EP 7: From Idea to Impact: Ernie Graham's Entrepreneurial Journey with Homebot

Biz Mafia : Where Business Gets Made

Step into the real-life world of entrepreneurship, where success isn't handed to you on a silver platter, but earned through the gritty embrace of challenges – pivotal stepping stones for learning, growth, and ultimate triumph. The time has come to unleash your complete entrepreneurial potential.

In this riveting sit-down, we're joined by the serial entrepreneur and business maestro, Ernie Graham. A luminary in the real estate fintech industry, Ernie has established himself as a valuable mentor for fellow entrepreneurs. Spanning from his early corporate days to his venture into entrepreneurship, Ernie has confronted and triumphed over various challenges along the way. Driven by a passion for real estate sales and technology, he utilized his expertise to establish his most notable venture, Homebot – a revolutionary client engagement platform developed to empower individuals in wealth building through homeownership. Ernie pulls back the curtain on the genesis of Homebot, the competitive landscape of scaling a technology business, and the vital role of customer feedback in the entrepreneurial journey.

Get ready for an episode that echoes the incredible path of those who dared to defy, as Ernie Graham unveils his entrepreneurial saga and shares the unwritten laws that govern his empire.

What We Discuss

• [00:00:26] - Meet Ernie Graham
• [00:15:38] - Ernie’s entrepreneurial philosophy on knowing when it’s time to walk away and shift gears
• [00:22:22] - The inception of Homebot
• [00:27:01] - The importance of not letting setbacks stop you from living your life
• [00:35:17] - Ernie’s mentorship journey and his driving forces
• [00:37:38] - A closer look into Homebot and its emphasis on human connection
• [00:58:02] - The power of understanding customer needs and harnessing feedback
• [01:02:23] - The crucial role of timing and mindset in entrepreneurship
• [01:17:19] - Bouncing back from business failures and pandemic-induced obstacles
• [01:27:11] - How a great business partner relationship can pave the way for success
• [01:42:10] - Ernie’s transition out of the CEO role and what lies ahead

Notable Quotes

• [00:21:55] - “One of the most powerful things that I've done as an entrepreneur is know when to say no.” - Ernie Graham
• [00:45:20] - “The struggle of scaling a company is to keep your eye on that prize because the scale of the company causes you to have to put money and energy into other things, to come back to that thing.” - Ernie Graham
• [01:14:43] - “You’ve got to be honest with yourself to know what your individual worth is.” - Ernie Graham

Our Guest

Ernie Graham’s entrepreneurial journey is nothing short of remarkable. His academic background includes a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tulsa. What sets Ernie's career apart is his divergence from familial roots in engineering to enter the fiercely competitive domain of sales in Silicon Valley. In 2010, he founded Social BIOS, where he served as Chairman, and in 2015, he co-founded Homebot, which was sold to private equity firm Alpine Partners in 2021. Through these experiences, Ernie solidified his standing as a major influencer in the real estate fintech sector.

Resources and Links

• Homebot website: https://homebot.ai/
• Sign up for a demo: https://homebot.ai/demo

• Connect with Ernie Graham on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erniegraham

• BizMafia Website: https://www.bizmafia.net
• Follow the BizMafia podcast
• On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd4z3Xk-iOT5zt62H4_juXw
• On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bizmafia
• On Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebizmafia

• Connect with Pat Linden on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-linden
• Connect with Bryan Taylor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-taylor-0429008