Block and Mortar: KC-built real estate development platform boosts projects’ speed to market

An emerging Kansas City startup is aiming to simplify one of real estate’s most complex phases, bringing key players onto a single platform to speed up early-stage decision-making.

Block and Mortar officially launched this spring with a “First Pour” rooftop event at Clarkson Construction Company. 

“This is the physical embodiment of the Block and Mortar platform,” founder Usman Wajid said at the March 26 gathering. “We’ve got insurance partners, equipment vendors, policymakers, investors, builders, developers all in one room.”

The platform is designed to reduce friction in pre-development, a stage Wajid said is still highly fragmented despite advances in construction tech.

“The idea behind Block and Mortar was, how do we get all the key stakeholders in the real estate development process on one platform?” said Wajid, a serial founder who previously served as chief operating officer for Kansas City-built Homebase. “Our belief is that’s how you solve for building faster and avoiding hiccups once development starts.”

Where projects slow down before they start

Block and Mortar — announced as a LaunchKC winner in 2025 — centers on helping decision-makers reach key outcomes faster, whether that means moving forward with a project or hitting pause.

“The main goal has always been to help the decision-makers get to the decision point as quickly as possible,” he said. “If you get to a no quicker, the platform has done its job. If you get to a yes quicker, construction starts sooner.”

Wajid said delays often happen before construction even begins, when stakeholders are spread across disconnected systems and timelines.

“This part of the real estate development world is where it’s so fragmented,” he said. “Once you get into construction, a lot of processes are standardized. It’s everything leading up to that where time is lost.”

Positioning beyond AI-first platforms

While artificial intelligence is part of the Block and Mortar product, Wajid emphasized it’s not the company’s core identity.

“We are a real estate development platform. AI is just one of our features,” he said. “We fundamentally believe the AI should work around humans and their workflows.”

That thinking shapes how the company gathers feedback, including hosting industry roundtables and events to better understand day-to-day challenges.

“We wanted to build with our partners in mind, not the other way around,” said Wajid. “We’re asking, how are you doing it today? Where are your bottlenecks? Then we go solve for that.”

Usman Wajid, Block and Mortar, delivers his company pitch in November 2025 during a LaunchKC celebration; photo by Tommy Felts, Startland News

Early partnerships and industry focus

The company has started building relationships across the real estate ecosystem, including proof-of-concept agreements with firms in insurance and equipment rentals, along with conversations with national retail operators.

Block and Mortar is first prioritizing retail development, Wajid said, where speed to market can directly impact revenue.

“Our focus is helping large franchises decide where they should be building, when and how quickly,” he said. “That includes site selection, cost modeling and collaboration across partners.”

The startup is also working with stakeholders in adjacent sectors, including data centers, through ongoing events and working sessions.

Starting local

Launching in Kansas City aligns with Wajid’s long-term goal to grow a high-impact technology company locally.

“I’ve always believed that Kansas City technology can compete with the coasts,” he said. “There’s no reason we can’t build here.”

For Block and Mortar, success in the coming year will focus on validating its model and expanding adoption across key real estate sectors.

“We want to help people collaborate faster, make decisions faster and ultimately build faster,” he said.