Mobile Doorman

About Mobile Doorman

Mobile Doorman, operating under its legal entity Paragon Mobile, Inc., was established to address a digital communication gap in the multifamily real estate sector. Founded in 2014 by Bob Matteson and Graham Gilbert, the Chicago-based company developed a platform centered on creating custom, white-label mobile applications for apartment communities. Matteson's inspiration for the company came from his personal experience living in a modern high-rise that still relied on paper flyers for communication, a stark contrast to his work in the tech industry. His background as a commercial real estate broker prior to the 2008 crash, followed by a pivot into technology startups, gave him a distinct perspective on the opportunities within real estate technology.

The company's core business is providing a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution to property owners and managers in the multifamily, student, and corporate housing markets. Its business model is based on a monthly per-unit fee. The platform is designed to enhance the resident experience and improve operational efficiency for property managers. Key features of the customizable app include maintenance request submissions, package notifications, amenity reservations, in-app lease renewals, and tools for community engagement like messaging and surveys. By digitizing these interactions, the platform aims to increase resident satisfaction and retention, which in turn can boost a property's net operating income.

Mobile Doorman's journey included significant milestones, such as raising $6.5 million in a 2019 funding round led by Reimagined Ventures to fuel product development and market expansion. The firm's growth and market position culminated in its acquisition by Zego (Powered by PayLease), a property technology company focused on resident experience management, in February 2021. This acquisition integrated Mobile Doorman's robust feature set, including resident data analytics, into Zego's broader platform, combining two major players in the proptech space to serve a larger customer base.