April 5, 2017 (Toronto, ON) -- Casalova and Aviva Canada are pleased to announce an equity partnership that will aid in the growth of Casalova’s unique real estate marketplace offering. The investment is being made by Aviva Ventures, Aviva plc’s venture capital arm, who have committed to investing $170 million (CDN) globally over the next five years in start-up businesses that will continue to disrupt and transform the insurance industry.

“A digital first strategy – which is an Aviva mandate globally – means more than a ‘state of the art’ website,” said Ben Isotta-Riches, Chief Information Officer at Aviva Canada. “A true digital focus means looking beyond our industry and partnering with start-ups offering new and creative experiences that add value for our customers and theirs.”

Casalova is an online end-to-end real estate marketplace streamlining the buying and renting process, allowing users to start their home search, schedule viewings, make offers online, and process payments directly through the platform. Launched in May 2015, Casalova now operates in 140 cities with over 120,000 exclusive and on-market listings across Canada, making it the leading real estate marketplace in the country.

The investment is a first outside of the UK and the first in Canada from Aviva Ventures, who kicked off their search for high-potential Canadian digital start-ups with Aviva Pitch Day last October. With a keen interest in disrupting the way customer needs are addressed, Aviva heard from a short-listed group of 10 start-ups vying for their share in a potential $10 million (CDN) investment.

“Our first investment in the Canadian marketplace is monumental for us,” commented Ben Luckett, Managing Director, Aviva Ventures. “We’re excited to be working with Casalova and to learn from each other to help grow, enhance and continue to disrupt the marketplace. We believe Casalova is making a huge difference in the real estate market at a time where the industry desperately needs it.”

Casalova recently announced that users now have the option to purchase pre-construction homes online, a first-in-Canada development. They are using this opportunity to level the playing field for buyers, allowing only one unit to be purchased at a time and giving all buyers equal access.

“We are very excited to be working with Aviva Ventures,” said Ray Taaeb, CEO and cofounder of Casalova. “Their strategic investment will help us expand and scale our technology to reach millions of Canadians looking to buy, sell, or rent their homes, while keeping them protected along the way. This is a major step forward for the real estate industry to provide Canadians with innovative solutions to archaic problems.”

Aviva Ventures provides early stage investment to back entrepreneurs with high-growth businesses and, over time, expects to have a portfolio of small investments in a number of companies that have significant potential. Aviva Ventures is part of Aviva’s digital strategy and, through the investments made, will assist Aviva in identifying new opportunities, the development of innovative business models and new digital insurance services and products, which make insurance simpler for customers.

For more information on Aviva Ventures, please visit http://www.aviva.com/about-us/aviva-worldwide/aviva-ventures.