Quit Unicorn startup to Disrupt $200B Home Ownership Industry | Fundsandfounders

In this episode of Funds and Founders, we sit down with Cody Anderson — early employee at Carta, investor, limited partner, and now the founder of Tommy — a startup revolutionizing shared homeownership. Cody shares his journey from growing up in a small business family in Minneapolis to building a career at Carta, why he believes co-ownership is the future of real estate, and what it really takes to start your own company today. We also dive deep into the realities of founder life, angel investing, social media pressures, and staying sane while building ambitious projects. Topics Covered: - Cody’s early exposure to entrepreneurship - Lessons from 8 years at Carta - Why co-ownership is a game-changer - How to navigate early startup roles - Dealing with perfectionism and founder mental health - Angel investing, incentives, and how venture capital really works - Building Tommy: from idea to action Timestamps: 00:20 - Cody’s entrepreneurial roots in Minneapolis 03:25 - Lessons from parents’ small businesses 04:40 - Moving to San Francisco: the leap from hometown 05:46 - Early sales job and deciding to move 07:10 - Joining Carta at 30 employees and $1M revenue 08:00 - Why Cody chose an early-stage startup 10:15 - Staying 8 years at Carta: purpose and mission 13:24 - Scaling Carta’s network through data-driven expansion 16:26 - Lessons on network effects and scaling 20:38 - Leaving Carta and early thoughts on Tommy 23:00 - First steps: building Tommy’s website and lead-gen tools 24:20 - Using AI and technology in real estate 27:30 - Social media vs. real productivity for founders 36:00 - Why understanding incentives is crucial for founders 38:00 - Lessons from venture capital and fundraising 40:00 - Building Tommy: Marketing challenges and opportunities 43:00 - Messaging, SEO, and customer education 45:00 - Testing content: blogs, social media, videos 48:00 - Future ideas: AI in conflict resolution and co-ownership 54:00 - Cody’s startup tech stack and favorite tools 57:00 - Advice for early entrepreneurs 59:00 - Final thoughts: build a life you love Watch the full episode @FundsAndFounders for more deep dives with founders shaping the future. 🚀 #startups #founderstory #entrepreneurship #realestate #fundsandfounders #ai #business