Inman Connect couldn’t be more aptly named.
The bi-annual conference of everything cool about residential real estate is rooted in like minded real estate and technology professionals coming together.
That idea was exactly what drove Melissa Kwan, founder of open house management and lead gen solution Spacio, to host a veritable who’s who of real estate innovation at her home, the Gramercy House, on the Monday before Connect even started connecting.
Kwan’s Manhattan abode, a 200-year-old brownstone dubbed the “millennial commune” by The New York Times, is frequently full of energetic entrepreneurs sharing ideas and insight during dinner events, live music performances, and collaborative business socials.
Kwan and her roommates came together on the house when seeking a solution to the problem of living in a city with so much youthful creativity that also happens to be geographically disjointed.
New York isn’t like Silicon Valley, where the tech spirit is physically concentrated and culturally organized to support it.
What better place to hold an under-the-table (only the invitees and one other person knew of the event) discussion about where real estate is headed, how technology is steering it, and why Brad Inman has been saying “Kaboom” a lot lately.
(Okay, I added that last part. But I am curious.)
Around the table were seated:
- Melissa Kwan, Spacio
- David Olk, ShopKeep / Voray (Co-host)
- Megan Powers, Thuzio (Sponsor)
- Spencer Rascoff, Zillow
- Krishna Malyala, TLCengine
- Justin Shum, ReadyChat / Avenue (Winner of 2015 Realogy FWD)
- Lee Lin, RentHop
- Jeff Turner, RealSatisfied
- David Friedman, BostonLogic
- Andrew Flachner, RealScout
- Aaron Kardell, HomeSpotter
- Boris Geheniau, Fundament All Media (The Netherlands)
- Tony Cappaert, Contactually
- Avi Gupta, SmartZip
- Matt Daimler, StreetEasy
- Scott Wolfgang, Nestio
- Dan George, Drive Digital / New York YIMBY
- Julien Bonneville, The Guarantors
As invitations filtered back affirmatively, Kwan called in some help. She managed to earn a sponsor in Thuzio and gained organizational assistance from Olk’s company, Voray.
The weather affected the attendance of only three folks and many others adjusted plans to make the event.
Kwan commented that some might wonder how she assembled such a guest list.
“I invited them.”
Just like Inman does.
As Brad recognized so many years ago, people want to talk about their passions, especially when given a platform for exactly that.
Kwan added, “People come to Connect not just to find potential customers, but partnerships. We’re part of a bigger machine, so we need to work together.”
Real estate’s daily ins-and-outs don’t always allow for true industry interaction. Outside of closing tables and inboxes, there isn’t much time for creative brainstorming.
As Brad recognized so many years ago, people want to talk about their passions, especially when given a platform for exactly that.
In fact, Kwan learned this morning that in addition to the informal networking, actual business was conducted at her event.
“There was a handshake deal over dinner,” she confirmed for me via phone while striding across Times Square, hustling to the Harvard Club for CEO Connect.
Who shook on what remains a mystery. Given the companies in attendance, I’m sure we’ll know soon enough.
Nevertheless, Kwan’s dinner sends a powerful message to take into your week of Connect events.
Remember, everyone you see around you is present for the same reason.
Kwan’s dinner sends a powerful message to take into your week of Connect events.
Come Connect San Francisco, who will be the one to take on Kwan’s role? Will there be multiple, pre-Connect get-togethers? Let’s hope so.
That would make this event more powerful than Brad probably ever imagined.
Kaboom?