Upstream's Journey to Production

"​If it weren't for the rocks in its bed, the stream would have no song." - Carl Perkins

​​It's been an exciting journey navigating the uncertain waters of legacy systems, disparate industry interests, fiefdoms, incentives and "wives' tales" to bring Upstream to life. There were times it felt like we needed to brace ourselves for Class 5 rapids. But I realize the excitement is just beginning as we prepare to put Upstream into production.

Upstream started differently than traditional start-ups. It wasn't two people sitting in a garage with a unique idea trying to figure out how to build, market, sell and scale it. The catalyst was escalating frustration. The troubling inefficiencies and data control issues had been around for years, but they seemed to get more expensive, the liabilities greater and the ability for a brokerage to capitalize on their data increasingly "watered down." It was a frustration great enough for competitors across the country to collaborate on a solution.

The founders wanted to remove the inefficiencies and expense of operating in a patchwork of redundant and overlapping software vendors and MLSs. More important, they wanted to develop a system that allowed them to control the distribution and use of their data. Giving access to one of their greatest assets needs to be specific and given with intent. Upstream is simple in concept but complicated in execution. However, few in our industry, even its critics, argue its merits.