I am the founder and CEO of iROOMit, an online platform that simplifies the process of finding roommates and rooms for rent. I’m a serial entrepreneur and a professional coach, focusing on helping leaders and young proprietors unlock their potential.
Company: iROOMit
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company.
Kal Merhi : Thank you for having me! My name is Kal Merhi, and I am the founder and CEO of iROOMit, an online platform designed to make it easier for people to find roommates and rooms for rent across the USA and Canada. I’ve always had a passion for helping others, so I built iROOMit to provide safe, affordable, and convenient co-living solutions. The platform features ID verification, credit reports, secure payments, and a smart algorithm that matches users based on lifestyle preferences, making searching for roommates more reliable and efficient. Beyond this business, I am a serial entrepreneur and a professional coach, helping leaders and young entrepreneurs unlock their full potential.
What does your typical day look like, and which part of your routine is the most essential to your productivity?
Kal Merhi : The inspiration to start iROOMit came from my personal experiences growing up. I had a very challenging childhood, where my family and I lived in abandoned homes for several years, often moving due to circumstances beyond our control. During that time, we didn’t have a stable place to live, and it made me realize just how important having a safe, affordable home is for personal stability and well-being. I saw firsthand how difficult it was for people to find a place to live, and it sparked a deep passion within me to help solve this issue for others.
Can you share any specific habits or rituals that have had the greatest impact on your focus and performance?
Kal Merhi : We realized our startup was gaining real traction when we began seeing a powerful combination of positive user feedback, repeat customers, and organic growth. There was a palpable shift—from pushing to gain attention to naturally attracting it. Users were not only returning but also spreading the word, and we knew we were onto something meaningful.
This traction was further accelerated by the recent surge in the real-estate rental market. With housing affordability becoming a significant concern, the need for secure, safe, and seamless room-sharing solutions has become more critical than ever. iROOMit filled this gap by offering a platform that didn’t just connect people with available rooms but also fostered trust and safety—key elements in a thriving shared-living community.
Key Strategies That Helped Us Scale:
- Solving a Real Problem: We focused on addressing the real pain points of affordability and secure room-sharing, especially in today’s fast-paced rental market.
- Listening to Our Users: Early adopters provided invaluable insights, guiding our product enhancements and ensuring we stayed aligned with market needs.
- Doubling Down on What Works: When we saw which acquisition channels were bringing in engaged users, we amplified those efforts.
Building a Seamless Experience: We invested heavily in technology and user experience to make the process of finding or listing a room as smooth and trustworthy as possible. - Prioritizing Safety and Security: Our platform’s robust verification processes and safety features built trust, which naturally encouraged organic growth.
- Leveraging Market Trends: With rental prices rising, we positioned iROOMit as a smart, cost-effective alternative, which resonated well with both room seekers and listers.
- Establishing Strong Partnerships: Collaborating with real-estate professionals and related service providers expanded our reach and added value to our community.
We are incredibly grateful for the momentum we’ve built so far and are excited to continue scaling iROOMit, making housing more accessible and safe for everyone.
How do you balance your professional responsibilities with personal well-being and family life?
Kal Merhi : During the scaling phase, we took a bootstrapped approach to funding and financial management. From the outset, we prioritized generating revenue as quickly as possible. By launching an MVP (Minimum Viable Product), we were able to enter the market swiftly, gather real user feedback, and refine our offering while keeping a steady cash flow. This allowed us to continue growing without the need for external capital.
We maintained a lean operation by strategically allocating resources to high-impact areas. Our focus was on in-house talent and minimizing outsourcing, which allowed us to make the most out of every dollar spent. We also adopted an agile, iterative development process, which reduced upfront costs and enabled us to adapt to market changes rapidly.
Rather than relying on paid advertising or outside funding, we focused on organic growth strategies. We built strong referral programs, leveraged social proof, and created content that drove organic traffic, which allowed us to scale while keeping costs low.
Smart resource management played a key role in our financial strategy. We invested selectively in technology and automated repetitive tasks, which helped us keep operational costs down and improve efficiency.
In short, we were able to scale without external funding by focusing on revenue generation, cost efficiency, and organic growth strategies. The result was a sustainable business model that allowed iROOMit to thrive without sacrificing our mission of providing safe and affordable room-sharing solutions.
What tools, apps, or systems do you rely on to stay organized and manage your time effectively?
Kal Merhi : Regular Team Meetings: We hold weekly stand-ups and monthly all-hands meetings. These sessions not only keep everyone aligned with our goals but also provide a platform for sharing successes, challenges, and lessons learned.
Workshops and Training: We invest in skill development through workshops, especially focusing on areas that can help us innovate and grow. Whether it’s technology advancements led by David (our CTO) or market strategy sessions with Khalil (our CEO and marketing expert), learning is a continuous process.
Social Events and Bonding Activities: While work is important, so is building personal connections. We organize team lunches, virtual coffee breaks, and occasional offsite events. These activities help break down silos and create a sense of camaraderie.
Recognition Programs: We have a system to recognize outstanding work—whether it’s through shout-outs in meetings, a “Team Member of the Month” recognition, or simple appreciation messages in our internal channels. Celebrating wins, big or small, boosts morale and reinforces a positive culture.
Idea Jams: We encourage innovation through brainstorming sessions where team members can pitch ideas, discuss potential improvements, or explore new approaches to problems. This has led to creative solutions and helped nurture a culture of continuous improvement.
Cultural Practices:
Onboarding with Culture in Mind: Every new team member goes through an onboarding process that not only covers job responsibilities but also immerses them in our company values and culture.
Open-Door Policy: Our leadership team, including Khalil and David, maintains an approachable and open-door policy. This transparency encourages open communication and trust.
Empowerment and Autonomy: We give team members the freedom to take ownership of their projects. This autonomy fosters accountability and aligns personal growth with company goals.
Encouraging Work-Life Balance: Understanding the importance of balance, we promote flexible work schedules and respect personal time. This approach has helped in maintaining high productivity and preventing burnout.
Measuring Cultural Alignment and Engagement:
Employee Surveys: We conduct regular surveys to gauge team sentiment. These surveys help us understand how aligned team members feel with our mission, values, and direction.
One-on-One Check-Ins: Managers regularly connect with their teams individually to discuss progress, address concerns, and provide support. This practice keeps engagement high and builds strong interpersonal relationships.
Performance Reviews: Our performance evaluations include not just metrics and deliverables but also how well individuals align with our company culture and contribute to the overall team dynamic.
Monitoring Retention and Satisfaction: High retention rates and positive feedback in exit interviews (when they happen) are indicators of a strong and positive company culture.
Recognition and Feedback Loops: By measuring participation in recognition programs and analyzing feedback trends, we gain insights into how engaged and motivated our team feels.
What advice would you give to other leaders looking to optimize their daily routines for maximum productivity and balance?
Kal Merhi : Looking back, one critical lesson I learned about scaling is the importance of focusing on organic growth from the very beginning. While it’s tempting to consider external funding or large-scale paid marketing campaigns to fuel growth, we found that building a strong, organic foundation through user feedback, referrals, and social proof was far more sustainable.
This organic growth approach not only kept our costs low but also helped build a loyal and engaged user base that was genuinely invested in our platform. In hindsight, I wish we had doubled down on this strategy earlier, as it allowed us to scale in a more controlled and cost-effective way, while staying true to our mission of providing safe, affordable, and trustworthy room-sharing solutions.
