Introduction

In a captivating episode of the Plain Sight podcast, Francis Pedraza and Genevieve Kim discuss the intricacies of modern community building and services, focusing on their respective companies: Realm and Invisible. The dialogue traverses a myriad of topics, from the challenges of adult friendships to revolutionizing traditional business operations.

Understanding Realm

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  What is Realm?

  
  
  • Realm is a platform that facilitates connections among "friendly, ambitious nerds." The goal is to create a sense of home, an extended family if you will, among members.
  
  
  
  


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  The Problem Realm Solves

  
  
  • As adults, traditional institutions like schools and churches that used to facilitate friendships are no longer available. This gap has made finding meaningful connections more challenging.
  
  
  
  


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  A Sense of Community

  
  
  • Realm aims to be the "modern piazza," a community hub that evokes a sense of trust, shared experiences, and ultimately, commerce. This focus on community over marketplace aligns Realm more with European work-life balance ideologies than American ones.
  
  
  
  

The Invisible Concept

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  What is Invisible?

  
  
  • Invisible offers tech-enabled operational services to various companies. While venture capitalists have traditionally focused on scalable products, Invisible sees the untapped potential in services.
  
  
  
  


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  Total Addressable Market

  
  
  • The company aims to serve various sectors like healthcare and real estate, boasting an almost infinite total addressable market (TAM).
  
  
  
  


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  Expanding the Service Portfolio

  
  
  • Invisible isn't limited to just operations. They also have strategies for education, branding, research, and community management, among others. This expansion positions them as competitors to incumbent service giants like Accenture and EY.
  
  
  
  

Intersection of Realm and Invisible

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  Community Building in Business

  
  
  • Genevieve, who was initially hired for a project at Invisible, exemplifies how relationships can evolve into strong business collaborations. Realm and Invisible share a philosophy that relationships should come before business.
  
  
  
  


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  Syndicate Building

  
  
  • Realm has proven effective in building investor syndicates for Invisible's clients, turning these communities into valuable sources for ideas, deal flow, and more.
  
  
  
  


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  Monetizing Community

  
  
  • While the focus is not primarily on monetization, Realm and Invisible both recognize the potential for financial benefits when a strong, aligned community exists.
  
  
  
  

Philosophical Underpinnings

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  Friendship and Time

  
  
  • Both Francis and Genevieve emphasize that building a community requires trust, and trust requires time. Whether it's romantic or platonic, relationships are the fabric of a healthy community.
  
  
  
  


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  Cultural Perspectives

  
  
  • Drawing from their backgrounds, they discuss the importance of hospitality, openness, and a focus on the human element.
  
  
  
  

Conclusion

The podcast ends on a thoughtful note, contemplating the art of curation in building a community. With an approach that combines tech, human insight, and a profound understanding of the complexities of adult friendships and community, Realm and Invisible are not just companies; they are catalysts for societal evolution.