Proptech startup Nuba raises £320k led by SFC Capital
This article covers Nuba, a proptech startup, which has raised £320,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by SFC Capital to build a rewards network linking where people live with local businesses and experiences. The initiative aims to extend rent payments into a location-centred membership that targets renters, property operators and neighbourhood businesses by enabling rewards for rent, everyday spending, renewals and referrals.
Nuba, a proptech startup, has raised £320,000 in a pre-seed funding round led by SFC Capital to build a rewards network that links where people live with local businesses and experiences. The cash will fund platform development, the launch of operator pilots and the expansion of rewards partnerships as Nuba moves beyond rent payments into a location-centred membership model.
Why it matters
The proposal sits at the intersection of payments, loyalty and property operations — areas where landlords and neighbourhood merchants are increasingly seeking new ways to engage residents. Nuba’s approach treats rent as a habitual payment that can carry rewards, potentially providing landlords with a new lever to encourage renewals and referrals, while offering residents tangible benefits tied to both everyday spending and longer-term experiences.
Inside the product
Nuba’s first product lets renters pay rent by card; the company says it has processed nearly £200,000 in rent payments to date. The startup is extending that payments rails into a broader membership that can accrue and move with a resident when they change address.
For residents the platform aims to enable rewards for rent payments, qualifying everyday spending, tenancy renewals and referrals. For property operators the platform is designed to layer on top of existing property-management systems so rewards can be introduced without replacing current tools. Neighbourhood businesses would be able to connect with nearby residents and incentivise repeat visits.
Planned near-term milestones include live operator pilots, a focused set of rewards that residents can earn and redeem, and measurable evidence of value for participating property partners.
In the announcement, a customer said:
I started using Nuba to earn Amex points on my rent, and I’ve since put those points towards a business-class flight. Getting something so memorable from a payment I already make every month has been brilliant. I’m excited to see what else I’ll be able to earn as Nuba expands.
Who are the investors?
The round was led by SFC Capital and totals £320,000. SFC Capital is a UK-based early-stage investor that backs high-growth potential founders; it has supported a wide range of technology startups across fintech and consumer-facing sectors.
In the announcement, Adam at SFC Capital said:
Nuba is exploring an opportunity that extends well beyond rent payments. Its vision connects resident loyalty, property and neighbourhood businesses in a way that could create value for everyone involved. We’re excited to back Emeka and the team as they bring that vision to life.
Nuba has invited property operators and rewards partners to take part in shaping its initial pilots, signalling an early focus on building practical partnerships rather than a purely consumer-facing roll-out.
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Founder perspective
In the announcement, Emeka Ogbuabo, Founder and CEO of Nuba, said:
Loyalty should be rewarded where you live, not just where you shop. Rent is our starting point, but our ambition is bigger: to connect the place you call home with the places and experiences you love. We want that membership to remain valuable throughout your life, not just during one tenancy.
Ogbuabo frames the product as both consumer-facing and operator-facing: a way for landlords to formally recognise resident loyalty and for businesses to access a nearby customer base.
The bigger picture
Nuba’s model sits alongside a handful of UK initiatives combining payments, loyalty and property services. If it can demonstrate clear ROI for property partners — in the form of higher renewals or referral rates — the company may find traction with mid-sized operators and portfolio landlords seeking retention tools.
The deal also reflects continuing interest from proptech investors in business models that layer services on top of traditional property management. As the UK rental market remains large and fragmented, startups that can deliver measurable value to both residents and operators will attract attention from investors and partners across the ecosystem.
They've invested in Nuba
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