A Chicago-based proptech startup has launched a new AI tool designed to help real estate investors identify demand shifts before markets respond.
Workbnb, known for its focus on workforce housing, has introduced Scout AI by Workbnb — a real-time demand intelligence platform aimed at investors, build-to-rent developers, multifamily operators, and mid-term rental hosts. The company positions the tool as a way to deliver demand insights typically available only to institutional players.
Scout AI reviews workforce movement, infrastructure activity, upcoming project announcements, and redevelopment patterns. Because of this combined dataset, the platform helps users understand where housing demand may increase months in advance. The company says its machine learning engine, supported by its proprietary pre-construction knowledge base, turns these inputs into practical insights for acquisition and planning decisions.
Workbnb emphasizes that Scout AI is not a traditional generative AI assistant. The company refers to this category as DemandAI and attributes the tool’s capabilities to its internal Geo-Demand Model (GDM), which converts verified public project signals into heatmaps and alerts.
“Most investors are flying blind. They guess where demand will be,” said Yeves Perez, Co-Founder & CEO of Workbnb. “Scout AI by Workbnb changes everything. It shows you exactly where and when demand is emerging, giving everyday investors the type of advantage once only available to large institutions. That is the heart of our mission, democratizing opportunity.”
Scout AI has been tested with mid-term rental operators and a select group of investors known as the “alpha team.” Early adopters are using it to validate market opportunities, identify overlooked areas, and reduce investment risk.
Real-Time Demand Heatmaps: Identify workforce-driven and project-related demand spikes.
Opportunity Scoring: AI-based ratings that help investors compare markets quickly.
Mid-Term Rental Insights: Data designed for one of the fastest-growing rental segments.
Portfolio Guidance: Recommendations aimed at improving ROI, NOI, and occupancy.
“Scout AI is more than a tool. It’s an unfair advantage and truly a breakthrough in demand intelligence to see hotspots,” says Daj’Anique Staples, Product Manager and President of Workbnb.
Workbnb expects to expand Scout AI through 2026, working with accelerators, incubators, community banks, and real estate networks. Version 1.0 is now available for early users and is currently ranked first on the Product Launch leaderboard on ProptechBuzz.
Workbnb is a Las Vegas–headquartered proptech company with operations in Chicago. The startup focuses on workforce housing, offering technology solutions, data intelligence, and deployable housing products to help communities, investors, and employers meet rising mid-term accommodation needs across the U.S.