As an engineer, Heather Johnston relocated with a major Milwaukee corporation three times in five years and quickly realized relocation focuses on home owners—leaving both the employer (who pays for the service) and the renter very frustrated. Driving through unfamiliar neighborhoods and talking to strangers at Starbucks isn’t the optimal way to find a new living space.
Johnston is now the Founder & CEO of Find My Spot, a startup that uses technology to simplify relocation for renters. It’s an innovative online relocation service, matching renters with a perfect place to call home. Using a proprietary algorithm, Find My Spot targets apartments based on a renter’s preferences and offers custom relocation packages to employers in Milwaukee and direct-to-renter services.
At what point did you become interested in entrepreneurship? I’ve always been interested in creating new things and bringing ideas to life (hence the engineering background). I became extremely interested in entrepreneurship within the last five years.
What has been the biggest difficulty you’ve faced as an entrepreneur? A strong network is key to success. Finding supporters, advocates and mentors that you can help and who can help you has been critical.
What makes Milwaukee a unique place to start a company? Milwaukee is a small but very internally connected city. There is a strong support network of helpful and genuinely caring people who want startups to succeed. Everyone seems to be one connection away from someone who truly wants to see the economy benefit from young companies with new ideas.
What piece of advice do you have for new startup companies? Prepare, set difficult but achievable goals and then EXECUTE. A startup is a hobby until you make revenue, then it becomes a business. Reaching this milestone is hard work and the level of commitment, reading, networking and education needed to accomplish your goals should not be underestimated. You can do it!
If given the opportunity to take a monthlong vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go any why? Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands. Vacation destinations that expand/change one’s view of the world are remarkable.
Quick Facts:
- Title: Founder & CEO, Find My Spot
- Age: 29
- Contact: @Bimmerzrbest • @FindMySpotMke • LinkedIn
Recent News:
- OnMilwaukee.com - Find My Spot puts Finger on the Pulse of Local Renting Options
- Biz Times Media - Find My Spot is Apartment Matchmaker
- Find My Spot was recently featured in The Business Journal (see below)
