Minneapolis-based startup
BuyerCurious has certainly piqued the curiosity of investors: the company recently announced completion of the final phase of its $1.75 million first round Series A funding, led by private angel investors.
The funding should help the firm take advantage of the online real estate transaction platform it's developed, notes co-founder Jim Lesinski. Launched late last year, the service allows homebuyers and sellers to connect and to negotiate with one another--reducing the control of intermediaries like realtors, appraisers, and bankers.
Before the launch, BuyerCurious had to iron out numerous kinks related to real estate regulation, Lesinski says. That proved challenging, since the company was determined to build an offering that could be used in any part of the country.
"From the start, we wanted a very robust platform," says Lesinski. "We've looked toward national expansion before it even rolled out." The new wave of funding should assist in that effort, he adds, and allow the company to pursue a major marketing strategy for the year ahead.
The company had previously secured about $1.4 million from
Gopher Angels and other investors, and also became higher profile when it reached the semi-finals round of the
Minnesota Cup.
Lesinski looks forward to getting some strong traction for BuyerCurious in the near future, thanks to more financial resources and a platform that's been earning adoptions. "This represents a transformation of the buyer/seller mindset," he says. "We're excited to be offering this first step in creating an electronic marketplace for real estate."
Source: Jim Lesinski, BuyerCurious
Writer: Elizabeth Millard