Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Davis
Hi Mark, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
On August 18th, Jade (my co-founder and girlfriend) and I visited our favorite restaurant in Austin, Clark’s, after completing a 5-mile walk along the Lady Bird Lake trail. While browsing rental and home websites, Jade remarked that there must be an easier way to navigate this process.
We then began discussing the issue with people in our network, including founders and real estate experts. Everyone agreed that the current rental process in the U.S. is fragmented and presents significant challenges.
We quickly trademarked the name “Cribbi” and started forming an LLC, assembling a small team to bring our vision to market.
Today, we’re focused on developing a minimum viable product (MVP) to share with landlords and users while also seeking funding from angel and institutional investors. Securing investments has been challenging, but we’re committed to the product and are prepared to self-fund if necessary.
We’ve invested considerable effort into our pitch decks (going through 10 iterations!), as well as our Figma model, to ensure our website clearly communicates our mission and the problem we aim to solve.
One of the things that has really blown me away during this process is the friendliness of anyone we have spoken to from giving advice to giving us candid feedback. I was always told feedback is a gift and we have fully embraced that on our journey thus far and are always open to feedback.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I wish I could say the journey has been smooth, but that would be far from the truth! One of the biggest challenges has been recognizing that, despite our belief in the product’s potential to fill a gap in the market, attracting investors is tough—and it should be. We need to communicate our value effectively, convincing them that their investment will help us reach the next level and yield a return.
Additionally, managing a team is no easy task. I’ve come to understand why CEOs often earn high salaries! As co-founders, we’re aware of our weaknesses, but it can be challenging to find team members who complement us while sharing our vision for the brand. The insights I’ve gained from feedback and advice from experienced entrepreneurs—those who have successfully built and exited their companies—have been invaluable as we strive to grow and find the right fits for Cribbi.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
So today I work in Saas tech sales as an Account Executive in the logistics space. I’ve had the pleasure of really having a fulfilling career without attending college or university. I started my career in retail right after high school and slowly worked my way up from there to my first tech job at Groupon in Chicago at 23 years old. From there I was able to get into a start up company in Chicago called ShipBob and was able to do some really awesome things while there, such as moving to Australia and building out our business in Australia. I’ve always strived to be the “best” sales person on any team I am at and at ShipBob I was fortunate enough through hard work and determination to earn the right to go to president’s club 4 years in a row. Most recently I have been working at ShipHero (Yes they all have ship in their name!!) and doing the same thing I did at ShipBob which is selling logistics software and solutions to brands.
I know my hunger for being successful has really helped set me apart in my time at Groupon, ShipBob, and ShipHero. One of the things I did early in my career was find who the “top dog” was on the sales floor and make sure I cleared time on my calendar to just listen in to their calls wether it was the call recording or the call was happening in real time. I would also be my own worst critic. I would listen to my calls afterwards religiously and tell myself “ugh that was stupid why did you say that! or you could’ve done this differently”. I think being able to have a real expectation and standard to my own work is what set me apart.
It’s hard to really establish what I am most proud of because often times I think people equate that to money or success or really anything they can clearly define. I am so proud of Jade she went back to school at 25 got a degree and is now a fulltime graphic designer for her day job! I am proud of the life we live, the ability to do things like try and start a company, and I am super proud of my friends and their success. Sure I’ve lived a fulfilling life but I have not lived this life alone.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
That’s a great question. As the cost of living continues to rise in the United States, I hope the industry will work to remove barriers to entry, such as excessive application fees, lengthy rental processes, and skyrocketing rental prices in major cities.
With apps and software like Cribbi, we can help mitigate these issues. As younger generations become the majority of renters in the U.S., I believe the status quo will shift, as they are adept at challenging traditional practices in favor of innovative solutions.
I have always been bullish that America is the best country on earth and the reasons for that is our ability to innovate and pivot. I expect nothing less from the newer generation of renters.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Cribbi.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/get_cribbi/
