{"id":44211,"date":"2023-10-20T15:34:17","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:34:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/startupsmart.test\/2023\/10\/20\/how-this-melbourne-startup-won-over-google-to-launch-an-ebay-for-real-estate-startupsmart-2\/"},"modified":"2023-10-20T15:34:17","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:34:17","slug":"how-this-melbourne-startup-won-over-google-to-launch-an-ebay-for-real-estate-startupsmart-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startupsmart.com.au\/uncategorized\/how-this-melbourne-startup-won-over-google-to-launch-an-ebay-for-real-estate-startupsmart-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How this Melbourne startup won over Google to launch an “eBay for real estate” – StartupSmart"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/div>\n

When Melbourne entrepreneur Steve Makris secured the domain for his startup he gained a powerful enemy: Google.<\/p>\n

Makris says the tech giant raised several barriers to prevent them from making progress when they noticed realestatetube.com.<\/p>\n

But the Real Estate Tube founder says he decided to play nice and eventually won Google over.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen a company the size of Google can make you disappear off the face of the earth you don\u2019t want to fight fire with fire,\u201d Makris tells StartupSmart.<\/em><\/p>\n

Instead, he met with Google representatives and spoke from the heart about his idea for a global video-sharing platform focused on real estate and his long-term vision.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey initially came on being like \u2018we\u2019re going to destroy\u2019, but towards the end it was \u2018we\u2019re happy to help you\u2019,\u201d Makris says.<\/p>\n

The discussions ended with a \u201cfriendly gesture\u201d, he says.<\/p>\n

On the verge of launching<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Real Estate Tube is now only days away from launching, a milestone that was celebrated at a party on Wednesday night.<\/p>\n

Real Estate Tube is a user-generated content platform specialising in property.<\/p>\n

In stage one, prospective tenants and homeowners can upload “selfie videos” to showcase homes or what they\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can say things in words but a picture speaks a thousand words and then you get video,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Users can also live stream video to answer questions in real time and choose who sees their videos for a small fee.<\/p>\n

In stage two, Makris plans to open up to buyers and sellers before leading on to commercial real estate in stage three.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithin the next six months, we should be able to have 50,000 to 80,000 users predominantly in Australia, UK and the US,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The venture has been mostly bootstrapped but Makris now hopes to raise $2.5 million to rapidly scale Real Estate Tube to a global market.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to have it on all devices,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

“eBay for real estate”<\/strong><\/h3>\n

After more than 25 years in real estate, Makris believes agents are on the brink of being digitalised.<\/p>\n

The elephant in the room is anyone that owns a property is licensed to sell and market their own property, he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe empower people to become their own agents,\u201d Makris says.<\/p>\n

“We want to be the eBay for real estate.\u201d<\/p>\n

The startup was built at LaTrobe University and the institution has become a small equity partner, helping Makris to commercialise the concept.<\/p>\n

Makris says entering into a partnership with the university meant he had instant access to great offices and services in kind.<\/p>\n

Real Estate Tube will be available for download next week.<\/p>\n

Follow StartupSmart on Facebook<\/strong>, Twitter<\/strong>, LinkedIn<\/strong> and SoundCloud<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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