Latest news with #LilyLiu
Entrepreneur
25-07-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
The Founder Changing Renting Forever: The Rise of Piñata
With Piñata, Liu isn't just building a company; rather, she is building a movement designed to fundamentally change what it means to be a renter, with a mission to harmonize the relationship between landlord and tenant by using common sense and smart technology to create a win-win dynamic. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur Asia Pacific, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Lily Liu, a Taiwanese-American serial entrepreneur, has been an innovator in govtech and financial empowerment throughout her entire career. Liu's current venture as the co-founder and CEO of Piñata, the nation's premier rewards and credit-building program for renters, is just the latest in a string of ambitious pursuits that define her career trajectory to date. With Piñata, Liu isn't just building a company; rather, she is building a movement designed to fundamentally change what it means to be a renter, with a mission to harmonize the relationship between landlord and tenant by using common sense and smart technology to create a win-win dynamic. Piñata's premise is deceptively simple: leverage cutting-edge fintech, exclusive partnerships with the 3 major credit bureaus, and the power of targeted rewards to incentivize actions by doing things like early lease renewal that turn ordinary tenants into super renters. In other words, using behavior psychology to create win-wins that move the needle for both renters and landlords, alike. With millions of renters and thousands of property management companies already on the platform, the 'Powered by Piñata Network' is just getting started. Piñata has grown exponentially from recent partnerships with best-in-class management systems like MRI Software and AppFolio, giving them a clear line of sight to over 10 million rental units, reaching 15 million renters, the equivalent of roughly 35% of the U.S. rental market. With this far-reaching approach, Piñata is proving that rent can be more than a sunk cost; it can be the starting point for credit, wealth, and dignity for renters all over the country. Liu's entrepreneurial journey is deeply rooted in her personal story. Growing up in a tightly knit family of Taiwanese immigrants, working hard and understanding the value of entrepreneurial moxy has defined Lily's work philosophy ever since. This ethos of grit and savvy combined with a deep sense of mission, has allowed Lily to thrive where others have not. This includes her time at Carnegie Mellon University, where she pursued a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Public Policy and Management from the H. John Heinz III School, where she still found time to set up a free tutoring program for low-income middle school students in Pittsburgh. And if that's not enough, Lily even conducted a public surveillance art project that captured the balance between safety and privacy in urban living. Following her graduation from Carnegie Mellon, Liu was just one of three applicants selected from hundreds to join the City of Long Beach Management Rotational Program, where she acquired skills in public works as well as large-scale IT infrastructure programs. Shortly thereafter, her acumen and analytical rigor took her to New York City, where she became the youngest analyst at the Department of Education under Mayor Bloomberg's administration. While she was there, Lily assisted in managing a $20 billion budget that involved sophisticated financial planning, navigating a complex bureaucracy, and even negotiating contracts with the teachers' unions. Her time at the Bloomberg administration not only taught her how to build and manage complex civic systems, but it also exposed her to the profound inefficiencies and structural inadequacies of government at scale. This inherent problem ultimately led to Liu's very first venture, a govtech startup she called PublicStuff, which essentially provided a streamlined mobile-first platform that allowed citizens to report and track service requests such as filling a pothole to garbage collection. Her timing was impeccable and Public Stuff quickly spread across more than 250 municipalities throughout the United States. In 2013, Liu was named one of Forbes' 30 under 30 Entrepreneurs and in 2015 Forbes ranked PublicStuff 85 on the list of America's most promising companies. After enjoying explosive growth, Public Stuff was acquired by Accela, the premier government in the cloud company, which was then later acquired by Berkshire Partners. With PublicStuff an unequivocal success yet moving squarely in the rearview, Lily gave herself time to recalibrate on a worldwide surf safari with the twin goals of exploring the world and getting herself ready for her next entrepreneurial venture. In 2020, Liu's focus shifted to the U.S. rental market, an industry that historically offers almost zero financial benefit to its primary customers: renters. Unlike homeowners with mortgages, renters' payments are traditionally ignored by the credit bureaus, which essentially means that people are not getting the credit they deserve (literally). That's why Liu created Piñata with a clear mission to rethink rent with a bunch of Why's. Why shouldn't renters be rewarded? Why shouldn't they get the credit they deserve? Why shouldn't payment be effortless and help build long-term financial stability? After putting together a stellar team and vigilantly focusing on building a world-class product, Piñata is now poised to transform what it means to be a renter. The outcomes speak for themselves. Piñata users, on average, see an increase in their credit score by 60 points, with some users experiencing increases of over 100. These improvements mean access to better interest rates, credit card eligibility, auto loans, and even mortgages for many users. One of Piñata's greatest strengths is its dual impact; delivering tangible benefits to renters while also helping landlords boost tenant satisfaction, improve on-time payments, and increase retention rates. This win-win model fueled Piñata's rapid growth, all while staying true to its mission of expanding accessibility. Piñata offers a fully free version, while its premium service is only $5 per month, cheaper than your daily cup of coffee. Premium members unlock features such as retroactive rent reporting for 24 months, customized financial content, special giveaways, and faster reward earning. Piñata App Liu stresses that at the heart of Piñata's mission, affordability is key: "This isn't a product for the financial elite. This is a product for the people who've been left out of financial systems for too long. That's who we're building for." State governments are also starting to appreciate the value of Piñata's mission. California's Assembly Bill 2747 recently went into effect this year, requiring landlords with 15 or more rental units to give their tenants the option to report rent payments to credit agencies. This legislation, designed to enhance renters' access to credit, is a paradigm shift in housing policy that is quickly being adopted by many other states. Piñata provides landlords with a dynamic system that automatically reports to all three credit bureaus while complying with all legal requirements. This level of regulatory compliance is a breakthrough for all California renters and helps validate Piñata as a preeminent solution in the proptech space. "AB 2747 is a victory for Los Angeles renters and landlords. Piñata is elated to assist in meeting this moment," said Liu. "We're not just checking compliance boxes; we're constructing strategies to increase inclusion into the financial ecosystem." With a surge of users in California, Liu has continued to scale Piñata with other major partners, like DoorLoop and Venn. DoorLoop, a leading property management platform backed by over $100M in Series B funding, now integrates Piñata's rent reporting tools directly into its system. Venn, another top resident experience platform, expands Piñata's impact even further. Together, these partnerships unlock powerful perks for renters, like rewards and credit-building, simply by paying rent on time. For property managers, it means higher retention, faster payments, and stronger portfolio performance. "These partnerships are about more than convenience; they're about creating a new standard in property management," Liu noted. "We're making rent work harder for everyone involved." Behind these partnerships and new regulations is Piñata's influence on an individual's life. Houston resident and Piñata user, Kai Osbourne, recounts his financial troubles as a lifelong renter, stating, "Since using Piñata, my credit score has jumped over 100 points. I was able to buy my first brand-new car." Another Piñata user, Ashleigh Maya, enjoyed a lift in her car loan interest to 0% after her credit score skyrocketed from 680 to 805. These are the kind of real-life impacts Liu envisioned when creating Piñata. Among the many faces of male-dominated venture capitalism and tech startups, Liu is an oddity. As a mother and a woman of color, she showcases proven results with permanent changes through her diverse leadership and empathy. "When someone tells you that your product helped them buy a car, or get out of debt, or rent a better home for their kids; those are the moments you realize this isn't just tech," she said. "It's life-changing," Liu said. Piñata has a majority women-led team and prioritizes policies on fair pay and hiring without regard to gender. Liu stated, "I am creating the company that I would have liked to see while I was starting out." Liu explained, "We are not here to follow the old rules; we are here to create new ones." Her work doesn't come from a place of disruption for disruption's sake; it comes from a place of care, equity, and service. Through Piñata, she's redefining what renting means in America and granting millions the opportunity to alter their financial narratives. "If we can rewire the system to recognize rent as a creditworthy expense, we change lives," Liu said. "That's what drives us every day." As the rental and financial landscapes continue to evolve, Liu's leadership struck at precisely the right moment in history. Her vision is not only timely, it's essential. She's championing a future where financial inclusion is baked into everyday systems and where renters are no longer sidelined in conversations about credit, equity, and upward mobility. In an era defined by widening wealth gaps and economic uncertainty, Liu's work offers something rare and powerful: hope, backed by real results.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Crypto Exchange Bullish Teams Up With Solana for Institutional Stablecoin Push
Crypto exchange Bullish has teamed up with the Solana Foundation, aiming to make Solana-native stablecoins the backbone of its trading and clearing operations. Under the collaboration, the two will work on institutional-grade financial infrastructure with stablecoins built on Solana to serve as the primary rails for custody, payments, and settlements across Bullish's ecosystem, the companies announced Wednesday. The Bullish Exchange, which clears over $2.3 billion in average daily volume, is owned by the Bullish Group, which is also the parent of CoinDesk. The move underscores a shared push to build faster, cheaper infrastructure that merges traditional and decentralized finance. 'We're excited to collaborate with the Solana Foundation,' said Tom Farley, the CEO of Bullish, in a press release shared with CoinDesk. 'Solana has proven itself as rails for next-generation financial infrastructure—fast, efficient, and ready for institutional scale.' The collaboration comes as stablecoins are having a moment in crypto markets, emerging as key tools for payments and trading amid growing demand for low-cost, reliable digital dollars. Currently, the total market cap of stablecoins stands at $255.5 billion, with Solana stablecoin market cap at $10.9 billion, making it one of the top three stablecoin blockchains based on market cap, according to DeFiLlama data. Solana's speed and low fees have helped it attract a wave of new developers who are building projects that benefit from quick finality and scalability, like stablecoins, DeFi networks, or tokenization of real-world assets. 'Solana was built for moments like this—where performance, scale, and real-world adoption converge,' said Lily Liu, the President of the Solana Foundation, in the press in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Byreal Signals Dawn of Onchain Capital Markets with Bold Debut at Solana APEX
At one of the most anticipated fireside sessions of Solana APEX, three industry heavyweights—Solana Foundation President Lily Liu, Bybit Co-founder and CEO Ben Zhou, and Byreal Founder Emily Bao—came together to deliver more than just a product launch. They delivered a vision: one where real assets finally flow seamlessly across centralized and decentralized financial systems. The crowd packed into the room, and the mood was electric. The conversation wasn't just about Byreal—it was about what the future of DeFi should look like. 'Onchain capital markets for traditional assets are closer than we think,' said Lily Liu, opening with a sweeping vision of Solana's next chapter. She laid out Solana's ambition to become the premier ecosystem for capital—supporting everything from memecoins to money market funds, and with an eye firmly on real-world assets (RWAs). Liu emphasized the trillion-dollar opportunity: a future where tokenized equities like those planned in the upcoming xStocks project could give global investors exposure to public markets (outside the U.S.), all built natively onchain. Ben Zhou, CEO of Bybit, reinforced this convergence, sharing how Bybit is aggressively bridging TradFi and Web3. 'It is no longer CEX versus DEX. Now it's CEX plus DEX,' Zhou declared. He pointed to Bybit's new MiCAR license in Europe, enabling direct crypto access via bank accounts, and the expansion of TradFi instruments like indices, forex, and stock CFDs on Bybit's platform. But most crucially, he spotlighted Byreal—a project incubated by Bybit to meet the growing need for deep, programmable, onchain liquidity. At the heart of the fireside was Byreal's founder, Emily Bao, who took the mic with equal parts clarity and conviction. 'A great exchange doesn't just facilitate transactions—it reveals value.' She dissected the current state of DeFi, calling out the distortion created by overhyped projects and mismatched valuations from the last bull run. She positioned Byreal as a permissioned DEX on Solana, curating highly-demanded assets and providing real trading infrastructure for real users. 'We're not here to compete for market share. We're here to bridge fragmented liquidity and help high-potential projects grow. We want traders to discover the next great asset early—and with conviction.' Byreal, she explained, is designed to sit at the intersection of CeFi depth and DeFi access. Its smart routing engine will unify fragmented order books and bring institutional-grade execution to the onchain world. Byreal's public beta drops June 30. Launching first on Solana. Byreal is the ultimate liquidity layer built for real assets, delivering unmatched liquidity for users. It integrates DEX, Launch, and Vault into a unified smart routing architecture, forming a full-cycle growth engine that supports asset discovery, trading, and yield generation across multiple ecosystems. Launching first on Solana. Contact Founder Emily Bao Byreal
RNZ News
15-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Pay parity policy shift leaves ECE graduates facing uncertain future
Photo: 123RF Recent migrant graduates with a master's degree or graduate diploma in early childhood education in New Zealand have expressed dismay over the government's sudden change to pay equity laws . The legislation passed in May made it harder to make a case for workers in professions dominated by women to have their pay increased in line with equivalent jobs done by men. The education sector had been hit hard by the change. From 1 July, newly qualified teachers could be placed on the lowest salary step regardless of prior qualifications and experience. The government also introduced a two-year moratorium to prevent services moving from a lower-paid to higher-paid tier of the graduated parity system. For migrant educators, the policy shift felt like a door had been abruptly slammed shut on their hopes of immigrating to New Zealand, as it became increasingly difficult to secure roles that meet the wage threshold required for residency. According to Immigration New Zealand, registered early childhood (pre-primary school) teachers are listed on the Green List Tier 2 in-demand occupation . Eligible teachers can apply for a Work to Residence visa after completing 24 months of employment with an accredited employer. However, they must earn at least the median wage, currently set at $31.61 per hour for early childhood educators, to qualify. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi Lily Liu, a former local government employee in China, graduated in May from Auckland's ICL Graduate Business School with a graduate diploma in early childhood education. Liu's goal was to secure a full-time position at an early childhood center that paid the median wage - but finding such a role had been difficult. "I've applied for nearly 100 jobs since finishing my internship at the end of March," Liu said. "But I haven't heard back - not even a rejection letter." After realizing how tight the job market was, Liu expanded her search to early childhood centers outside Auckland. "Two small centers said they were interested [in hiring me]," she said. "But they could only offer entry-level salaries for new graduates." Liu said the policy change had impacted her chances of securing residency. "After the new policy was announced, I received a response from a center in Hastings saying I was not the most suitable candidate for the role," she said. "I think it was because of the salary," she said. "I asked for the median wage, but they could only offer me the Stage 3 rate [on the parity scale], which is around $29.78 per hour." She believed the change could make the early childhood education pathway less attractive to migrant teachers. "If I hadn't already come here, I would have considered going to another country," she said. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon Rose Zhang, who is currently studying early childhood education at ICL Graduate Business School, shared the same concerns. With decades of experience as an English teacher at several well-known language schools in China and a master's degree in education, Zhang had hoped her background would be recognized. However, her prior teaching experience and advanced qualifications might not be considered when ECE centers determined the starting salary step for newly certified teachers or those new to the early childhood sector from 1 July. Set to graduate this July, Zhang was not optimistic about her prospects. "I just finished my internship recently," she said. "I asked the manager at the early childhood center where I interned, and the manager said ECE centers are no longer willing to offer newly graduated teachers the median wage." "Our teacher also told us in class that it's very hard to reach the median wage within the next two years, especially for students hoping to apply for residency through the Green List immigration pathway," Zhang said. "The teacher even said we could consider going to Australia if opportunities here remain limited," she said. Zhang said the lower salary rates could dampen teachers' enthusiasm for the work. "Even though we often say that teachers nurture the next generation with great love, we still have to make a living," she said. "In the long run, lower salaries will definitely affect teachers' motivation - and that will inevitably impact the energy and care they're able to give children." Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand, which represents hundreds of early childhood education center owners and managers, said the country had a system that valued both experience and qualifications through an 11-step salary scale for ECE teachers. Recognized service acknowledged work experience within the ECE sector, with each year of service counting as one step. For those transitioning from roles outside the ECE sector, previous relevant experience allowed related experience to count as half a step, up to a maximum of two steps. A teacher's qualifications also played a role in determining their starting point on the scale. However, employers would have full discretion to determine the starting salary step for newly certificated teachers or those new to New Zealand's early childhood education sector from 1 July. Recognition of previous ECE experience, relevant work history or higher qualifications would no longer be required and would be left entirely to the employer's judgment. Kathy Wolfe, chief executive of Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand Photo: Supplied Kathy Wolfe, chief executive of Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand, said early childhood education centers across the country had mixed feelings about the changes. While some employers might still choose to value teachers' prior experience and qualifications and pay accordingly, Wolfe said they could face financial constraints in doing so. "Because of the underfunding from the government, we didn't get a lot in the budget," she said. "Centres are struggling [and] the only place they've got to go is increase fees, which will then increase costs for parents." Wolfe said some centers might opt to reduce salaries and hire teachers at lower steps on the pay scale, a move that could worsen New Zealand's existing teacher shortage. "Teachers will go to employers who continue to recognize and pay for their experience and qualifications," she said. "Those who choose to pay less - not because they want to, but because they have to - will struggle to employ teachers, which again will result in closing." Fiona He, director of Auckland early childhood education center TuiTui Educare Photo: supplied Fiona He, director of Auckland early childhood education centre TuiTui Educare, said the change reflected a philosophical shift from a standardized, qualification-based pay model to a more market-driven, flexible approach that her center welcomed. While the change provided only minimal financial relief for ECE providers and was not expected to result in significant savings, it did offer greater flexibility in hiring, she said. She said that unrelated higher qualifications would likely no longer be given the same weight as they had in the past under the new policy. "We've had teachers with overseas master's degrees in unrelated fields who lacked understanding of New Zealand's culture, local communities and the ECE curriculum, Te Whāriki," she said. "Despite limited ECE experience and underwhelming performance, they started on Step 5 [of the parity salary scale], which is $32.59 per hour." "Meanwhile, local graduates with a Bachelor of Teaching in ECE who are native speakers and well-versed in New Zealand's culture and curriculum often begin on Step 1, at $27.58," she added. "That disparity doesn't seem fair or reflective of their readiness to teach in our context." Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi While the changes offered some financial relief and greater autonomy in staffing decisions, she said they could come at a cost - potentially increasing staff turnover and leading to a decline in educational quality if formal qualifications were de-emphasized. For teachers, the changes also risked lowering starting salaries and discouraging investment in formal education, which could ultimately lead to a loss of talent across the sector, she said. Wolfe said New Zealand's early childhood education sector continued to face a teacher shortage, particularly in rural areas and smaller towns. While new migrant ECE teachers might need to work for several years before becoming eligible to apply for residency, opportunities in the sector still existed, she said. However, she said sustained government funding was essential to maintaining the quality of early childhood education in New Zealand. "It's not just about salaries," Wolfe said. "It's also about the funding that comes into ECE, and the funding into ECE at the moment is very inadequate. "We hope to keep attracting people into teaching [and] early childhood education."
Associated Press
13-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Pinata Announces Exclusive Partnership with MRI Software to Power Rewards and Credit Reporting for Renters
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - June 12, 2025) - Piñata Rent, Inc., a leading rent rewards and credit-building platform, has announced a partnership with MRI Software, a global leader in real estate solutions and services. The partnership will deliver a first-of-its-kind resident rewards program, embedding Piñata's perks directly into MRI RentPayment. The enhanced features will give property managers a turnkey solution to boost on-time payments, engagement, and retention, while giving renters real financial benefits for simply paying rent. [ This image cannot be displayed. Please visit the source: ] To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: 'Partnering with MRI Software, a trailblazer in PropTech, allows us to transform rent into a powerful financial tool,' said Lily Liu, CEO of Piñata. 'We're rewarding renters for timely payments and helping them build stronger financial futures, all while simplifying operations for property managers.' 'The integration between MRI RentPayment and Piñata offers more than credit reporting - it's a comprehensive rewards program that benefits renters no matter how they choose to pay rent,' said Carla Hinson, VP of North America Solutions and Innovation at MRI Software. 'The partnership equips property managers with innovative ways to elevate the resident experience and foster long-term loyalty.' Renters are more likely to pay rent on time when payments are reported to credit bureaus, studies show. Additionally, two-thirds of renters say they prefer to live in communities that offer rent reporting services. The strategic partnership embeds Piñata's rewards system, credit-building engine, and marketplace directly into MRI's RentPayment interface. Residents can access these benefits effortlessly, turning rent payments into opportunities for financial growth. Key Benefits of the Piñata + MRI Partnership: [ This image cannot be displayed. Please visit the source: ] Lily Liu, Founder & CEO of Piñata Photo by Struan Jamieson To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: About Piñata Piñata is the nation's first platform dedicated to rewarding renters and building their financial resilience. By transforming rent payments into opportunities for rewards and credit growth, Piñata empowers the one-third of Americans who rent to achieve upward mobility. Even renters who are not part of the Powered By Piñata network of registered landlords can benefit with the PinataPay Visa Debit Card-a reimagined debit card that offers credit card-like rewards for every dollar spent or saved. Discover more at About MRI Software MRI Software is a leading provider of real estate solutions and services that transform the way communities live, work and play. MRI's open and connected, AI-powered platform enables agents, owners, operators and occupiers in commercial and residential property organizations to innovate in rapidly changing markets. A trailblazer in the PropTech industry, MRI serves more than six million users worldwide, including the public and affordable housing sector. Through innovative solutions and a rich partner ecosystem, MRI gives real estate companies the freedom to realize their vision of building thriving communities and stronger businesses. For more information, please visit Media Contacts Mandie Erickson for Piñata [email protected] 646-749-0777 Rachel Antman for MRI Software - North America [email protected] 212-362-5837 To view the source version of this press release, please visit
