Bilt Expands AI Platform to Local Businesses and Sports Franchises, Targeting $6.6 Trillion Market

Bilt Deploys AI Platform Beyond Residential Rewards

Bilt is expanding beyond its residential rewards origins by launching two AI-powered platforms designed to transform how local businesses and sports franchises engage customers1

1

. The company, which launched in 2021 as a rewards program for rent and mortgage payments, now reports 8.2 million members and powers one out of every four apartment buildings1

1

. Founder and CEO Ankur Jain is betting that artificial intelligence can unlock opportunities in the $6.6 trillion annual U.S. retail and food-services spending that occurs in person2

2

.

Neighborhood OS Targets Local Businesses

The first offering, Neighborhood OS, is an AI-driven system that works with restaurants, retail stores, gyms, and other local businesses to attract customers, offer rewards, and encourage repeat business1

1

. The platform connects businesses' existing systems like reservations and payments without requiring them to replace current rewards programs1

1

. "We're helping local businesses tap into more commerce by being able to reach new customers and accept those rewards as currency to spend," said Ankur Jain1

1

. The system gives small and midsized businesses their own Shopify-like platform for running marketing and customer loyalty campaigns independently1

1

. Bilt's AI Agents have completed more than 2 million real-world actions across more than 29,000 businesses, with 91% completed without human intervention in the past 30 days2

2

. Initial partners include Altamarea Group, AM Parking, Lowe's, and Thumbtack, with Bilt partnering with 50,000 merchants total1

1

.

Sports Franchises Drive Fan Engagement and Local Spending

Bilt's second platform targets sports franchises and organizations with existing customer bases, including teams, property companies, hotels, and financial institutions1

1

. The company has partnered with professional sports teams including the Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Mercury, Houston Comets, Houston Texans, and Chicago Bears2

2

. "We think of it as expanding game day into the neighborhood," Jain told Fortune2

2

. Teams can offer fans restaurant reservations before games, transportation to stadiums, watch parties at nearby businesses, and exclusive discounts2

2

. The platform enables branded fan experiences combining loyalty programs, fan passes, concierge services, and neighborhood commerce1

1

.

Sponsors Fund Local Rewards Through Point-of-Sale Integration

Bilt is bringing corporate sponsors into the neighborhood operating system. In an arrangement with Constellation Brands, the company behind Corona, fans participating in a team's loyalty program could receive a complimentary round of beer at a local bar if their team wins2

2

. The sponsor funds the offer directly through Bilt and the bar's point-of-sale system without needing access to individual customers' private information, according to Jain2

2

. Other initial members include Related Companies, Hyatt, and Bozzuto1

1

. "We believe the neighborhood is one of the greatest amenities we can offer our residents," said Toby Bozzuto, president and CEO of Bozzuto1

1

.

Market Opportunity in Sports and Local Commerce

The expansion comes as the global sports market generated an estimated $463 billion in revenue in 2024 and is projected to reach $610 billion by 20282

2

. Sports-related travel alone generated $111.2 billion in direct spending in the U.S. in 2025 as 339 million people traveled to attend sporting events2

2

. Approximately 74% of Americans watch live sports, with 53% watching NFL or college football2

2

. Deloitte's 2026 Global Sports Industry Outlook highlighted AI and changing ownership models as major forces shaping the industry, emphasizing the importance of sports venues as year-round commercial destinations2

2

.

AI Empowers Small Businesses Against Online Giants

Jain emphasized that offline commerce is six times larger in spend than online but is run by small businesses working across 10 different systems with everything done manually for marketing1

1

. "You democratize the ability for now mom and pop to sell against some of the biggest companies online, because they have all those tools," Jain said1

1

. The AI platform helps businesses measure which perks worked and manage future customer interactions like rewards, reservations, and guest services1

1

. "Our belief is that the biggest beneficiaries of it will be small businesses who can now use AI to help them run their fragmented business," Jain explained2

2

. Hospitality and local commerce sectors should watch how AI-powered customer loyalty systems reshape competition between small retailers and e-commerce platforms while sports franchises explore new revenue streams beyond traditional ticket sales and merchandise.