#521 From Brokerage to PropTech: How Chad Link & Rob Brower Are Reinventing Home Buying

In this episode of The CTO Show with Mehmet, I’m joined by Chad Link, Co-Founder & CEO of Swyvvl, and Rob Brower, Co-Founder & CTO. Together, they share their journey of building Swyvvl — a PropTech startup that’s reimagining how real estate transactions are done by shifting power back to buyers, sellers, and agents.

We dive into how Chad’s 18 years in real estate brokerages revealed systemic inefficiencies, how Rob turned that vision into a scalable platform, and why disrupting a legacy industry like real estate requires both grit and tech innovation.

About the Guests

• Chad Link – Co-Founder & CEO of Swyvvl. Veteran real estate broker with 18+ years of experience, founder of multiple brokerages, and passionate about fixing broken incentives in home buying and selling.

• Rob Brower – Co-Founder & CTO of Swyvvl. A lifelong technologist, serial entrepreneur, and digital media veteran who transformed Chad’s vision into a nationwide PropTech platform.

Key Takeaways

• The hidden cost of middlemen in real estate — and how Swyvvl is solving it.

• Lessons from living out of a car to keep a brokerage alive.

• Why building PropTech is harder than it looks: from data access to compliance.

• How AI and blockchain will play a role in the future of real estate platforms.

• The importance of finding co-founders who believe rather than just earn.

What You’ll Learn

• How PropTech startups can challenge entrenched industry giants.

• Why emotional decision-making in home buying matters as much as logical filters.

• The grind and sacrifices behind turning a brokerage pain point into a tech startup.

• Insights into scaling Swyvvl from beta to a national platform.

Episode Highlights

• (00:02:00) Chad’s journey from real estate broker to startup founder.

• (00:04:00) Rob on how a client relationship evolved into a co-founding story.

• (00:10:00) The problem with referral fees and why buyers/sellers never see the value.

• (00:18:00) The tech stack challenges of building a national real estate platform.

• (00:29:00) Using AI to match emotional preferences in home searches.

• (00:41:00) Exploring future revenue streams and blockchain possibilities.

• (00:47:00) How investors are viewing PropTech today.

• (00:51:00) Advice for PropTech founders: leave your ego at the door, embrace the grind.

Resources Mentioned

• Swyvvl Official Website: https://www.swyvvl.com/

• Contact Chad: chad@swyvvl.com

• Contact Rob: rob@swyvvl.com