Opendoor’s Ian Wong on Disrupting the Real Estate Industry with Data-Driven Digital Transformation

“Garbage in, garbage out.” It’s a philosophy every data leader is familiar with. Your algorithms and models are only as good as the data you put in them -- so how do you ensure the data you are leveraging is reliable and trustworthy? 

Joining Cindi today is Opendoor Co-founder and CTO, Ian Wong. Opendoor is on a mission to remove the guesswork from homebuying, and in this episode, Ian details how the company’s algorithms provide future homebuyers peace of mind about getting the best possible offer for their home. Ian explains how the team harnesses multiple data sources and uses machine learning to maintain a competitive advantage. Plus, Ian and Cindi discuss how to turn those valuable data insights into measurable business results. 

All that and more on today’s episode with Opendoor’s Ian Wong.

Main Takeaways

• Trust in the numbers: All great algorithms start with great data, but having a high fidelity of data is one of the key differentiators for any high-performing model. When you’re mixing first-party data with third-party data, be intentional about how you create strategic data models that fit your business. 
• Data scientists need to hone business skills: As a data professional, it’s not enough to have a breadth of technical skills, coding, algorithms, statistics, and mathematics -- you must also have a firm grasp of business needs with solid communication skills. Remember: your research is not helpful if it does not meet the immediate needs of the business. Being able to find that balance is an integral skill for any young data scientist looking to break into the field.
• Fail fast and experiment: When it comes to machine learning, there's a lot of opportunity for failure. Launching a prototype quickly and iterating as you go  is the name of the game. It shouldn’t take a quarter to make and deploy a new algorithm. The more time between inception and deployment, the less likely you will be able to use the insights gathered. Stay agile, move quickly, and follow the data.

About Ian

Ian Wong is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Opendoor, where he is responsible for the development of product and technology. Ian is building a team of engineers, data scientists, product managers and designers to modernize the real estate industry. He was previously pursuing his PhD in electrical engineering at Stanford when he left to join Square as their first data scientist. At Square, Ian developed tools and algorithms to handle risk. He has earned Masters degrees in electrical engineering and statistics from Stanford University. As a mission-driven real estate marketplace that radically simplifies home buying and selling, Opendoor has been used by over 85,000 customers in more than 25 metros nationwide.

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The Data Chief is presented by our friends at ThoughtSpot. Searching through your company’s data for insights doesn’t have to be complicated. With ThoughtSpot, anyone in your organization can easily answer their own data questions, find the facts, and make better, faster decisions. Learn more at thoughtspot.com. 

Hear more from Cindi Howson here. Sponsored by ThoughtSpot.