Today we’d like to introduce you to Rany Burstein

Hi Rany, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.

I’ll try to be brief. I was born and raised in Israel, part of 3 brothers, and amazing parents. In high school, I built my first website for Israel’s biggest soccer club, Maccabi Tel Aviv. I created the content, design, graphics, video editing, the works. It was in the early days of the internet, but it was still impressive. I sold it to the team during my military service and made my first, modest, exit. This experience sparked my interest in creating digital solutions to real-world problems.

I then pursued higher education in the United States and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where I graduated summa cum laude with a degree in business. After I graduated, I moved to New York and spent over a decade working in finance for a global bank.

While living in New York City, I noticed a persistent problem with finding reliable roommates. The existing platforms were outdated and prone to scams. Seeing this gap, I decided to leverage my tech background and business acumen to create Diggz along with my co-founder Ben.

Diggz started as a roommate finder platform designed to make the process easy, efficient and safe. Over time, we expanded our services to include more housing options such as co-living rooms, or full apartments for rent. Today, Diggz operates in over 30 large metro areas across the US and Canada, providing a reliable and user-friendly housing solution.
We still have a lot of room to grow but feel proud of what we’ve built and the success we’ve had thus far.

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 don’t think there’s any startup or new venture that has a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges was funding. Since Diggz is still bootstrapped, we never raised money, which meant we had to be more patient with growth and conservative with spending. We are still bootstrapped today. Also, breaking into the market and gaining user trust in a space riddled with scams was also tough. We worked hard to differentiate Diggz as a reliable and safe platform. On the technical side, building and scaling a tech platform came with its own set of issues, like site performance and speed as our user base grew. These required constant attention and improvements.

Despite these challenges, each obstacle taught us valuable lessons and pushed us to innovate and improve continually. At some point, you get used to the fact that there are always challenges, and part of my role in this company, is to solve problems. That’s what business owners and CEOs need to do.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

At Diggz, we specialize in connecting people looking for roommates or rental opportunities in a seamless, safe, and efficient way. Our platform is designed to help users find the perfect living arrangement, whether they’re renting out a room, looking for a room, wanting to partner up, or seeking a full apartment lease. What sets us apart is our approach for ‘fit first’. Our users’ profiles include relevant details like smoking habits, pet preferences, and lifestyle choices to ensure compatibility and peace of mind. When you sign up for Diggz, our algorithm takes your info into account and creates a unique curated list of potential roommates that would be a good fit for you. While you can still see every other profile out there, we surface up the best results for you.

We’re proud of creating a marketplace where people can find their ideal living situation without the fear of scams or unsuitable matches. Our user-centric approach and dedication to security have allowed us to build a platform that people genuinely trust. For readers, it’s important to know that Diggz isn’t just another listing site. We’re a marketplace that facilitates genuine connections, and we don’t take part in transactions or charge outrageous fees. Our goal is to make the process of finding a roommate or rental as smooth and reliable as possible.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?

I see several exciting changes and trends in the roommate and rental industry. One major change will likely be the integration of VR technology, allowing users to virtually tour potential living spaces and meet prospective roommates in a virtual setting. This will significantly enhance the convenience and comfort of the search process.

Additionally, we anticipate more trusted connections and verifications becoming standard, and increasing safety and trust within the community. More real estate operators are likely to cater specifically to the roommate and shared housing segment, recognizing the growing demand and unique needs of this market. You’ll be able to go to any city, find a furnished room, pay for just your room, move to another part of town, or to another city while renting from the same landlord or management company.

One trend that we’re also already witnessing is a demographic shift. Older adults are increasingly searching for roommates. This trend is likely to continue, as more people look for affordable and flexible living arrangements. Think of “Golden Girls for life”.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.diggz.co
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/diggzny
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Diggz.co
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/diggzny
• Other: https://blog.diggz.co