Compass, Inc.
Formerly | Urban Compass, Inc. (2012–2021) |
---|---|
Company type | Public |
NYSE: COMP | |
Industry | Real estate |
Founded | October 4, 2012 |
Founder | Ori Allon Robert Reffkin Avi Dorfman[1] |
Headquarters | , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people |
|
Services | Broker |
Revenue | US$4.89 billion (2023) |
US$−315 million (2023) | |
US$−320 million (2023) | |
Total assets | US$1.16 billion (2023) |
Total equity | US$432 million (2023) |
Owner | SoftBank Vision Fund (30.1%) Robert Reffkin (2.1%) |
Number of employees | 2,549 (2023) |
Website | compass |
Footnotes / references [2][3] |
Compass, Inc. operates a residential real estate brokerage in the United States.[4][5] It has approximately 29,000 agents, who are generally independent contractors, on its platform.[2]
In 2023, the company completed 178,848 transactions for a gross dollar value of $186.1 billion. It had a market share in the U.S. of 4.5%.[2] SoftBank Vision Fund owns 30.1% of the company.[3]
History
Compass was founded by Ori Allon, Robert Reffkin, and Avi Dorfman as Urban Compass, Inc. in New York City in October 2012.[2][6] Allon was a Director of Engineering at Twitter, and previously founded companies acquired by Twitter and Google.[7] Reffkin had previously served as the chief of staff to the president of Goldman Sachs[8] and worked in the White House.[9][10] Avi Dorfman had previously worked at McKinsey & Company and Lehman Brothers, and founded a startup.
The company raised $8 million of seed funding.[10][7] The initial business model employed full-time, salaried brokers[11] and was focused only on rentals.[12] The service was launched in May 2013.[13][12]
In January 2014, Compass announced it would change its overall business model by contracting independent real estate agents, receiving a portion of the broker commission.[14]
In July 2014, Compass signed a lease on 25,000 square feet of office space at 90 5th Avenue, which became its global headquarters.[15]
In June 2014, Leonard Steinberg, previously with Douglas Elliman, was named president of the company.[16][17] At that time, the company had 125 agents and 70 staff members.[18]
In July 2016, the company launched a mobile app.[19]
The company expanded into several markets, both organically and via acquisitions. By January 2017, the company operated in 9 U.S. markets: New York, Boston, San Francisco, Miami, Washington, the Hamptons, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Aspen.[20] At that time, it had 1,300 agents.[21]
On April 1, 2021, the company became a public company via an initial public offering.[22]
In November 2021, Compass settled with Avi Dorfman, ending an 8-year dispute, and acknowledging him as a member of the founding team.[6] The company took a $21.3 million charge in connection with the matter.[23]
The company announced several rounds of layoffs in 2022 and 2023.[24][25]
Acquisitions
Date | Acquired | Description | Source |
---|---|---|---|
November 2014 | Lindsay Reishman Real Estate | Washington, D.C.–based broker | [26][27] |
April 2016 | Shane Aspen Real Estate | Aspen-based broker | [28] |
January 2017 | Bushari Real Estate | Boston-based brokerage | [29] |
April 2018 | Conlon | Chicago-based brokerage | [30][31] |
April 2018 | Northwest Group Real Estate | Seattle-based brokerage | [32][33] |
June 2018 | The Hudson Company | Chicago-based brokerage | [34][35] |
July 2018 | Paragon Real Estate Group | San Francisco–based brokerage | [36][37] |
August 2018 | Avenue Properties | Seattle-based brokerage | [38][39] |
August 2018 | Pacific Union International | San Francisco–based brokerage | [40][41] |
November 2018 | Wydler Brothers | Washington, D.C.–based brokerage | [42][43] |
February 2019 | Contactually | CRM provider; shut down in March 2022 | [44] |
March 2019 | Alain Pinel Realtors | San Francisco–based brokerage | [45][46] |
April 2019 | Stribling & Associates | New York–based brokerage | [47][48] |
November 2019 | Detectica | AI Startup | [49][50][51] |
October 2020 | Modus | Home closing startup, shut down in June 2022 | [52][53] |
February 2021 | KVS Title | Title insurance and settlement services provider | [54][55] |
April 2021 | Glide Labs | Transaction management platform | [56][57] |
September 2021 | First Alliance Title | Title insurance and settlement services provider | [58][59] |
September 2021 | CommonGround Abstract | Title insurance and settlement services provider | [60][61] |
May 2022 | Consumer's Title Company | Title insurance and settlement services provider | [62][63] |
April 2023 | Launch Real Estate | Arizona-based brokerage | [64][65] |
September 2023 | Deasy Penner Podley/DPP | Pasadena-based luxury boutique brokerage | [66] |
September 2023 | Realty Austin and Realty San Antonio | Texas-based brokerages | [67][68][69] |
January 2024 | Attorneys Key Title | Fort Lauderdale–based title company | [70] |
April 2024 | Latter & Blum | Broker operating in Louisiana and Mississippi | [71][72] |
May 2024 | Parks Real Estate | Broker operating in Tennessee | [73] |
Awards
Compass was named Mid-Sized Business of the Year by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce in 2015.[8]
In 2018, Compass was named to Crain's Fast 50.[74]
In January 2019, it was ranked 14th on Glassdoor's Best Places to Work.[75]
In April 2019, Compass received a Webby Award for Best Real Estate Website.[76]
In August 2019, it was named one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators by Fast Company.[77]
Compass won the 2020 Webby Award in the real estate web category.[78]
References
- ^ MCPHERSON, MARIAN (September 16, 2021). "Avi Dorfman's 8-year battle with Compass is finally over". Bradley Inman.
- ^ a b c d "Compass, Inc. 2023 Annual Report (Form 10-K)". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. February 28, 2024.
- ^ a b "SCHEDULE 14A (Rule 14a-101) INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
- ^ Delprete, Mike (May 1, 2019). "How has Compass grown so fast? A look at the numbers". Bradley Inman.
- ^ Bourque, Andre (September 28, 2016). "25 Inspiring Entrepreneurs Under 40 Who Are Creating the Next Big Thing". Entrepreneur.
- ^ a b Mascarenhas, Natasha (November 16, 2021). "Avi Dorfman's legal battle to be named founding member of Compass has ended in a settlement". TechCrunch.
- ^ a b Popper, Ben (November 27, 2012). "After cashing out to Google and Twitter, Ori Allon is going all in with Urban Compass". The Verge.
- ^ a b TITLOW, JOHN PAUL (June 18, 2015). "Why This Real Estate App Is Making New York Brokers Nervous". Fast Company.
- ^ ROBERTS, DANIEL (October 13, 2014). "Modernizing the New York apartment hunt". Fortune.
- ^ a b Lunden, Ingrid (December 16, 2012). "With $8M in Seed Funding From Founders Fund, Goldman Sachs; Urban Compass Wants To Build A Hyper-Local, Human-Powered Database". TechCrunch.
- ^ Popper, Ben (May 7, 2013). "Urban Compass: can a startup finally fix the nightmare of renting an apartment in NYC?". The Verge.
- ^ a b SHEFTELL, JASON (May 7, 2013). "High-tech start-up Urban Compass hopes to change how we rent and live in new york city". New York Daily News.
- ^ Lunden, Ingrid (May 7, 2013). "Urban Compass Comes Out Of Stealth with a Hyperlocal Social Network, And A Disruptive Rental Portal That Will Serve As A Magnet". TechCrunch.
- ^ Wiggin, Teke (January 15, 2014). "The big pivot: why Urban Compass has gone traditional". Bradley Inman.
- ^ DELAPORTE, GUS (July 22, 2014). "Urban Compass Signs Lease at RFR's 90 Fifth Avenue". Observer Media.
- ^ Samtani, Hiten; Kussin, Zachary (June 2, 2014). "Leonard Steinberg exits Douglas Elliman for Urban Compass". The Real Deal.
- ^ Taufen, Amber (June 24, 2016). "The Real Trends/WSJ Thousand list for 2016 has been unveiled". Bradley Inman.
- ^ Hagey, Paul (November 15, 2014). "Urban Compass launches nationwide expansion push with Washington, DC, acquisition". Bradley Inman.
- ^ McAlone, Nathan (July 20, 2016). "This $800 million startup just launched an app to make buying a home easier". Business Insider.
- ^ Lunden, Ingrid (January 18, 2017). "Maelle Gavet is the new COO at real estate startup Compass". TechCrunch.
- ^ KALFUS, MARILYN (February 5, 2017). "Luxury real estate startup Compass expands to Newport Beach, scores top agent Rob Giem". Orange County Register.
- ^ Podder, Sohini (April 1, 2021). "SoftBank-backed Compass valued at $8.22 bln in NYSE debut". Reuters.
- ^ "EX-99.1". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
- ^ Turner, Matt; Geiger, Daniel; Parker Erb, Jordan; Bullock, Hallam (December 18, 2022). "Compass is reeling from a horrible year, from financial losses to tech troubles to mass layoffs". Business Insider.
- ^ C, Priyamvada (January 5, 2023). "Real estate broker Compass to cut more jobs to deal with housing downturn". Reuters.
- ^ Haynes, Dion (November 13, 2014). "New York realty firm to open office in D.C." The Washington Post.
- ^ "Urban Compass Takes First Milestone Step in National Expansion by Acquiring Lindsay Reishman Real Estate in Washington, D.C. Market" (Press release). PR Newswire. November 13, 2014.
- ^ Glendenning, Lauren (April 1, 2016). "Tech company Compass acquires Shane Aspen Real Estate". The Aspen Times.
- ^ Sims, Stephanie; Terchek, Natalie (January 19, 2018). "Compass acquires Bushari Real Estate". Boston Agent Magazine.
- ^ Rodkin, Dennis (April 25, 2018). "Compass acquires Chicago brokerage Conlon Christie's". Crain's Chicago Business.
- ^ SOUTH, GILL (April 25, 2018). "Compass acquires Chicago's Conlon Real Estate". Bradley Inman.
- ^ Solomont, E.B.; Blake, Matthew (March 2, 2020). "Compass faces a reckoning". The Real Deal.
- ^ Stiles, Marc (April 25, 2018). "$2.2 billion real estate tech company enters the Puget Sound region market". American City Business Journals.
- ^ Lynch, Dennis (June 25, 2018). "Compass buys Hudson Company, continuing Chicago expansion effort". The Real Deal.
- ^ Kearns, Patrick (June 25, 2018). "Compass acquires Chicago indie brokerage The Hudson Company". Bradley Inman.
- ^ "Paragon Real Estate of SF acquired by Compass to form city's largest brokerage". San Francisco Chronicle. July 10, 2018.
- ^ Kearns, Patrick (July 9, 2018). "Compass acquires Paragon, seeks San Francisco market supremacy". Bradley Inman.
- ^ Stiles, Marc (August 14, 2018). "Avenue Properties joins real estate tech company Compass". American City Business Journals.
- ^ Kearns, Patrick (August 14, 2018). "Compass takes over Avenue Properties' Seattle offices". Bradley Inman.
- ^ "Compass buying Pacific Union – its second SF real estate acquisition in two months". San Francisco Chronicle. August 22, 2018.
- ^ Norman, Hannah (August 29, 2018). "Compass acquires Pacific Union". American City Business Journals.
- ^ "Compass acquires DC indie brokerage". The Real Deal. November 13, 2018.
- ^ Kearns, Patrick (November 12, 2018). "Compass Acquires D.C. Indie Wydler Brothers Real Estate". Bradley Inman.
- ^ Lunden, Ingrid (February 27, 2019). "Compass acquires Contactually, a CRM provider to the real estate industry". TechCrunch.
- ^ Pender, Kathleen (March 5, 2019). "Compass buys Alain Pinel to create Bay Area real estate behemoth". San Francisco Chronicle.
- ^ Kelliher, Fiona (March 4, 2019). "Alain Pinel turned down Compass' acquisition offer last year. Now, it's changed its mind". American City Business Journals.
- ^ Solomont, E.B. (April 3, 2019). "Compass strikes deal to buy Stribling". The Real Deal.
- ^ Kearns, Patrick (April 3, 2019). "Compass to acquire Stribling & Associates". Bradley Inman.
- ^ Council, Jared (November 19, 2019). "Real-Estate Brokerage Compass Buys AI Startup Detectica". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660.
- ^ "Compass Acquires Detectica, Deepening Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Capabilities Across The Compass Real Estate Platform" (Press release). PR Newswire. November 19, 2019.
- ^ Rosacia, Pam (November 19, 2019). "Home trading platform Compass buys AI company Detectica". S&P Global.
- ^ SOPER, TAYLOR (October 5, 2020). "Real estate brokerage Compass to acquire Seattle-based home closing startup Modus". GeekWire.
- ^ SOPER, TAYLOR (June 16, 2022). "Real estate giant Compass shuts down Modus, the Seattle-based title business it acquired in 2020". GeekWire.
- ^ "Compass Acquires KVS Title" (Press release). PR Newswire. February 25, 2021.
- ^ Kearns, Patrick (February 25, 2021). "Compass moves deeper into closing services with KVS Title acquisition". Bradley Inman.
- ^ James, Cordilia (April 26, 2021). "Compass buys Glide, RE transaction management platform". The Real Deal.
- ^ "Compass Agrees to Acquire Real Estate Transaction-Management Platform Glide" (Press release). PR Newswire. April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Compass Agrees to Acquire First Alliance Title" (Press release). PR Newswire. September 22, 2021.
- ^ DALRYMPLE II, JIM (September 22, 2021). "Compass scoops up yet another title company". Bradley Inman.
- ^ "Compass Agrees to Acquire CommonGround Abstract" (Press release). PR Newswire. September 28, 2021.
- ^ DALRYMPLE II, JIM (September 28, 2021). "Compass acquiring third title company in less than a month". Bradley Inman.
- ^ "Compass Agrees to Acquire Consumer's Title Company of California" (Press release). PR Newswire. May 3, 2022.
- ^ VERDE, BEN (May 3, 2022). "Compass acquires Consumer's Title Company of California". Bradley Inman.
- ^ Gonzales, Angela (April 6, 2023). "Scottsdale's Launch Real Estate joins national giant, introducing it to metro Phoenix". American City Business Journals.
- ^ DALRYMPLE II, JIM (April 6, 2023). "Compass scoops up 300-agent indie brokerage in Arizona". Bradley Inman.
- ^ Asch, Andrew (September 19, 2023). "Compass acquires Pasadena firm DPP". The Real Deal.
- ^ Baird, Cody (September 27, 2023). "Compass buys Realty Austin, Realty San Antonio". American City Business Journals.
- ^ MCPHERSON, MARIAN (September 27, 2023). "Compass acquires No. 1 indie brokerage in Central Texas". Bradley Inman.
- ^ Lovinger, Joe (September 27, 2023). "Compass Acquires Realty Austin, Realty San Antonio". The Real Deal.
- ^ Hinsche, Kate (January 16, 2024). "Compass to acquire Fort Lauderdale-based Attorneys Key Title". The Real Deal.
- ^ RIEGEL, STEPHANIE; DAIGLE, ADAM (April 3, 2024). "Louisiana's dominating Latter & Blum sells to country's largest brokerage". The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate.
- ^ DALRYMPLE II, JIM (April 3, 2024). "Compass acquires 3,100-agent Gulf Coast giant Latter & Blum". Bradley Inman.
- ^ "Compass Strengthens Footprint in Southeastern U.S., Welcoming the Top Brokerage in Tennessee". PR Newswire (Press release). May 13, 2024.
- ^ ANUTA, JOE (October 14, 2018). "Compass". Crain Communications.
- ^ Renzulli, Kerri Anne (January 8, 2019). "WORK: The 15 best tech companies to work for in 2019, according to Glassdoor". CNBC.
- ^ Liao, Shannon (April 23, 2019). "Here are all the winners of the 2019 Webby Awards". The Verge.
- ^ "The 50 best workplaces for innovators". Fast Company. August 5, 2019.
- ^ Kastrenakes, Jacob (May 20, 2020). "Here are all the winners of the 2020 Webby Awards". The Verge.
External links
- Official website
- Business data for Compass, Inc.: