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David Steckel on PropTech Espresso: rebuilding the warranty stack
On the PropTech Espresso podcast, Polygrade founder and CEO David Steckel talks about home warranty, legacy technology and why Polygrade started where the work is hardest.
Toronto
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Polygrade founder and CEO David Steckel joined host Mark Hurst on PropTech Espresso, a podcast on real estate and construction technology, in an episode released October 7, 2026.
The conversation traces David’s path from custom home building to founding Setter, leading home services partnerships at Thumbtack and serving as Chief Product Officer at Sears Home Services, and what each step taught him about building in a legacy industry.
He explains how home warranty works, why the claims experience shapes how homeowners feel about warranties, why Polygrade started with home warranty, and why the team brings design-first product thinking to claims software.
About Polygrade
Polygrade is an AI-native claims management platform for the warranty industry. Polygrade uses specialized AI agents across the claims lifecycle, from first notice of loss through contractor payment. Founded in 2025 by veterans of Sears Home Services, Thumbtack and Setter, Polygrade has offices in Toronto, St. George, Utah and Austin, Texas, and serves warranty companies, suppliers and service providers across the United States. For more information, visit polygrade.com.
Media contact
Jess Poindexter
jess@polygrade.com
