Splitero is a financial technology company that provides homeowners better options to access their home equity with no monthly payments. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Splitero co-founder and CEO Michael Gifford to learn more.
Michael Gifford’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Gifford said:
“I’ve spent my entire career in residential real estate, having acquired and disposed of over 1,000 homes across the West Coast and originated nearly $250 million in residential transition loans (RTLs) for investors. I was fortunate to be part of the founding team at LendingHome (now Kiavi), which is now the largest fix-and-flip lender.”
“What stuck with me was how often homeowners were left with no real choice but to sell their homes in order to access the equity they had spent years building. While traditional options like HELOCs and cash-out refinances are available, they often come with high credit thresholds, strict income requirements, and monthly payments that don’t work for every financial situation. It became clear that the system wasn’t designed to serve the full spectrum of homeowners. That disconnect revealed a real opportunity to rethink how home equity could be accessed, and that insight ultimately led to the founding of Splitero.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Gifford shared:
“Splitero was born out of the realization that traditional financial products often fail to meet the needs of homeowners, particularly those who are equity-rich but cash-constrained. Throughout my career in real estate investing and lending, I saw far too many people forced to sell their homes or take on credit card debt simply because they lacked access to flexible alternatives. That disconnect was the catalyst.”
“Today, homeowners across the U.S. are sitting on a staggering $11.6 trillion in accessible home equity, up from just $6.5 trillion in early 2020, according to ICE Mortgage Technology. Despite that explosive growth, the systems in place to help homeowners access that equity haven’t kept pace. Too many people are still locked out by rigid credit requirements, income documentation hurdles, or a lack of options that don’t require monthly payments.”
“My co-founder, David Zvaifler, and I launched Splitero to offer a different path, one that allows homeowners to access their equity without selling their home or taking on monthly payments, through our home equity investment product. A significant part of that vision is breaking down the traditional barriers that make it difficult for people to access their wealth. By creating a financing option with far less cumbersome qualification criteria, we’re able to serve homeowners who are often left out by conventional lenders. Our mission is to provide homeowners with meaningful financial flexibility, enabling institutional investors to participate in residential real estate in a way that aligns with long-term homeowner success.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Gifford reflected:
“You always look back on the early days of a startup as fond memories. They’re super stressful because you’re constantly juggling way more work than you have time for. But those times really build strong teamwork—everyone’s pulling in the same direction, tackling huge problems alone or together. Teams are usually small, quick to adapt, and often crush expectations. While it’s definitely tough, those periods are unique and become great memories when we look back on Splitero.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Gifford explained:
“At the heart of what we do is our Home Equity Investment, or HEI. It allows homeowners to convert a portion of their home equity into cash without taking on monthly payments. In exchange, the homeowner agrees to share a portion of their home’s future value when they choose to sell, refinance, or reach the end of the term. Homeowners can use the funds for what they need, whether to pay off debt, cover medical expenses, fund retirement, or simply achieve greater financial stability.”
“What makes it unique is its structure: we don’t require monthly payments, we don’t assess income or employment, and credit requirements are significantly lower than those of traditional home equity financing options. We also have something we call a Maturity Match, which means that the term of your HEI will match the term of your primary mortgage or at least 10 years, whichever is longer, giving homeowners complete control and flexibility over when and how they exit the agreement. Homeowners stay in their homes, retain full ownership, and have plenty of time to decide how to exit their investment. It’s an answer to many of the issues that arise with traditional financing options, such as HELOCs or home equity loans, which come with variable interest rates, require monthly payments, or have fixed draw and repayment periods.”
“Over time, we realized that homeowners also needed support when they were ready to move on or sell their homes. That’s what led us to launch Splitero Homes, our affiliated brokerage service that steps in when a homeowner wants to exit their investment by selling their home. It ensures they’re working with trusted agents who understand the HEI structure and are aligned with maximizing the sale price. The two offerings together enable us to support homeowners across their entire lifecycle, from accessing their equity to ultimately helping them sell when the time is right.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Gifford acknowledged:
“Absolutely. When interest rates initially rose, institutional capital became more selective, with investors taking a cautious approach to emerging asset classes and alternative products. Navigating that environment required us to stay laser-focused on execution.”
“We made adjustments to our core product to benefit both homeowners and investors during that period of volatility, and those adjustments have remained a cornerstone of our operations. We also introduced the Maturity Match concept, which aligns the terms of our agreements with each homeowner’s primary mortgage, providing additional security for both homeowners and our capital partners. We remained innovative, persistent, and confident in our product, and as the market started to turn around, investors began returning to the space, allowing us to secure great capital partners.”
“What’s helped us push through is clarity of mission. Rather than trying to ride a market cycle, we’re building something that fills a persistent gap for homeowners. I’m proud of how our team has remained adaptable and resilient in pursuit of that goal, even in the face of market volatility.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Gifford noted:
“From day one, we’ve prioritized innovation that enables a homeowner-first experience with greater ease and velocity. Early on, that meant investing in and developing a robust operating system as a foundation. We’ve since built the most advanced origination platform in the industry, centered around delivering speed, simplicity, and transparency to homeowners at every stage of their HEI journey while also providing our capital market partners with the visibility and infrastructure they need to deploy capital at scale.”
“Since launch, we’ve made it a priority to streamline the homeowner experience, removing friction at every step. That focus on innovation has enabled us to achieve best-in-class speed. Now, we’re actively incorporating AI to help us scale more efficiently and better personalize the experience for every homeowner moving forward.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Gifford cited:
“Over the past few years, we’ve hit a series of milestones that mark both the momentum behind our mission and the strength of our execution. We co-founded Splitero in 2021 in San Diego and raised a $3.8 million seed round to bring the idea to life. By 2022, we had completed our first Home Equity Investment and began proving out the model in the real world. The following year, we raised $11.7 million in Series A funding and launched Splitero Homes, our affiliated brokerage, to support homeowners on the exit side of the equity investment journey.”
“In 2024, we secured a strategic capital partnership with Antarctica Capital and expanded into three new states: Arizona, Tennessee, and Virginia. We also established a capital relationship with Blue Owl Managed Funds and kicked off a partnership with the LA Kings as their Official Home Equity Partner, helping us reach a broader homeowner audience.”
“In 2025, we’ve expanded into six additional states—Florida, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina—and launched another major sports partnership, this time with the Los Angeles Chargers. We’ve also closed on our first rated securitization that has had overwhelming interest from investors, proving that HEIs are a valuable way to help homeowners. These milestones are part of a broader trajectory of scaling access, reaching more homeowners, and continuing to redefine how they leverage the value in their homes.”
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any specific customer success stories? Gifford highlighted:
“One homeowner came to us after unexpected medical challenges led to rising debt and a significant drop in credit score. Traditional options, such as refinancing or securing a HELOC, weren’t available to her, but she was determined to get back on stable financial footing. Our program helped her to pay down her debt, create breathing room in her budget, and start rebuilding her credit with the goal of refinancing down the road.”
“In another case, a couple had taken on a high-interest HELOC that carried difficult monthly payments. They were looking for a way to alleviate the pressure without taking on additional monthly expenses. We were able to move them from application to funding in under a month. By working with us, they were able to pay off their HELOC along with other outstanding debts, all without adding a new monthly payment.”
“A common theme we see among homeowners is the need for financial flexibility, stability, and a path forward, and we’re proud to help them achieve that.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Gifford affirmed:
“We’ve built this from the ground up with the homeowner in mind. Unlike traditional lenders or some newer equity-sharing models, we don’t require monthly payments or proof of income. That opens the door for a considerable population of homeowners who are house-rich but may not qualify for other financial products.”
“Another key differentiator is flexibility. Our product has a term that aligns with the life of your mortgage, known as a Maturity Match, which gives homeowners time to make decisions on their own terms. And there are no restrictions on how they use the funds. Whether it’s paying off high-interest debt, covering medical bills, or simply creating some financial breathing room, it’s their equity. They should be able to use it how they need.”
“We’ve also built something most competitors don’t offer: Splitero Homes, our affiliated brokerage service that supports homeowners when they’re ready to exit their investment by selling their home. It ensures they’re working with trusted agents who fully understand the HEI structure and are aligned with maximizing the sale price. It’s a critical part of the full-service experience we’re building—one that supports homeowners not just at the start, but throughout the entire journey.”
“What really sets Splitero apart is our efficiency. Our platform is built for speed and transparency. Homeowners can get a personalized quote in minutes, and we can go from application to funding quicker than most. Combine that with a seasoned team that understands both institutional capital and the real-world needs of homeowners, and I think we’ve carved out a unique space in this industry.”
“At the end of the day, our goal is to be the most accessible, homeowner-friendly way for homeowners to leverage their home equity, especially for those who’ve historically been left out of the system. That mission shows up in everything we build.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Gifford concluded:
“We’re focused on helping as many homeowners as possible quickly, efficiently, and with care. There are millions of people in this country who have built equity in their homes but don’t have a practical or affordable way to access it. In fact, homeowners entered Q3 2025 with a record-high $11.6 trillion in accessible equity. Our goal is to reach them with a solution that’s streamlined, transparent, and genuinely aligned with their long-term well-being.”
“We’re also continuing to invest in Splitero Homes, our affiliated brokerage service that supports homeowners when they’re ready to sell. It has become a key part of how we stay connected with homeowners throughout their journey, not just when they access equity, but also when they make one of the most significant decisions of their lives. That continuity allows us to not simply be a financial tool, but a trusted partner from beginning to end.”
“Ultimately, our mission is to change how people view home equity. It shouldn’t be something that just sits on a balance sheet, but a resource homeowners can use to take control of their financial future. Everything we’re building is in service of that idea.”
