Building marketplaces is a tough, tough game. It’s virtually always a massive chicken and egg problem. I know from experience — Horizon is a marketplace for hospitality exchange (though we aren’t technically involved in a transaction element yet).

VersionOne, a VC firm, recently produced a fairly advanced handbook on building marketplaces that I would highly recommend reading if you are a founder (or employee) working on a marketplace startup.

Included in the handbook was a google doc with some marketplace KPIs, which you can copy and tweak as needed.

I’d also recommend reading Bill Gurley’s post here, as well as this article by Simon Rothman.

For those working on marketplaces in the real estate vertical, what’s working and what’s not working? (also please share what your specific focus is)