If you’re in real estate development today, you’re likely feeling the same pressure we all are: construction costs are out of control, labor is harder than ever to secure, and climate risk is reshaping how we underwrite deals. But every now and then, a company comes along that doesn’t just nibble at the edges of the problem—they blow it wide open.

That’s exactly what Renco, a Florida-based modular construction tech firm, is doing.

A Smarter, Faster, Stronger Way to Build

Renco isn’t just iterating on the old formula. They’ve created an entirely new building system: interlocking composite “bricks” made from recycled plastic and fiberglass that fit together like giant LEGOs. The system is so intuitive, it can be assembled by two unskilled workers in a day. No wood. No concrete. No steel.

They’re building 2,000 sq ft homes with two guys in a single day.

The result? Massive time savings, minimal labor requirements, and up to 20% lower total construction cost—despite the premium on the material itself.

Built for a Climate-Driven Future

What sets Renco apart isn’t just efficiency. It’s resilience.

Their buildings are engineered to withstand Category 5 hurricane winds (up to 240 mph). They’re waterproof, fireproof, termite-proof, mold-proof. And they don’t rot or degrade like traditional materials. Insurance premiums on these buildings are already about 20% lower, because they’re simply not exposed to the same kinds of risk.

In a world where climate volatility is the new normal, that’s not just a nice-to-have—it’s a competitive edge.

Already Scaling—and Fast

Renco’s first major project is already complete: a 96-unit apartment complex in Palm Beach County. Eleven workers erected all four buildings in just eight weeks. And this isn’t a theoretical concept or niche experiment—this is real product on the ground, delivering livable, code-compliant homes that look and feel no different to renters.

They’re ramping production at their Jupiter, FL facility this year, with plans to hit 16 homes per day by the end of 2025.

The Big Opportunity for Developers and Investors

We talk a lot about disruption in tech, but the construction industry—one of the biggest, slowest-moving sectors in the world—is finally starting to see real, investable change.

Renco’s system solves for:

Labor shortages: no skilled trades required Material volatility: no dependence on lumber, concrete, or steel Insurance risk: discounts on policies due to resilience Construction timelines: days instead of weeks or months

That’s not an incremental gain—that’s a step change. Especially for developers building in disaster-prone markets, or seeking to scale workforce housing with constrained budgets and timelines.

My Take

We’re always scanning for the technologies that aren’t just “interesting,” but actionable. Renco checks that box. We’re watching closely and already having conversations about how this might fit into projects in Florida, Texas, and even parts of California where permitting timelines and seismic risk demand new approaches.

If you’re building in the next five years, and you’re not thinking modular, resilient, and fast—you’re already behind.

📍Want to learn more or see how these systems might integrate into your pipeline? Let’s talk.