Inman Connect

Inman Connect
Name	Inman Connect
Type	Conference series
Founded	2005
Founder	Brad Inman
Headquarters	San Francisco, California
Area served	United States, United Kingdom
Industry	Real estate media

Inman Connect Inman Connect is a recurring real estate industry conference series founded in 2005 that convenes professionals from across the United States, United Kingdom, and international markets to discuss agents, brokers, technology, marketing, and transaction practices. The series attracts executives from notable firms such as Keller Williams, RE/MAX, Zillow, Redfin, and Compass, alongside venture capitalists from firms including Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and Benchmark. Speakers and attendees have included leaders from Microsoft, Google, Facebook, LinkedIn, and media figures associated with The New York Times and Forbes.

History

Inman Connect was established by journalist and entrepreneur Brad Inman during a period of rapid digital disruption that affected companies such as Coldwell Banker, Century 21, Trulia, and Move, Inc.. Early editions featured panels with executives from Dotloop, DocuSign, Dropbox, and startups later acquired by Zillow Group and News Corp. Across its history the series intersected with regulatory debates involving entities like the National Association of Realtors and rulings related to antitrust law that implicated brokerages such as Realogy and technology platforms like Google. Milestones included coverage of mergers and acquisitions involving Offerpad, Opendoor, Better.com, and investment rounds from SoftBank, Tiger Global Management, and Lightspeed Venture Partners.

Conference Format and Programming

Programs emphasize panels, keynote addresses, workshops, and pitch sessions featuring executives from Coldwell Banker, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Sotheby's International Realty, Marcus & Millichap, and technology vendors such as CoreLogic, Black Knight, and Matterport. Sessions have included product demonstrations by companies like Salesforce, Oracle, Amazon Web Services, and Stripe, and legal briefings referencing decisions from courts including the United States Supreme Court and agencies like the Federal Trade Commission. Programming often integrates investor-focused panels with representatives from Accel Partners, Founders Fund, and Khosla Ventures, and marketing workshops featuring teams from HubSpot, Mailchimp, and Hootsuite.

Locations and Events

Inman Connect has been hosted in major venues across San Francisco, New York City, Las Vegas, Miami, London, and Los Angeles, attracting delegates from companies such as WeWork, Airbnb, Expedia Group, Booking Holdings, and regional brokerages like Douglas Elliman and Keller Williams NYC. Offshoot events and regional summits have included collaborations with industry gatherings such as SXSW, NAR Annual Conference & Expo, CES, Collision, and regional chambers linked to markets like Silicon Valley, Seattle, Austin, and Chicago.

Keynote Speakers and Notable Sessions

Keynotes have featured CEOs and founders from Zillow Group, Redfin, Airbnb, Opendoor, and investors from Union Square Ventures and Lightspeed. Notable sessions have included debates on consumer-facing platforms involving Facebook Marketplace, regulatory panels with representatives from the Department of Justice, and technology deep dives showcasing products from Matterport, DocuSign, and Twilio. High-profile moderators and commentators have included journalists from Bloomberg, Reuters, The Wall Street Journal, and hosts associated with CNBC and PBS.

Industry Impact and Reception

Industry responses have ranged from praise by executives at Compass and Realogy for networking and deal generation to critical analysis in outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post about platform concentration and startup valuations. The conference has influenced recruitment and product roadmaps at brokerages such as eXp Realty, RE/MAX, and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, while investors from Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz have sourced dealflow. Academic and think-tank commentators from institutions such as Harvard Business School, MIT, and Stanford Graduate School of Business have cited panels in studies on disruption in sectors including PropTech and digital marketplaces.

Organization and Ownership

Organized by Inman News, the series operates within a media organization founded by Brad Inman and staffed by editors and operators who engage with firms including Zillow, Trulia, RE/MAX, and Keller Williams. Ownership and sponsorship structures have included partnerships and exhibitor relationships with corporations such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and advertising partners like The Wall Street Journal and Forbes Media. Event production has drawn on agencies and vendors including UBM, Informa, and boutique conference producers aligned with major trade shows.

Criticisms and Controversies

Critiques have addressed sponsorship influence when exhibitors include large platforms such as Zillow, Facebook, and Google, and coverage has included debates around conflicts involving corporate sponsors like SoftBank-backed startups and listings promoted by firms including Opendoor and Offerpad. Controversies have arisen related to ticketing, access for independent agents versus brokerage executives, and questions raised by commentators from The Guardian, Los Angeles Times, and Quartz about diversity and representation among speakers and panels. Legal and regulatory scrutiny discussed at events has mirrored disputes involving National Association of Realtors litigation, antitrust inquiries by the Federal Trade Commission, and state-level investigations in jurisdictions such as California and New York.

Category:Conferences in the United States