Zillow founder is now behind GlassDoor
By Glenn Roberts Jr., Monday, March 24, 2008.Bookmarking Sites
Zillow and Expedia founder Richard Barton is the founder and chairman of the board for a new startup company that is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
GlassDoor.com is "led by ex-Expedia and Microsoft executives (who) have a history of using new technology to rewire old industries."
And according to the Web site, these execs are "not saying too much about what we're working on right now, except that we think it's pretty unique and going to be a lot of fun to build." Company officials' pre-launch silence about Zillow seemed to generate a range of buzz, debate, worry and even anger among real estate industry professionals about that company's likely business model ... wondering if that will be the case here.
GlassDoor is the latest in a series of "Door" Web sites -- there's a neighbor/neighborhood site in private alpha at fatdoor.com (see previous post), and then there's HGTV-affiliated real estate search and information site FrontDoor.com (see recent news story).
By the name GlassDoor, can we assume that this new site has something to do with transparency?
UPDATE: According to this news item at Private Equity Hub on March 27, GlassDoor doesn't appear to have a real estate industry focus. GlassDoor is described as a "social networking company focused on employment conditions in the workplace." And the company has just raised $3 million in a Series B round of financing, led by Benchmark Capital.
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Submitted by Dan Daugherty on March 25, 2008 - 1:16pm.
Should be interesting to see what they launch. I do hope it is real estate related. I originally wrote about them here:
http://www.rentbits.com/blog/glassdoor/glassdoorcom-a-stealth-service-fo...
Submitted by Ki Gray on March 26, 2008 - 2:04pm.
Does anyone find it wierd that considering how bad the real estate market is doing how much investors are handing over to real estate web ideas. Their seems to be a saturation of real estate web companies recently just as the national market is tanking.
Site Austin Tx real estate.
Search Austin Homes
Blog Austin Real Estate Blog
Submitted by Richard Dale-Mesaros on March 30, 2008 - 2:56pm.
In response to Ki's comment:
I'm not surprised at the amount of VC capital being thrown at real estate-related websites. 2008 is set to be the year of the niche social network and any large community of warm bodies, who are interested in a certain subject, will be very valuable to investors and advertisers alike. Our company has already been apporached.
Although you feel the market is tanking, there are always deals out there for savvy investors and besides, there are plenty of geographic areas doing well and other segments of real estate that trend differently to the residential market. The national rental vacancy rate is strong for large apartment complex owners, for example.
All of the new technology we have at our disposal is really making some positive changes in the industry. I wonder how soon MLS comparable sales will be available to the general public!!?
Regards,
Richard :)
Chief Deal Weaver
www.BlackWidowNetwork.com - STRIKE FAST!
Submitted by Dan Daugherty on March 30, 2008 - 3:49pm.
David G confirmed on our blog that GlassDoor will not be real estate related and will not compete with Zillow.
http://www.rentbits.com/blog/glassdoor/glassdoorcom-a-stealth-service-fo...
Hi,
I can confirm that Glassdoor is not in Real Estate and won’t compete with Zillow.
By David G from Zillow.com on Mar 30, 2008
Submitted by Joel Maynard on September 24, 2008 - 5:34pm.
Very Interested to see what comes of it.
Joel Maynard
Site Hope Lending.
Search Bellevue Home Mortgage
Submitted by Larry Hotz on October 23, 2008 - 12:53pm.
Glass Door certainly isn't at all about real estate.it offers inside information about major companies including some salary structures and reviews of CEOs. It there is no time at all to real estate.
Perhaps this is a form of diversification for Mr. Barton. Even though the website is well ranked, it still states that it's in beta.
Larry Hotz.
Denver Real Estate Blog.