Why Is Apartment Searching So Frustrating? Homio Has a Solution

By Sophie Malka Waldman, Liat Weiss and Moyses Mutchnik

The three of us were apart of the Real Estate Entrepreneurship course at the Adelson Reichman University, taught by Ziv Shor with the support of teaching assistant Adi Weizman. For a class assignment we were asked to come up with a venture that could genuinely change the real estate industry. Like entrepreneurs do, we started by looking at our own lives and asking: what’s broken, and why hasn’t anyone fixed it yet?

As renters, and as olim chadashim navigating the Israeli housing market, we experienced first-hand just how frustrating apartment searching can be. Endless WhatsApp and Facebook groups, unverified listings, scams, awkward roommate matches, and a total lack of transparency turn what should be an exciting step into a stressful one. And it’s not just a newcomer problem, Israelis deal with it too.
Homio started as an idea thought of by Sophie Malka Waldman, and was then revolutionized and evolved, together with Liat Weiss and Moyses Mutchnik, into a platform built by renters, for renters.

Homio is an AI-powered lifestyle apartment, area, and roommate-matching platform that reimagines renting as a personalised, values-driven experience. Using a “Tinder-style” interface with 100% verified listings, Homio matches people not just by budget and location, but by routines, habits, values, and lifestyle, prioritising belonging over utility. The goal is simple: fewer failed matches, less wasted time, and homes that actually feel like home. 

Winning first place at the Adelson School’s Cross Vertical Competition was incredibly validating. What started as a classroom idea became something that resonated with judges and peers alike. It confirmed for us that Homio isn’t just an idea, it’s a real solution to a shared problem, and one we’re genuinely excited to keep building with the amazing support of the Entrepreneurship school.