Inside Tomu: Our Vision for Modular Hospitality & Equity Growth
Tomu CEO Chris Osaka & Tyler Charles Discuss Modular Hospitality & Equity Raise | StartEngine Webinar
At Tomu, we’re redefining what’s possible in modular hospitality, creating thoughtfully designed, prefabricated villas for boutique hotels, resorts, and experiential stays. As demand for unique, high-quality hospitality experiences grows, so does the need for innovative, scalable building solutions—and that’s where Tomu stands out.
Recently, our CEO, Chris Osaka, joined Tyler Charles, Head of Sales & Project Consulting, for a live webinar to discuss Tomu’s journey, our expansion into commercial hospitality, and our latest equity raise on StartEngine. In this conversation, they dive into:
The origin story of Tomu and how the company evolved from early concepts to full-scale production.
Why we chose StartEngine for our equity raise and how investors—accredited or not—can take part.
How Tomu is uniquely positioned in the prefabricated hospitality market, differentiating from residential prefab builders.
Our plans for growth, including scaling our manufacturing capacity and expanding our team to meet rising demand.
The future of modular hospitality and why major hotel brands are increasingly interested in this space.
If you’re curious about the future of hospitality, modular construction, or investment opportunities with Tomu, this webinar is packed with insights. Read on for the full transcript and key takeaways!
Watch the full interview here.
Tomu Webinar: Equity Raise & Company Growth with CEO Chris Osaka
Tyler Charles:
Hello, everyone! Welcome back to another Tomu webinar. I’m Tyler Charles, leading the Sales and Project Consultant team here at Tomu. Today, I’m joined by our CEO, Chris Osaka, to discuss the company’s journey and our exciting equity raise on the StartEngine platform.
Chris, thanks for being here! I appreciate you taking the time to chat, and I apologize in advance for making you listen to my voice for the next 30 minutes.
Chris Osaka:
Always a pleasure, Tyler!
Chris Osaka’s Background & Tomu’s Origins
Tyler:
Chris, let’s start with a little about you. What led you to start Tomu?
Chris:
Sure! My background is in hospitality and retail. Before founding Tomu, I worked at Hilton’s corporate headquarters in the DC area, and before that, I was at Nike’s global headquarters outside Portland, Oregon.
Tomu was born in late 2020, early 2021, during the pandemic. At the time, the travel and hospitality industry was in flux. As people started venturing out again, we saw a shift in how and where they wanted to stay. Combining this trend with our background in building and construction, we identified a gap in the market: a need for a modular building systemdesigned specifically for hospitality, rather than residential housing.
That’s when we developed our Signature Villas, prefabricated units tailored for hospitality projects, not just single-family homes. Four and a half years later, we’re continuing to grow and refine our mission.
Why an Equity Raise? Why StartEngine?
Tyler:
So, why did Tomu decide to do an equity raise, and why choose StartEngine over other platforms?
Chris:
Great question. When we started Tomu, we primarily attracted individual buyers—people who wanted vacation homes or short-term rental units. Our first StartEngine raise in 2023 helped us fund product design, engineering, and ultimately move into our current manufacturing facility.
Since then, our customer base has expanded from individual buyers to commercial hospitality developers. Now, we’re working with clients who want to build full-scale resorts, retreats, restaurants, spas, and agritourism destinations. Instead of one or two units per order, we’re getting requests for 20, 30, or more units at a time. That’s a big shift!
This new equity raise will help us scale our team and manufacturing capacity to meet that demand. We chose StartEngine again because it aligns with our mission—engaging our community and making investment accessible.
How Can People Invest in Tomu?
Tyler:
One key benefit of StartEngine is that you don’t have to be an accredited investor to participate. Can you explain how that works?
Chris:
Absolutely. Our Regulation CF offering is SEC-regulated, which means anyone—not just accredited investors or venture capital firms—can invest. Unlike Kickstarter or Indiegogo, where backers receive products or perks, StartEngine investors receive equity—actual shares in Tomu.
Why Invest in Tomu Now?
Tyler:
Tomu has been gaining traction. Why should someone invest now rather than two years ago—or two years from now?
Chris:
Two years ago, Tomu was still in its early stage. We had designs, a prototype, and a small facility, but we were still proving our concept.
Now, we have:
✅ A manufacturing facility
✅ Units in production
✅ A growing pipeline of commercial projects
✅ Industry recognition and demand
We’re at a key inflection point, and this raise will help us grow even further. We’re doubling down on hospitality, a space that’s underserved in modular construction. While most prefab companies focus on residential homes or temporary structures, our units are designed for permanent hospitality applications—meaning they can be financed, sold, and insured like traditional buildings.
What Sets Tomu Apart?
Tyler:
You mentioned Tomu’s focus on hospitality. What makes Tomu’s approach different from other prefab or manufactured housing options?
Chris:
Great question. The way you use a hotel or resort suite is very different from how you use your home. Most prefab companies build with residential layouts, which aren’t optimized for hospitality.
For example:
🏠 Homes need large kitchens, storage, and personal spaces.
🏨 Hospitality units prioritize lounge areas, high-end bathrooms, and guest experiences.
By designing specifically for hospitality, we create better layouts, luxury features, and a superior guest experience—which is why our commercial clients choose us over residential-focused prefab companies.
How Will the Funds Be Used?
Tyler:
Jaden just submitted a question: What is the first thing you plan to do with the funds raised?
Chris:
Great question! The funds will be used for two key areas:
1️⃣ Scaling our manufacturing capacity – We’re moving from small individual orders to large commercial projects. That means investing in:
Equipment to speed up production
Machinery to handle larger materials
More efficient building processes
2️⃣ Expanding our team – Larger hospitality projects require more expertise in:
Logistics & supply chain
Hospitality-specific design and operations
Client support and communication
We’ve grown organically so far, but this round will accelerate our ability to meet demand.
Who Are Tomu’s Clients?
Tyler:
Sam asked: Who are some of the clients you’re working with?
Chris:
While we can’t name all clients publicly, we’re working with a mix of:
🏡 Aspiring hoteliers – Former Airbnb hosts looking to scale up to boutique resorts.
🏨 Experienced hotel owners – Established operators adding new hospitality concepts.
🏢 Industry leaders – We’ve had conversations with major hotel brands watching this space closely.
Big brands like Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott are already investing in modular hospitality—showing that this trend is here to stay.
How to Invest & Next Steps
Tyler:
Riley just asked how he can invest $10,000 through StartEngine.
Chris:
It’s simple! Go to startengine.com and create an account. Our Tomu campaign page details the investment terms, and higher tiers include perks like discounts on units and direct consulting calls.
Future of Tomu & Modular Hospitality
Tyler:
Last question—where do you see Tomu and the hospitality industry in five years?
Chris:
🚀 Modular construction will keep growing out of necessity—rising costs, labor shortages, and efficiency demands will drive adoption.
🏡 Hospitality will continue shifting toward experiential stays, where guests prioritize unique, purpose-built destinations over traditional hotels.
We’re committed to leading in modular hospitality, offering better guest experiences and smarter building solutions.
Closing Thoughts
Tyler:
Chris, thanks for your time! Any final words?
Chris:
Thanks, Tyler! If you’re interested in learning more or investing, visit:
🌎 tomuhaus.com
💰 StartEngine.com/offering/tomu
Follow us on Instagram (@tomuhaus) for behind-the-scenes updates.
Thanks, everyone! See you next time.