Bixby

Bixby operated as a cloud-based building amenity and rental management platform, founded in New York City in 2016 by Mark Smukler and Alexander Ohebshalom. The concept originated from Ohebshalom's background as a real estate developer and Smukler's entrepreneurial experience, with the initial goal of digitizing and modernizing Ohebshalom's family property management business. The company evolved to offer a suite of tools for both residential and commercial property management teams globally.

The platform provided a dual-facing solution targeting both property managers and their tenants. For managers, it offered a centralized dashboard to streamline operations such as sending building-wide announcements, managing maintenance requests, and collecting rent payments through ACH or card transactions. For tenants and residents, it aimed to enhance their living experience by providing a single interface for building communications, service requests, and smart-home device integration. The software was designed to be a customizable, virtual amenity that property owners could tailor to their specific needs, with the goal of improving tenant retention.

Bixby's business model included offering its solutions for free to property managers while generating revenue by charging a small fixed fee for each rent collection transaction. The company was venture-backed, securing investments from firms including Green Egg Ventures and SoundBoard Venture Fund. In June 2018, Bixby acquired WorkOrder.es to expand its capabilities. A significant milestone occurred in July 2019 when Hello Alfred, a residential experience company, acquired Bixby, incorporating its assets, team, and customers. This acquisition was a strategic move for Hello Alfred to expand its footprint, particularly in Class B multifamily buildings, and integrate Bixby's property management tools into its own service offerings.

Keywords: property management software, tenant experience platform, building operations, proptech, rent collection, maintenance requests, smart home integration, amenity platform, residential management, commercial property tools, multifamily buildings, landlord software, tenant communication, real estate technology, virtual amenity, building management, WorkOrder.es, Hello Alfred acquisition, Mark Smukler, Alexander Ohebshalom