Alison Bernstein carved a niche in the startup ecosystem as a seasoned advisor and a visionary leader. Prior to founding Off-Markt, a peer-to-peer real estate platform that allows anyone to be a buyer or seller at any time, she established and led a real estate technology and advisory firm, which she launched while pursuing her MBA at Columbia Business School. Alison’s innovative approach and leadership propelled the company to rapid expansion across the U.S., culminating in a successful acquisition by a private equity firm. Her career began in investment banking – where she honed her financial expertise before transitioning to entrepreneurship. She also serves on the National Council of the Aspen Art Museum, the Women’s Committee of the Central Park Conservancy, the Dean’s Council and Children’s Health Council at Weill-Cornell, and the Duke Innovation and Entrepreneurship Board.
Tell us about how you got started – did you always want to be an entrepreneur?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I truly believe that entrepreneurship is at the heart of every business, regardless of industry, profession or size. My career has always centered around finding opportunities around consumer behavior and creating solutions that simplify complex processes. With Off-Markt, I hope to help people discover their next home in a way that’s more organic, community-driven, and less transactional.
How did your passion for real estate inform the idea to create Off-Markt?
Real estate has always been a passion of mine. I absolutely love how tangible it is. My experience starting, scaling and ultimately exiting a real estate platform has given me first hand experience in the space, and I am passionate about continuing to innovate within that sector. I also see that there is tremendous opportunity to upend a model that is ripe for change.
Why should people download Off-Markt even if they’re not necessarily looking for a home?
Real estate is about more than just buying and selling – it’s about lifestyle and sharing the story of homes. Homes are special places, and yet also serve as one of a consumer’s largest assets at the same time. Off-Markt lets you follow the market in a more organic way, as well as share the story of your home. It ultimately serves to create a more organic marketplace where anybody can be a buyer or seller at any time, without actually being “on the market”. It creates an incredible marketplace which allows for greater transparency and a greater ability to tell the story of real estate.
What do you hope the feedback is with the official launch of Off-Markt?
I hope that people will be engaged and excited at the ability to share the story of their homes, as well as follow markets and homes/designers/brokers in a more organic, fun and educational format. It is exciting to create a platform where people can show interest in your property organically. It will be an exciting marketplace where anything can happen anywhere, anytime!
What are your short and long term goals for the brand?
In the short term, we are excited to launch and get people to share the stories of their homes. People LOVE where they live, and currently there is no platform where you can show off what you love in this way. The longer term goal would be to create the go-to space for real estate beyond the traditional marketplace.
What’s next for you?
Right now, my focus is on launching and growing Off-Markt and refining the user experience. But big picture, I’m always thinking about how we can continue to reimagine the way people engage with real estate. There are so many untapped opportunities to make this industry more consumer-friendly, less intimidating, and more transparent. I am excited to be a changemaker in this space.
