Lindsay Martinez: Using Tech to Give Renters Access to Housing

Ladderworks is a publishing platform of diverse picture books and online curriculum with the mission to empower over a million kids to become social entrepreneurs. Our current series features interviews by our interplanetary journalist Spiffy with inspiring Social Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Builders, and Changemakers who are advancing the UN SDGs. 

Hey, gang! Spiffy here, back with the scoop on the changemaking leaders of Planet Earth. As the only interplanetary journalist stationed on this blue planet, I’m thrilled to present this galactic exclusive with Lindsay Martinez, co-founder and CEO of Tourus. Let’s see what she is doing to make a positive impact in the world.

Spiffy: Thanks for joining me, Lindsay! Tell me, what challenge are you addressing through your organization?

Lindsay: Glad to be with you, Spiffy! Finding the right home has long been a challenge, and moving is one of the top three most stressful life events. We are focused on helping renters navigate the rental search process so it is more efficient and painless, and so they find the perfect home that fits their needs.

Spiffy: Home is where the heart is. What motivates you to tackle this challenge?

Lindsay: I started my career as a real estate broker, and I've been working in technology for real estate (PropTech) for almost ten years. I kept seeing how difficult it was for renters to find homes that were actually what they were looking for and fit their lifestyle. I also worked with property teams and saw how challenging it was for them to find the right renters. I'm motivated by solving problems for both renters and property teams to achieve the common goal of finding the right fit.

Spiffy: Cool! How would you describe the impact of your work?

Lindsay: Tourus helps renters and property teams. We help renters by providing support, transparency, and information throughout the rental search so they can make a decision with all of the data they need. We help property teams improve their processes and rent apartments faster.

Spiffy: That’s great! Is there anything else you would love to tell our audience?

Lindsay: Making access to housing easier comes in many forms since it is such a large part of our world. There is a lot of room for improvement to help people find the right homes for them, and sometimes it takes thinking outside of the box and challenging the way things are. If something doesn't seem to work and you think it can be better, question it, learn about it, challenge it.

Spiffy: Thanks for speaking with me today, Lindsay—it’s been an honor!

Lindsay Martinez is the co-founder and CEO of Tourus, the rental industry’s first intelligence platform powering the future of renting and leasing by enabling both renters and properties to find the perfect match. She has been a PropTech Product and Customer Success Leader for over nine years, and started her career in real estate as a broker in NYC. She is passionate about housing, sustainability, and art, and lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her partner and two lovely cats. Nominated by Kerry Ingram of Visible Hands. First published on the Ladderworks website on April 7, 2023.

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect those of Ladderworks LLC.

© 2023 Ladderworks LLC. Edited by Lindsey Brannon. Spiffy’s illustration by Shreyas Navare. For the Ladderworks digital curriculum to help K-3 kids advance the UN SDGs, visit Spiffy's Launchpad: Creative Entrepreneurship Workshops for K-3 Kids and their caregivers here.