Tyler Bliha, 33, never thought he’d hold the title of founder. In fact, the CEO of Abode, a home finance manager was earning the educational pedigree necessary to cement a career on Wall Street, a path that was “ingrained” into him and his peers at Notre Dame.
According to Tyler, most classmates followed the 2+2+2 track: two years in banking, two in private equity, and two in business school. However, by the time Tyler was accepted into Harvard Business School, his interest in that trajectory had faded. But while there, Tyler discovered the venture and startup world, igniting a new passion.
After graduating, he became the first employee at UpEquity, a mortgage startup, and bought his first home. Experiencing the steep costs of homeownership firsthand, he launched Abode in March 2023.
“I wanted to be a founder for selfish reasons—to attach my name to something I’m proud of,” Tyler admits. “Abode’s mission-driven work makes me feel like I’m making an impact and leaving my mark.”
Tyler believes all founders must be “unapologetic” and “ultra decisive” about their startup’s direction.
“If you’re going to change a landscape […] you have to be okay with being a little polarizing,” he says. “Doing something different likely means you’re creating value, as long as it improves the user journey.”
About Abode
Abode offers a streamlined solution for managing home finances by monitoring property taxes, insurance, and energy bills. It alerts users to potential savings, providing a convenient way to gain better control over their budget. Abode simplifies financial management by educating homeowners and automating routine tasks, allowing users to make informed, effortless decisions.
Pedigree Relevance
I wouldn’t say you need that background to start a company. It takes a lot more than what they teach you in an MBA program to start a company. I think it’s much more about the intangibles than what you learn in school.
It’s about resilience, problem-solving ability, and hard work. That’s why I believe many great entrepreneurs come from underprivileged backgrounds. They’ve had to learn how to hustle to create opportunities, unlike people like myself who have a pedigree resume.
Educate Your Market Early
Marketing is key to differentiating yourself today. With Abode, we’re introducing a new concept—a financial manager for your home. This requires building and educating a market. I wish we had started selling our concept alongside product development, as it could have informed our product cycles. However, the risk of disillusioning people is always present.
In a world where attention is constantly divided, cutting through the noise while staying genuine is tough, especially with industry bait-and-switch tactics. We’ve learned from experience and have since adjusted our signup funnel and ad copy to better reach our audience.
Surround Yourself with Experience
Unpopular opinion: I think much of the world is moving toward comfort and work-life balance, but if you’re fighting for survival, that’s a luxury you may be unable to afford.
It’s very difficult for somebody to appreciate what it’s like to go from absolute zero to one. That’s why my entire team is former founders now. They understand what it takes to create something from nothing – because with nothing you have an infinite number of ways you can do something.
People who understand the intangibles know there’s no perfect way to get things done. Sometimes, you won’t have all the information, people, or systems you’d find in a more established company. You have to be scrappy and resourceful, and that’s something you can’t teach. I’d rather have someone with limited experience but strong intangibles than someone with extensive experience who hasn’t worked at our stage of a company.
About the Author: Tess Danielson is a journalist and writer focusing on the intersection of technology and society.
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