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Max, Co-Founder at Far Homes: Advize Career Interview

Max, a Far Homes co-founder, reveals a dynamic and multifaceted role demanding both "unglamorous" administrative tasks and strategic decision-making.

A typical day might involve anything from building data pipelines to crafting product specifications, highlighting the diverse skillset required—a blend of strong "soft skills" like adaptability and quick learning, alongside hard skills in finance and data analysis (SQL).

The most rewarding aspect is the significant impact and variety in shaping a young company's trajectory, working alongside a beloved team. However, the significant uncertainty and resource constraints present considerable challenges.

Max finds the "wild west" nature of the real estate industry, coupled with the analytical tech side, incredibly stimulating. Success in this field requires a blend of "hustle" and sharp prioritization skills.

A key lesson learned was the unexpectedly profound emotional investment required, a crucial point for aspiring founders.

For those starting their careers, Max recommends seeking broad, undefined roles in early-stage startups to build a diverse skillset before entrepreneurship, prioritizing goals over job descriptions and avoiding a reputation for complaining.

Early career exploration, as demonstrated by Max's own experience in the American Advertising Federation, also proves invaluable.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Max Blumen

Co-Founder

Far Homes

UC Berkeley

N/A

Spanish & Other Languages

Technology

Entrepreneurship and Business Owner

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Main Responsibilities of a Co-Founder at Far Homes

Max's main responsibilities as co-founder of Far Homes encompass "the unglamorous stuff," such as administrative tasks and finances, including financial modeling and fundraising materials. Beyond this, a significant portion of their role involves strategic decision-making regarding resource allocation, ultimately aiming for a sustainable and profitable business, as Max states, "whatever it takes to get there."

A Day In The Life Of A Co-Founder At Far Homes

A co-founder's day-to-day responsibilities are highly variable, as illustrated by Max's experience at Far Homes, where a single day might involve "putting on [their] data engineer hat" to build ETL pipelines or shifting to a product management role to write specifications for new features. This multifaceted role also includes financial responsibilities and supporting the CEO during fundraising, showcasing the diverse demands of a startup co-founder's job.

Most Important Skills For A Co-Founder At Far Homes

Max, a co-founder at Far Homes, emphasizes that "soft skills are probably...the most important," citing the ability to learn quickly, flexibility, and good judgment as crucial in a fast-paced startup environment. Equally important are hard skills such as finance, including "understanding...the discount cash flow model," spreadsheet proficiency, and SQL, which Max considers "massively valuable" for data analysis and a key to their current role.

Favorite Parts of Being a Co-Founder at Far Homes

Max, Co-Founder at Far Homes, most enjoys the "variety" and significant impact of their role in an early-stage company, where every action directly shapes the future; this is amplified by working with a team Max loves, stating "it makes a huge difference".

Biggest Challenges Faced By A Co-Founder At Far Homes

Max, Far Homes' co-founder, cites the significant challenge of "uncertainty" in their pre-seed company's trajectory, acknowledging the possibility of needing to "do something totally crazy and different next month." This uncertainty is compounded by resource constraints, forcing prioritization of short-term needs over long-term strategic goals, as exemplified by the need to handle "unemployment insurance stuff" instead of focusing on longer-term, more valuable tasks.

Favorite Parts of Working in the Real Estate Technology Industry as a Co-Founder

Max, Co-Founder at Far Homes, finds the "wild west" nature of the real estate industry, with its "quirky people" and diverse backgrounds, incredibly appealing, while also enjoying the analytical nature of the tech side, finding it easy to connect with "really analytical people" in that field. The cross-border aspect of Far Homes adds another layer of complexity and "wackiness," further fueling Max's enjoyment of the "chaos."

Who Thrives In Real Estate Tech According To A Far Homes Co-Founder

Max, Co-Founder at Far Homes, identifies two key traits for success in the real estate and tech sides of the industry: "hustlers" who "just do stuff" in real estate, and individuals who are "really good at prioritizing" and focus on measurable outcomes in tech; the ideal combination being when these seemingly opposing approaches work together harmoniously toward a shared goal.

What A Co-Founder At Far Homes Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Startup Industry

Max, a co-founder at Far Homes, found the emotional investment required to be a founder "shocking," admitting that "how much I would be...deep in my heart slash mind, really just invested in this" was far greater than anticipated, even after accounting for long hours and sacrifices. This deep emotional involvement, a facet of the role that surprised even a prepared individual, is something they wish someone had emphasized beforehand.

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Co-Founders

Max, Far Homes' co-founder, advises against starting a venture-backed company straight out of college, suggesting instead that early career professionals seek "as generalist as possible" roles, such as growth or business operations and strategy positions at early-stage startups to gain broad experience. The most valuable roles, in their experience, were those with "least well-defined" responsibilities and "highest scope or purview," allowing for learning and development before entrepreneurship.

Significant Career Lesson From A Co-Founder At Far Homes

Max, Co-Founder at Far Homes, emphasizes the importance of focusing on "goals and objectives," rather than solely job descriptions, as a key differentiator for career success. The professional also notes the detrimental impact of complaining, stating that being labeled a "complainer" can severely hinder career progression.

College Experiences That Helped a Co-Founder at Far Homes Succeed

Max, a Far Homes co-founder, prioritized career exploration over academics in their junior and senior years, joining the American Advertising Federation to network and gain "cultural knowledge" about various career paths, ultimately securing a desirable job offer upon graduation. This experience highlights the value of early career engagement and prioritizing practical experience over solely focusing on grades for career success.

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