BC Business
The real estate industry has long resisted change, but these proptech companies have other ideas
BASED: Vancouver
FOUNDER: Charlsy Dobell
LAUNCHED: 2015
EMPLOYEES: 11
THE DL: Collects information from more than 125 property databases and collates them, allowing developers and realtors to see the newest stats in real time and analyze how neighbourhoods and communities are shifting
IT’S KINDA LIKE: Google Maps
FOUNDER: Chris and Rebecca Troelstra
LAUNCHED: 2013 (as RealtyButler, rebranded in 2018)
EMPLOYEES: 90
THE DL: Helps agents manage their website, social media and marketing efforts
IT’S KINDA LIKE: An advertising agency, but geared toward realtors
FOUNDER: Michael Stephenson, Stephen Jagger, Leon Ng, Cam Good
LAUNCHED: 2018
EMPLOYEES: 9
THE DL: IMBY, which stands for In My Backyard, lets users buy shares in residential properties for as low as $1
IT’S KINDA LIKE: Bitcoin. Except what you’re buying is real. Though real estate and the crypto market seem to have similar levels of stability these days
FOUNDER: Alex Conconi
LAUNCHED: 2013
EMPLOYEES: 45
THE DL: Develops software for mortgage brokers
IT’S KINDA LIKE: Vancouver-based Clio, but for the property set instead of the legal profession
FOUNDER: Olivia Lam
EMPLOYEES: 30
THE DL: Liv is a mobile app and website that digitizes the rental process, allowing renters and landlords to interact online
IT’S KINDA LIKE: Craigslist, but with no scammers and some listings you won’t find anywhere else. Also, landlords can use it to find tenants
BASED: Nanaimo
FOUNDER: Morgan Carey
LAUNCHED: 2004
EMPLOYEES: 150
THE DL: Originally started to make websites for realtors, Real Estate Webmasters can now display details on properties for sale around a neighbourhood as you point your phone at them
IT’S KINDA LIKE: Pokémon Go for real estate