Today's Entrepreneur: John Kobs

Kristin Karaoglu · August 29, 2012 · Short URL: https://vator.tv/n/29c5

No. 1 mistake: Assuming revenue is something they can "figure out later"

Today's Entrepreneur  is  John Kobs, CEO and Co-Founder of Apartment List / Vertical Brands.

Apartment List is the world’s largest and fastest-growing apartment search engine. It brings millions of listings from around the web into one elegant interface, drastically reducing the time it takes renters to find an apartment. Apartment List launched in September 2011 at TechCrunch Disrupt and won a 2012 Webby Award for Real Estate.

(Apartment List is one of the promising startups competing to be one of the top 10 finalists to present on stage at Vator Splash SF. If you want to see Kobs on stage, or another startup in the competition, vote for them here.)

Vator’s community is the home to entrepreneurs who embrace their passion and follow their dreams. Our profiles allow members to express themselves by sharing their interests, lessons learned, as well as bits and pieces of their roller-coaster journey.

These profiles give entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase themselves and tell their story. So if you are an entrepreneur, a serial entrepreneur, or even an aspiring entrepreneur, we'd like to hear from you.

I am a(n):
Entrepreneur

Companies I've founded or co-founded:
Apartment List, Vertical Brands, Inc., ChatSports.com

If you are an entrepreneur, why?
I love eating Ramen.

My favorite startups:
Uber, Optimizely, Offerslot, Taskrabbit

What's most frustrating and rewarding about entrepreneurship/innovation?
Recruiting world class caliber teammates is both the hardest and most rewarding part of my job.

What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs make?
Assuming revenue is something they can "figure out later."

What are the top three lessons you've learned as an entrepreneur?

1) People are everything
2) It's a marathon, not a sprint
3) Vision is evolutionary

(Want to be profiled? Just fill out your Vator profile and we'll find you! Or you can email newsroom@vator.tv)

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Kristin Karaoglu

Woman of many skills: Database System Engineer; SplashX event producer; Author of Startup Teams

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Apartment List

Startup/Business

Joined Vator on

Apartment List is the fastest-growing online rental marketplace, and we’re on a mission to help everyone find a home they love while making the search process simple. By asking our renters the important questions, we offer personalized results that meet your apartment wishlist. With over four million units on the site, we’ve reached over 150 million renters in over 40 cities.

Since inception, Apartment List has raised $110 million in funding from investors including Allen & Company LLC, Canaan Partners, Industry Ventures, Matrix Partners, Passport Capital, Quantum Partners LP, a private investment fund managed by Soros Fund Management LLC, Tenaya Capital, and WTI.

Founded in 2011 by CEO John Kobs and COO Chris Erickson, Apartment List calls San Francisco home.

Learn more at www.apartmentlist.com.

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John Kobs

Joined Vator on

Co-founder and CEO of Apartment List