Today's Entrepreneur: Tore Steen

No. 1 Mistake: Not listening to the market

Today's Entrepreneur is Tore Steen, Co-founder and CEO of CrowdStreet. CrowdStreet is a company that provides real estate operators, funds and private equity companies a full-service marketplace solution for presenting investments online, marketing opportunities publicly, managing the offer process and maintaining ongoing investor relationships. 

Steen went to University of Notre Dame for his degree in Political Science in 1991 and he got his MBA at Duke University last 1996. 

CrowdStreet (currently in the top 8 finalist) is competing in Vator Splash Oakland 2015 global startup competition. 

CrowdStreet self-categorizes itself in these areas: Crowdfunding, Financial services, Internet, Real estate, and Software as a service.

The top 8 finalist will compete and present live on stage in front of several hundred tech influencers (CEOs, media and investors).

Here's a little about Steen: 

I am a(n): Entrepreneur

Companies I've founded or co-founded: CrowdStreet

Companies I work or worked for: CrowdStreet, Janrain, WebTrends, Earthlink, Ernst & Young, US Bank

Achievements (products built, personal awards won): Bringing the first Saas solution for social login to the market in 2008 which benefits both consumers and websites.

Partnering with Google in late 2001 to be the first in the market to offer Google Ad Words through an online portal (the My Earthlink portal).

If you are an entrepreneur, why? Solving big problems by leveraging the internet and software.

My favorite startups: Uber, Humin, Slack, Evernote, eShares

What's most frustrating and rewarding about entrepreneurship/innovation? The most rewarding aspect of innovation is seeing the huge value that your products and services provide to both consumers and businesses in ways they have not seen before.

What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs make? Not listening to the market (customers, suppliers, partners) and leveraging the data in determining pivot points or adjustments to product/positioning.

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