Founder Spotlight #4: Kobi Bensimon
At Fortson VC, we’re inspired by the talented entrepreneurs we work with who continue to push forward despite uncertainty, address their customers’ needs with modern solutions and lead their teams to success. The newest Founder Spotlight recognizes a business leader who is doing just that.
We’re excited to shine the spotlight on the CEO and Founder of Showdigs, Kobi Bensimon. The Seattle-based property management company uses cutting-edge technology to automate the marketing of residential rental properties and streamlines the experience for both landlords and tenants. Showdigs provides the ultimate value to their customers by saving them time, energy and resources. Read on to learn about Kobi’s perspective and what’s in store for Showdigs moving forward.
Q: As a business leader and the CEO of Showdigs, what are you looking forward to?
A: I started my business prior to Showdigs in 2008 just a few months before the real estate market crashed later that year. I saw firsthand how startups had to rise to both the opportunities and challenges presented during that time. Right now, we are similarly going through a lot of changes in the economy. While there are changes, there are also opportunities when there’s such a big shift taking place in the market. Historically, every time there was a crisis in the real estate market, it was a time of innovation. In my experience, crisis is the time to shine. This is the time where being a small business and having the ability to be nimble and iterate fast are critical advantages whereas in normal times, it’s harder for us to compete with larger companies. Right now, other companies are in a freeze pattern – laying off thousands of employees, reevaluating entire business strategies, stopping investments, etc. As a business leader, now is the time for Showdigs to get ahead, get in front of our customers and continue to set ourselves apart.
Q: Can you share a main takeaway from the last year that you’re taking with you moving forward?
A: A big takeaway for me is to be very efficient with resource and capital. The year started when it was fairly easy to raise funding for startups in the venture world, valuations were high and headlines were always about startups raising a lot of money. Very quickly, everything shifted. All of the sudden, the focus was on being profitable, making sales, servicing clients and thinking twice about every expense. That’s a shift we’ve definitely had to go through. Now, I’m running my business with a completely different approach.
Q: How are you continuing to grow and evolve as the leader of Showdigs?
A: I’m always looking to change my plans and evaluate my strategy as a leader. I’m also big believer in hiring the smartest and best people you can find and empowering them to excel at their work. Doing this has proven effective for me and my team over the years. A big focus area for me is strengthening my team and empowering them to do their best work.
Fortson VC is grateful to be Showdigs’ partner on this journey and excited to see Kobi’s leadership and vision continue driving the company forward. Learn more about their industry-leading software at https://www.showdigs.com.