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Finding Roommates Made Easy – Take Your Friends Along For Your Apartment Search With AgentPair

 

Looking for a new apartment might be the worst thing ever. In the year that I’ve lived in my current city I’ve lived in three different apartments, so I’m super familiar with the gut clenching stress of realizing that you have to move. Again. Combing the streets of any major metropolitan area for a place that’s nice, affordable, and not already inhabited by (too many) creepy crawlies can take the fun out of anyone’s week.

 

So what is a modern urban dweller to do? Well, if you’re in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, LA, or Florida, you can turn to AgentPair to make finding roommates a whole lot easier. This site not only allows users to manage their apartment search in one easy, accessible location: it also utilizes your social networking sites. Think a place looks cool but you’re not quite sure? Send it out on your Facebook and Twitter and let your friends voice their opinions.

 

I’m the kinda of woman that can’t even shop for a new t-shirt without a friend telling me it fits right, so I think this social media element is brilliant. Keep reading to see what founder Clark Giguiere has to say about living the startup life.

 

How’d you come up with the name for your company?

We want to “Pair” people up.  We’re an agent of that process.

 

What’s the very first thing you do at work everyday?

Make myself a latte (2 shots of espresso).

 

How many people did you start the company with and how many people work for you now?

Founded July 2011. Me, myself, and I. Now, I have three people, but no one works for me. We work for each other.

 

 

 

 

How do you handle frustration? When/how was the last time you dealt with frustration?

We can’t let frustration block our vision. Everyday is a challenge as a startup. Access to capital, good people, exposure, etc… These things are critical and don’t come easily. You have to be zen. Don’t start the next day worried about what happened yesterday. Each day is a new day and a new opportunity.

 

What’s your office environment like? Is it the kind of place where everyone is bumpin’ away to house music or is it more traditional?

We bump. The neighbors don’t like us.

 

Who or what inspires YOU? Role models? Quotes? Running? Video games? Snack food? Give us the deets, dude!

Every entrepreneur is inspirational to me. We all share the same lofty plan to change the world or disrupt some industry.

 

How’d you fund this venture? VC? Self-funding? Crowd-funded? Where’d you get the money, man?

Bootstrapped. Seed capital comes from brokerage operations (yes, we’re a real estate brokerage). Looking for funding around every corner. Hook us up!

 

 

Got any great bootstrapping tips for the lean startups out there?

Yes. Keep it simple stupid. Don’t go big on office space, swag, etc. Every penny counts. Break down every purchase to determine the return on investment. Adding up all the pennies you saved may give you the opportunity to make one more pitch.

 

What would you be doing if you had one year off and $500,000 to spend (and you couldn’t spend it on your current startup / projects)

I’d invest in real estate and start day 1 of the next year with $1,000,000. Want to go in with me?

 

Do you consider yourself a successful entrepreneur right now? If not, what’s it gonna take to make you feel successful?

Yes. As a brokerage we’ve been successful doing enough deals to fund the startup. Landing some outside financing would help validate our efforts.

 

Website you couldn’t live without and why?

Pinterest. Converting your coat closet to a wine cellar? Genius. Love looking for new ideas.

 

Mobile App you’re in love with and why?

Instagram. Love taking photos and applying filters. Easy sharing across major social networks.

 

 

 

Dogs or cats?

Thinking about a king cavalier (dog); her name will be “Pear”

 

iOS or Android?

iOS hands down, although I must say I am an Apple fanboy.

 

Number 1 country you’ve always wanted to visit but haven’t yet?

Australia. Need to dive the Great Barrier reef. Love seeing what the other 70% of our world is made of (water).

 

Where can our readers get ahold of you?

Facebook, Twitter, Google+. Pick your poison. Twitter is preferred.

 

Photos courtesy of the founder and Agentpair.com.

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