Ethan Lieber

Yo, have you heard of Ethan Lieber? He’s the real deal in the startup world. Dude’s a YC W19 grad, which is already a big flex, but what’s crazy is his process. He’s the CEO and co-founder of Latchel, a company that’s changing the game for property management with remote maintenance and concierge stuff. Basically, if you own or manage property anywhere in the US, Latchel’s there to handle the boring, annoying tasks so you don’t have to.

Ethan kicked things off back in 2017 with his buddy Will Gordon. They met at UC Berkeley, where Ethan was studying economics, classic move for a future startup guy. Before Latchel, he was already in the startup grind, running an ecommerce biz and then selling it. So, he’s no stranger to starting from zero, grinding hard, and then moving on to the future trend.

What’s dope is how he took that entrepreneurial hustle and applied it to Latchel. He’s got a background in product management, building apps that connect contractors with homeowners, pretty much understanding how to solve real-world problems with software. And that’s what makes him stand out: he’s not just throwing tech at a problem. He’s obsessed with understanding customer needs first, then building solutions that actually work. That approach helped Latchel grow super fast.

In 2019, Latchel got into YC, which was a total big change. That’s when they went fully remote, scaled like crazy, and started raising big bucks, like from Bain Capital Ventures. Fast forward, by 2025, they’re cash flow positive, crushing it in their space. And that’s no accident. Ethan’s focus on deep customer understanding, combined with smart marketing (like cold emailing that actually works), really set them apart.

What I think is wild about Ethan is how his past experiences, starting a biz, selling it, working in product, fuel his motivation. He’s all about building things that matter, solving real problems, and not just chasing shiny tech. He’s the kind of founder who’s in it for the long haul, who’s not afraid to jump into the deep end, and who truly understands what it takes to turn an idea into a real, sustainable company.

In short, Ethan’s a next-gen entrepreneur who’s crushed the traditional startup mold. He’s all about execution, customer obsession, and building companies that last. If you ask me, he’s someone to watch, because he’s not just riding the wave, he’s shaping the whole damn thing.