How is it possible that the real estate industry—a giant in terms of size and corporate culture—still clings so stubbornly to the past? Where is the long-overdue digital transformation? These questions have been on our minds—Tobias, Christian, and Nico—for six years now.
We recognized the immense potential of digitalization for the industry: Why should companies continue to manage their real estate deals in endless Excel spreadsheets when every startup has been using CRM systems as the standard in sales for decades? That’s how assetbird was born: software that automates offer management, organizes deals, and provides quick access to comprehensive data analytics.
That was in early 2020, just before the world came to a standstill due to the global pandemic. Nico and Tobias had just quit their jobs and were ready to launch their idea. Despite the lockdown, they were motivated and determined to believe in their vision. Encouraged by feedback from experienced founders and potential customers, they knew they were on the right track. Eventually, an incubator joined them as well.
“I had mixed feelings. Was it the right decision to take such a risk at that very moment? When, after just a short time, the term ‘video call’ was no longer unfamiliar even to the last real estate company, I knew we’d made the right call,” says Nico.
And Tobias adds: “When we saw the same workflows being used with Excel at the second company, I had an initial hunch. Once this was confirmed at the third, fourth, and fifth companies, I was certain of assetbird’s long-term potential.”
The Vision
“With assetbird, we’re accelerating and connecting the real estate industry through simple digitalization. The enthusiasm of small and medium-sized businesses is our true asset,” says Tobias
And Nico adds, “Our colleagues in real estate acquisitions look forward to working with assetbird again on Mondays as early as Friday.”
Co-Leadership as a Recipe for Success
We share a passion for innovations that address everyday customer challenges. Nico’s background? He started his own stock market community at 17, completed a banking apprenticeship, and skipped college. His experience in day-to-day sales inspired him to recognize the urgent need for modern productivity software. “I was fortunate to learn from experienced professionals in finance and real estate. I knew that I had to take control of my own life if I wanted to achieve my goals.”
Tobias felt the same way. He chose to study Entrepreneurship & Innovation Management because he wanted to inspire people through innovation and drive the economy forward. But before starting his own business, he gained extensive experience working at both startups and large corporations. “I had the opportunity to work with impressive teams, but there was always one thing missing: bringing innovative ideas to life that could quickly benefit an entire industry—and building the right team to do it.”
As a “tech genius” with a family background in real estate, Christian fits perfectly into the mix and is bringing our shared vision to life. He has mastered the ins and outs of software in more programming languages than most people understand natural languages. “When I first heard about the idea for assetbird, it only took a few phone calls with real estate agent friends to confirm the added value and realize: This has potential, and I’m excited about it.”
Tobias, as CEO, leads product and business development; Nico, as CSO, leads sales and marketing; and Christian, as CTO, leads the technical platform.
None of them had ever considered starting a business on their own. Why take on every task when they can focus on their respective strengths, share the workload and responsibilities, and learn so much from each other in the process?
“I wanted to drive an industry forward with a co-founder who comes from that industry and, as a natural networker, embodies its culture. Given his creativity, I couldn’t have imagined anyone better than Nico,” says Tobias.
And Nico returns the compliment: “Tobias’s ability to identify ideas and added value and bring them to life with such clarity never ceases to inspire and surprise me.”
Last but not least, Christian values the fact that “we’re all willing to take new steps on a regular basis and face challenges together. That’s what it takes to build a successful team and startup.”
Less hierarchical, but more collaborative and participatory: As equals, we make decisions together, support one another, and are more flexible in our organizational approach. The secret? Open and transparent communication, along with clear and simple structures.
“We learned early on how to build a healthy business with courage and a clear vision. Today, we’re proud of our team, our shared values, the fun we have, and our enthusiastic community, ”says Tobias.
Nico adds, “Transparency is what sets us apart and is a key factor in our success. After all, success is never the result of just one person, but of the entire team.”
This is how we’re reshaping the future of the real estate industry with assetbird
Through continuous innovation and the integration of cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, assetbird gives us a competitive edge that traditional systems or spreadsheets can never match. With this clear focus on digital transformation, we are leading the way in changes that make the real estate world more accessible, transparent, and successful for businesses. And this is just the beginning of the digital asset revolution.
The big goal? “We aim to become the go-to tool for real estate acquisitions in the future,” says Nico. The goal is for every company in the real estate industry to soon be familiar with assetbird and able to use it effectively. “We have big plans and are confident that we’ll create the best collaboration platform for real estate companies,” says Tobias.
The journey has only just begun
What began in 2020 with an idea, a great deal of uncertainty, and a clear vision is now a solution that helps real estate companies collaborate more efficiently.
Especially in times of economic uncertainty, working together becomes more important than ever. With assetbird, companies have a strong network at their side—one that works hand in hand, shares knowledge, and makes progress possible through collaboration.
After all, the future of the real estate industry isn’t shaped in Excel spreadsheets. It takes shape where people, data, and decisions come together more effectively.
