Interview with Phil Lojacono, CEO of Liiva: The new digital platform for real estate owners
Liiva, a start-up subsidiary of die Mobiliar, was founded in 2021. The company supports Swiss property owners in all matters relating to housing. STARTUPS.CH interviewed Phil Lojacono, CEO of Liiva.
How did you come up with this business idea?
Our parent company, Mobiliar, is one of the largest insurance companies in Switzerland and is strongly anchored in Swiss society. From their activities and direct contact with their customers came the realisation that the lack of transparency and uncertainty in all areas of home ownership is very high. We wanted to change that. Home ownership is often the biggest investment and the biggest debt for the Swiss. At the same time, it also serves as a retirement provision. These are complex issues and overwhelm many owners. We want to help our users with transparency, fairness and personal advice on everything to do with home ownership.
How do you stand out from other platforms in this area?
We cover the whole cycle, i.e. from the search, to the purchase, to the management and finally to the sale of the home. But we clearly focus on the area of “management”. Accordingly, our goal is to make life easier for our clients in and around their homes, and not primarily to achieve the best price in a transaction.
What is your vision? Your big goal?
The purpose of Liiva is to give the Swiss population peace of mind around their home. Our goal is that the users of Liiva always know that their home is in good hands, that they know who they can turn to and that they can be sure to receive correct and personal advice. If we achieve that, we will have reached our goal.
What is it like to be a start-up of a corporate group?
We benefit enormously from our parent company, die Mobiliar. Be it in terms of expertise in mortgages and insurance, but especially also in terms of reach and trust among the population. Die Mobiliar has built up an excellent reputation over the years, from which Liiva can benefit greatly. Of course, there is also a financial aspect. It definitely helps to have a stable and excellently positioned long-term partner behind you.
Does it give you more security or does it put you under more pressure?
Definitely more security. Mobiliar has already had some experience with start-ups and innovation. They know about the risks and that it takes time for start-ups to assert themselves on the market. That helps us enormously and it is a great pleasure to work with the Mobiliar teams.
Can you give tips to other founders?
Every start-up is different, the industry, the shareholder structure, the risks etc. I’m always happy to pass on my experience from my own start-up before Liiva and now as CEO of a corporate start-up. I always look forward to each and every contact.
And specific tips for founders from a corporation?
Good governance is very important, who decides what and where. This governance should be approved as high up as possible. Then it helps to have a godfather within the group who strongly supports the interests of the start-up. We are very lucky with our contacts at die Mobiliar.
We look forward to your visit to liiva.ch.
