasing.com/forum-2026-registrationTo stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin and connect with Tyler there, too.

February 11, 202639 min

Tesho Akindele — the art of building better neighborhoods

In this episode, Tesho Akindele — former MLS forward turned developer and community-builder at Camp North End in Charlotte, NC — joins us to share how reading Walkable City inspired his mission to design neighborhoods where people can truly live, work, and connect on foot. That vision led him to help transform a fenced-off industrial site into a thriving, mixed-use community. Along the way, he unpacks zoning, NIMBY challenges, and how technology helps deliver hospitality at Camp North End. Let’s kick it off.What you’ll learn: How a professional athlete became an urbanist: Tesho’s journey from the soccer field to shaping the built environment — and what travel taught him about great cities.Why zoning is the unglamorous hero: How flexible zoning unlocks mixed-use communities and missing-middle housing.How to turn an industrial site into a neighborhood: The playbook behind Camp North End’s transformation and its 1,000+ annual events.Where technology meets hospitality: From Wi-Fi that covers the campus to multilingual AI and follow-ups that feel personal.What renters really value: Why natural light, balconies, and proximity to life’s best moments beat flashy amenities.If you enjoyed this episode, you'd love Forum. Register today. https://meet.funnelleasing.com/forum-2026-registrationTo stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin and connect with Tyler there, too.

February 4, 202620 min

The Report — Beyond the headlines on AI, policy, and capital pressure

Recorded right after NMHC Annual, this episode looks past the noise to what’s actually shaping multifamily right now. Alex Howe, SVP Marketing + Growth at Funnel, and Tyler Christiansen, CEO of Funnel, unpack how sustained cost pressure is driving real operating decisions, why early AI hype cooled, and where AI is finally delivering value inside centralized workflows. They break down what the recent coverage reveals about competing visions for AI, explore how capital consolidation and policy signals are influencing operator behavior, and close with why ZRS Management’s decision to standardize on Funnel across 110,000+ units is a signal worth paying attention to.Forum registration is filling up, register today. https://meet.funnelleasing.com/forum-2026-registrationTo stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin and connect with Tyler there, too.

January 15, 202623 min

Inside the Funnel with Mallory Sheibley — Designing AI for a people-first multifamily industry

Rather than chasing novelty, Mallory Sheibley, Lead Product Manager - AI at Funnel, is focused on building something more difficult and more durable; AI that improves outcomes in a people-first, highly regulated industry without stripping away judgment, trust, or accountability.In this episode we cover: What AI is actually for: Reducing repetitive work so teams can focus on judgment, empathy, and relationships.Building AI for high-trust, regulated work: Clear guardrails and human review are what make AI usable at scale.Why “self-learning” AI is mostly a myth: Autonomous learning sounds efficient but introduces risk without oversight.Perfecting the handoff, the hardest design problem in AI: Knowing when the system should act and when it should step aside.To stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin and connect with Tyler there, too.

December 10, 202559 min

Centralization, specialization and AI in multifamily — Rebroadcast of the Apartment Jedi with Andrew Bowen

In this rebroadcast of the Apartment Jedi podcast, Funnel CEO Tyler Christiansen joins host Andrew Bowen for a wide-angle look at the operating-model shift reshaping multifamily. They cover where centralization and specialization actually stand today, how AI is evolving from simple automation to agentic systems, and why brand power is finally emerging as a real economic lever in rental housing.Tyler breaks down what he’s seeing across REITs, large fee managers, and early-stage adopters: which operating behaviors are sticking, where friction remains, and how the next generation of workflows will change staffing, service levels, and resident expectations. He also explains why winners and losers will separate faster than most expect — and what operators should be preparing for now.You’ll learn:Where multifamily truly is on the centralization and specialization journeyHow REITs, third-party managers, and owner-operators are taking different paths based on incentives, contracts, and brand strategy.The real ROI of specialization: why the biggest gains are coming from back-office functions, not leasing “glamour metrics.”How centralized models change service levels, staffing ratios, and retention, including what operators consistently underestimate.AI’s next chapter: moving from chatbots to agentic workflows that perform tasks, not just answer questions.What resident interactions will look like when AI can renew leases, negotiate within guardrails, process payments, and sync context across systems.The coming shift in leadership development as old career ladders collide with new operating structures.To stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin and connect with Tyler there, too.

December 3, 202556 min

What AI is actually changing in the rental housing industry — Rebroadcast of The Rent Roll hosted by Jay Parsons

This episode is a rebroadcast of The Rent Roll and brings together two of the clearest thinkers in rental housing.First up is your host, Jay Parsons, economist, advisor, and creator of The Rent Roll, a top-ranked podcast known for breaking down market trends, operator realities, and the forces shaping rental housing.He’s joined by Tyler Christensen, CEO of Funnel, who works directly with the industry’s largest operators to help translate this moment — AI adoption, centralization, and new operating models — into practical changes for teams and workflows.You’ll learn: What AI is actually doing onsite todayHow centralization unlocks the savings AI alone can’tThe jump in voice AI and what renters use it forReal agentic workflows (mid-lease changes, addenda, renewals)Why operators are consolidating tech stacksWhat leaders should realistically prepare for nextTo stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin and connect with Tyler there, too.

November 12, 202546 min

Michael Britti — Building, buying and believing in the power of a team

As one of the key architects behind RealPage’s $10 billion rise, Michael Britti has seen firsthand what makes mergers work, and what makes them fall apart.Before leading acquisitions that reshaped the industry, Michael built and sold his own companies, giving him rare perspective on both sides of the table. In this episode, he and Tyler Christiansen, CEO of Funnel unpack the deals that defined a generation, the importance of culture in innovation, and why the best leaders are really just great sellers with a vision people want to follow.What you’ll learn:How one acquisition strategy changed multifamily foreverThe difference between a “build or die” and “build or buy” marketWhy great culture is a company’s best competitive edgeWhat today’s entrepreneurs can learn from multifamily’s past cyclesIf you enjoyed this conversation, do not miss Forum. https://meet.funnelleasing.com/forum-2026-registrationTo stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin and connect with Tyler there, too.