
HousingPanda is a medium-term housing platform focused on students and young professionals, particularly international students and summer interns. The platform aims to provide a safe and trustworthy alternative to traditional rental markets, which are often rife with scams. HousingPanda's key features include an AI concierge for matching hosts with verified tenants, identity and intern status verification, and secure payment processing. The company was founded by Tom DeRose and John Rhodes, who experienced firsthand the difficulties and risks associated with finding housing for internships in NYC. HousingPanda differentiates itself by operating legally in cities with short-term rental restrictions, as its rentals are for 30 days or more. The platform aims to support a growing global need for flexible, medium-term housing solutions as careers become more fluid.

HousingPanda is a medium-term housing platform focused on students and young professionals, particularly international students and summer interns. The platform aims to provide a safe and trustworthy alternative to traditional rental markets, which are often rife with scams. HousingPanda's key features include an AI concierge for matching hosts with verified tenants, identity and intern status verification, and secure payment processing. The company was founded by Tom DeRose and John Rhodes, who experienced firsthand the difficulties and risks associated with finding housing for internships in NYC. HousingPanda differentiates itself by operating legally in cities with short-term rental restrictions, as its rentals are for 30 days or more. The platform aims to support a growing global need for flexible, medium-term housing solutions as careers become more fluid.
Company: HousingPanda (dba Rent 3, Inc.) — medium-term housing marketplace
Focus: Furnished 3–12 month stays for students, interns, and young professionals
Founders: Tom DeRose (Co‑founder & CEO) and John Rhodes (Co‑founder & President)
Funding: Seed round dated Jan 10, 2024 (amount obfuscated)
Headcount: ~5 employees
Medium-term housing market (3–12 months) for students, summer interns, and young professionals; reducing fraud and friction in finding temporary housing.
2024
Proptech / marketplace; medium-term rentals
Seed round recorded on Crunchbase; public profile obfuscates amount and lead investor.