Mayor Bloomberg visited Urban Compass today to announce the company’s beta launch. Urban Compass is building a platform to help people connect with the world around them by harnessing local expertise. They’re starting by helping people find a great place to live in New York City.
The site, whose mission is to connect people with the world around them by harnessing local expertise, was founded in 2012 by Ori Allon and Robert Reffkin. Based in New York and currently employing over 70 people, Urban Compass has been named “Disruptive Innovator to Watch” by The Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards, and included as one of the best new start ups of 2012 by Business Insider.
“We think there’s a huge opportunity in the local discovery space. But it’s a complex problem that technology can’t solve by itself. In order to truly connect with the world around us, we need to make sense of both the online and offline components of local discovery,” said Founder and Executive Chairman Ori Allon .
“Finding a new home is about much more than moving into a new space; it’s about becoming part of a neighborhood, joining a community of people and local businesses, and sharing local knowledge. These connections all start with where you live, and so Urban Compass is starting there,” continued Allon.
“Urban Compass aims to make it easier for people to find the right place to live in New York City, and they’ve landed in one of the hottest high-tech communities anywhere,” said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg . “The innovative companies that make upNew York City’s thriving tech industry are changing the way New Yorkers do everything, and along the way they’re also boosting our economy and creating jobs.”
Urban Compass is making it easier for people to find a home they love, by combining transparent online search with a team of local experts.
- Bringing the process online. The platform is an end-to-end solution that takes a user through the whole process of securing a home. People can search listings, schedule viewings and apply for a home, all online.
- Local knowledge at the core. Our Neighborhood Specialists are local experts who can show customers around the homes and neighborhoods they love. They’re paid based on customer satisfaction and not on commission, so they care about helping customers find the perfect home. Online neighborhood guides help people figure out which areas are right for them before they search, and get the most out of their new home after they move in.
- Urban Compass Network. We are building a platform to help people connect with the world around them: a community of people and local businesses.
“There are plenty of companies that build offline experiences and plenty of companies that build online products. We’re rewiring old-school businesses with technology to deliver great customer experiences,” said Founder and CEOÂ Robert Reffkin who also spoke at NAMIC-NY’s Entrepreneur: Year One event.
The company has raised an $8 million seed round of financing from investors such as Goldman Sachs, Founders Fund, Thrive Capital and a consortium of CEO’s from leading companies including American Express and ZocDoc.
Users can sign up on the beta site, by visting  http://urbancompass.com