At age 31, Bennett Washabaugh is a pioneer in the proptech space. He’s founder and CEO of TenantBase, and has led it from a small startup to becoming arguably the largest tech-enabled brokerage in the U.S.

The Santa Monica, CA-based company was founded on the premise that smaller businesses have historically been underserved by traditional brokerage firms. These companies expect a modern experience with tools similar to what is available to apartment seekers and home buyers.

Due to the complexity of negotiating commercial leases, Washabaugh also recognized there will always be a need for experienced brokers. Proprietary tools were developed to serve both the firms and the TenantBase brokers.

These are just a few of the reasons we chose Washabaugh to be one of the National 2019 Next Generation Award winners. Connect Media’s third annual Next Generation Awards recognize young leaders in the commercial real estate industry who are likely to be influential for years to come.

This vision has translated into impressive growth. Within the past year, the company has grown from a 30-person operation in three markets to more than 120 employees across 10 major markets.

This was made possible by Washabaugh’s ability to clearly articulate the company’s mission and the value of each team member’s contribution. TenantBase has been able to recruit experienced brokers who also recognize that the leasing landscape is changing, along with product and operational talent.