Forum 2026 recap: what the leading operators are seeing next

Forum 2026 recap: what the leading operators are seeing next

Fresh off Forum 2026, Alex Howe, SVP of Marketing and Growth and Tyler Christiansen, CEO of Funnel, break down the biggest ideas, conversations, and moments from this year’s event. They cover what stood out from sessions with Clay Bavor, Jay Parsons, Kristy Simonett, Mia Hamm, and others, along with what operators should be paying attention to right now around AI, market conditions, leadership, and change.  To stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/funnelleasing/] and connect with Tyler there, too.  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/funnel/]

Agentic AI rent payments in ChatGPT + 2026 reality check: trust, transparency, and out-executing the market

In this episode, Alex Howe, SVP Marketing + Growth, at Funnel talks with Tyler Christiansen, CEO, Funnel about what RETTC Tech Executive Summit revealed, and why execution beats hype. They break down the first rent payment inside ChatGPT with BH Management, what “agentic AI” really requires (guardrails, auditability, trust), and why operators can’t automate their way out of a broken operating model. They close on the workforce and policy realities shaping the year ahead and the playbook that’s emerging: standardize the work, then automate what’s repeatable, and keep humans focused on the moments that actually need judgment and care. If you enjoyed this conversation, you’ll love Forum. Register today.  [https://meet.funnelleasing.com/forum-2026-registration] To stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/funnelleasing/] and connect with Tyler there, too.  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/funnel/]

Inside the Funnel — Nikki Hand — Multifamily’s future depends on specialization, AI, and human-centered operations

In this episode of Multifamily Unpacked, Nikki Hand, Chief Product Officer and Chief Customer Officer at Funnel, shares how specialization, centralization, and human-centered AI are reshaping multifamily operations. Nikki reflects on Funnel’s evolution since 2020, the industry’s shift to the new operating model, and why AI works best as a teammate, not a replacement.  In this episode, you’ll hear about: * Why generalist roles are burning out top performers, and how the new operating model solves it * How Funnel’s platform evolved through deep co-development with early partners * What the next phase of centralization and AI-driven marketing looks like * How centralized models improve personalization and renter experience * Why “partnership first” is core to customer success at Funnel * The origin story of Camden’s Birdie and Funnel’s early bet on AI If you enjoyed learning about centralization, AI, and what the new operating model means for the future of multifamily, you'd love Forum. Register today. https://meet.funnelleasing.com/forum-2026-registration To stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/funnelleasing/] and connect with Tyler there, too.  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/funnel/]

Tesho Akindele — the art of building better neighborhoods

In this episode, Tesho Akindele — former MLS forward turned developer and community-builder at Camp North End in Charlotte, NC — joins us to share how reading Walkable City inspired his mission to design neighborhoods where people can truly live, work, and connect on foot. That vision led him to help transform a fenced-off industrial site into a thriving, mixed-use community. Along the way, he unpacks zoning, NIMBY challenges, and how technology helps deliver hospitality at Camp North End. Let’s kick it off. What you’ll learn:  * How a professional athlete became an urbanist: Tesho’s journey from the soccer field to shaping the built environment — and what travel taught him about great cities. * Why zoning is the unglamorous hero: How flexible zoning unlocks mixed-use communities and missing-middle housing. * How to turn an industrial site into a neighborhood: The playbook behind Camp North End’s transformation and its 1,000+ annual events. * Where technology meets hospitality: From Wi-Fi that covers the campus to multilingual AI and follow-ups that feel personal. * What renters really value: Why natural light, balconies, and proximity to life’s best moments beat flashy amenities. If you enjoyed this episode, you'd love Forum. Register today. https://meet.funnelleasing.com/forum-2026-registration To stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/funnelleasing/] and connect with Tyler there, too.  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/funnel/]

The Report — Beyond the headlines on AI, policy, and capital pressure

Recorded right after NMHC Annual, this episode looks past the noise to what’s actually shaping multifamily right now. Alex Howe, SVP Marketing + Growth at Funnel, and Tyler Christiansen, CEO of Funnel, unpack how sustained cost pressure is driving real operating decisions, why early AI hype cooled, and where AI is finally delivering value inside centralized workflows. They break down what the recent coverage reveals about competing visions for AI, explore how capital consolidation and policy signals are influencing operator behavior, and close with why ZRS Management’s decision to standardize on Funnel across 110,000+ units is a signal worth paying attention to. Forum registration is filling up, register today. https://meet.funnelleasing.com/forum-2026-registration [https://meet.funnelleasing.com/forum-2026-registration] To stay up-to-date follow Funnel on Linkedin [https://www.linkedin.com/company/funnelleasing/] and connect with Tyler there, too.  [https://www.linkedin.com/in/funnel/]