iROOMit is a mobile-first roommate and room rental platform that helps individuals find shared housing, compatible roommates, and spare rooms for rent across multiple international markets. The company offers a verified listing system, in-app messaging/video chat, roommate-matching algorithms, credit/identity checks, and payments through one unified experience. Pulse 2.0 interviewed iROOMit founder and CEO Kal Merhi to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Kal Merhi’s Background
I’d love to start by learning about your personal journey. What experiences shaped you as a founder, and how did they influence your decision to create iROOMit? Merhi said:
“I grew up facing housing insecurity firsthand, my family spent years living in abandoned homes during a war. That experience taught me how vital it is to have a place to call home, and it stayed with me. I always had an entrepreneurial mindset, and over the years, I built several businesses. iROOMit came from my desire to solve a problem I’ve lived through: making it easier and safer for people to find affordable housing and trustworthy roommates.”
“As founder and CEO, I oversee the overall vision and direction of iROOMit. I work closely with our CTO on technology development, guide our marketing and growth strategies, and stay deeply involved in product improvement and user feedback. I also spend a lot of time building partnerships and looking at ways to scale the business sustainably.”
Formation Of The Company
What sparked the idea for iROOMit, and how did you turn it from an idea into a business? Merhi shared:
“The idea started over ten years ago, but really took shape after a conversation with my nephew, who’s a software engineer. We originally built an app focused on helping people design their homes, but halfway through, I realized I wasn’t passionate about it. I pivoted toward solving a bigger problem: the difficulty people face finding safe, affordable rooms and reliable roommates.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory or proudest moment since starting iROOMit? Merhi reflected:
“My proudest moment was launching the iROOMit platform, turning an idea into a real, working product. My favorite moment came soon after, when the very first user paid for an upgrade. A close second in pride was seeing our exponential growth in the second year. It proved that the vision was working.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Merhi explained:
“Our core features include an AI-powered roommate matching algorithm, ID verification, credit reports, secure messaging and booking, and integration with Stripe for safe rent payments. We also offer comprehensive user profiles that go beyond basic listings, helping users find better matches and build trust.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in the roommate and rental market recently, and how did you overcome them? Merhi acknowledged:
“One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced at iROOMit is keeping up with the growing demand in the marketplace. Another major hurdle has been eliminating scammers and unlawful listings. We’ve tackled these issues by expanding our regional reach and leveraging our talented tech team. AI has played a key role in helping us scale, verify users, and maintain platform integrity.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since its launch? Merhi noted:
“Our use of AI has grown significantly, allowing us to study and monitor the market in real time, 24/7. This helps us continuously improve the platform and better serve our community.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Merhi cited:
“Key milestones include reaching 5,000 new users per month and building partnerships with real estate professionals. We also achieved strong organic growth despite staying bootstrapped, which I’m especially proud of.”
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any specific customer success stories? Merhi highlighted:
“Yes, we’ve worked with several clients to explore ways of addressing the surge in apartment rentals. One effective strategy has been helping landlords convert multi-room units into shared living or co-living spaces. This creates a win-win: landlords can significantly boost their monthly rental income, while tenants save on housing costs by sharing. We’ve successfully converted hundreds of landlords to this model, driven in part by the real success stories we’ve shared through our blog content.”
Revenue/Funding
Are you able to discuss funding or revenue metrics? Merhi revealed:
“iROOMit is fully bootstrapped and self-funded. Although founded in 2022, we officially launched in 2023. From 2023 to 2024, we achieved a 350% year-over-year revenue increase. Throughout 2024, we’ve continued to grow steadily with a 20% month-over-month increase so far. Based on current trends, we’re on track to reach another 300% revenue growth by year-end.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates iROOMit from its competition? Merhi affirmed:
“Our biggest differentiator is safety. Unlike other platforms, we have zero tolerance for scams, backed by AI-powered fraud detection, strict ID verification, and secure in-app communication and payments. We also prioritize compatibility and trust, with a smart algorithm that matches users based on lifestyle, preferences, and values, not just location and price.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Merhi emphasized:
“Our goal is to become the go-to platform for roommate matching and room rentals, much like Airbnb is for short-term stays. We’re expanding beyond major cities to serve smaller towns and rural areas, enhancing our AI capabilities, and building community features so users can connect and support one another.”
Additional Thoughts
Any other topics you would like to discuss? Merhi concluded:
“We’re excited about the future! Our goal is to establish iROOMit as a global brand, the Airbnb of roommates and room rentals. We’re building a trusted platform that makes shared living easier, safer, and more accessible worldwide.”
