When Chris Osaka founded the prefabricated home manufacturer Tomu LLC in 2020, he envisioned his clients being individuals looking for affordable second homes or income-producing rental properties.
Now, two years into the venture, his D.C.-based company — a Washington Business Journal startup to watch for 2022 — is looking to raise $2 million in fresh capital to ramp up production and sell its modular homes to a broader range of clients. Among them: developers of recreational vehicle and retirement communities, universities seeking to provide housing for faculty and even hotels looking to beat the likes of Airbnb at their own game.
It made the pivot over the summer, after Tomu displayed a prototype of its luxury modular home — with touches like soaking tubs and rain showers — at the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s annual innovative housing showcase on the National Mall. A representative for a real estate investment trust that develops RV and retirement communities…
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