Fireside Chat: The Real Story Behind the Venn x Bozzuto Partnership And Why It Worked
Community, risk, purpose—and that one time Or's mom's FaceTime call was broadcast to the entire Bozzuto boardroom, and what they did next.
community, risk, purpose—and that one time Or's mom's FaceTime call was broadcast to the entire Bozzuto boardroom and what they did next.
community, risk, purpose—and that one time Or's mom's FaceTime call was broadcast to the entire Bozzuto boardroom and what they did next.
At OPTECH 2024, Venn CEO and Co-founder Or Bokobza sat down with Daniel Paulino, former VP of Digital at Bozzuto, for a rare behind-the-scenes look at how two companies aligned around a bold vision—and built a long-term partnership that’s redefining the resident experience.
This wasn’t your typical fireside chat. It was personal, raw, and occasionally hilarious (yes, there was a FaceTime from Or’s mom that lit up the Bozzuto boardroom). But at its core, this conversation was about something deeper: why tech partnerships in multifamily must move beyond features and into shared purpose.
Building Something Bigger Than Software
Venn’s journey started in a neighborhood in Tel Aviv—not a boardroom. Or shared how he and his team personally renovated buildings, mapped out a future block by block, and eventually found themselves managing 1,000+ apartments. They weren’t just building software. They were building a vision for how people could live better—together.
That same ethos resonated with Bozzuto.
“We weren’t looking for a feature. We were looking for a future.” - Daniel Paulino
And that meant approaching innovation differently. Not as a transactional vendor relationship, but as an ecosystem—a way to connect every part of the resident journey, just like Apple connects every part of your digital life.
Why the Ecosystem Approach Matters
The conversation highlighted a key trend we’re seeing across the industry: Operators are no longer buying point solutions. They’re looking for platforms that can scale, evolve, and deliver personalized experiences across buildings, markets, and moments in a resident’s life.
“If a prospect has a baby or gets a promotion why do we make them leave the ecosystem to find a new home? What if staying with us made more sense than starting over?” - Daniel Paulino
That’s the kind of thinking that drives the partnership and product roadmap.
Lessons for Operators and Founders Alike
One of the most powerful moments came when both leaders addressed the risk involved. Venn invested millions before a contract was signed. Bozzuto brought in over 40 people across functions to test and shape the vision. And the process took over two years.
But it worked—because it was never just about tech. It was about trust, transparency, and long-term alignment.
Takeaways for operators:
- Look for partners, not vendors.
- Think beyond the feature. Design for the full resident journey.
- Focus on systems that help you scale personalization.
Takeaways for proptech founders:
- Show up. Share your vision.
- Don’t sell features—share what drives you.
- The right partnerships take time, but they’re worth it.
The Future of Multifamily Is Human + Intelligent
As we move deeper into an AI-powered era, the most successful operators won’t be the ones with the most tools—they’ll be the ones with the most cohesive ecosystems. Ones that turn data into insight, insight into action, and action into loyalty.
This conversation between Or and Daniel wasn’t just a retrospective. It was a playbook for where we’re headed—and how to build technology that people don’t just use, but love.
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