F
or decades, startups have attempted to disrupt the home buying and selling process in the US, but none have succeeded in upending the entrenched ecosystem that defends 6% commission fees. A new AI-powered platform called Ridley is trying to change this by eliminating the need for real estate agents altogether.

    Ridley's founder, Mike Chambers, was frustrated with the high costs and complexity of selling his own home, which led him to create a viral social media account @realtorshateme. Encouraged by the response, he built an MVP in 45 days and launched a beta that attracted 5,000 homeowners on the waitlist.

    Ridley is not a discount brokerage but a platform designed to let sellers manage their home sale from start to finish without agents. Its AI-powered tools help with pricing, listings, and distribution across major platforms like Zillow and Redfin. The platform also addresses paperwork concerns by providing intelligent document guidance and negotiation support.

    Unlike previous attempts that aimed to digitize or discount the agent experience, Ridley is trying to eliminate it altogether. With regulatory pressure mounting and a shift in consumer sentiment towards cost-consciousness, Chambers believes this is the perfect storm for disruption. "This is a meaningful sum of money for people," he says. "It impacts affordability at every level of the housing ladder."

    Ridley's edge lies in its cultural alignment with today's market, direct tone, and intuitive product. It also has community-led growth, born from real consumer frustration rather than top-down strategy. Investors have taken notice, backing the company with funding.

    "This industry was built to protect itself," says Chambers. "Once you start to break that up—even a little—the whole thing starts to shift." Ridley is rewriting the rules of who gets to sell a home in America by giving everyday homeowners the tools and confidence to go it alone.