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Interview day saw Hans Koch, the co-founder of Owners.com,celebrating with partner Jack Reibling their San Francisco"for sale by owner" home-listing firm's thirdanniversary as a Web service. A three-tier cake there was not--but"donut holes in the kitchen" were available for thetaking. Isn't humbleness in the face of a huge near-futureendearing?
Although he's proud of the kudos Owners.com has received(being recognized as one of PC Magazine's "Top 100Web sites" from fall 1997 to mid-1998 and all), Koch's egois in check. "We had five people [he now employs 30], and werebeing considered on the same level as Amazon.com," he says ofthe PC Magazine honor. "We don't have [their]resources, [but] there continues to be a lot of pressure to performat the level of our publicly traded counterparts with [huge]staffs."
Koch's been into business since age 6, when he sold seedsaround his neighborhood. "That company wasn't big,"he says. "I think I made $1.25 that summer." Hisfascination for real estate began at age 9, when a year ofhome-schooling coincided with his parents building an addition totheir house. The curious youngster hung out with thecontractors--observing, making suggestions. Throughout high schooland college, Koch volunteered to help planning and developmentcommittees in his southwest Michigan hometown with real estateprojects. He honed his entrepreneurial skills with a car-detailingbusiness that helped pay for college.
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