Glenn Kelman to start new role after Redfin exit

Glenn Kelman, the longtime CEO of Redfin, has taken on a new role as an executive in residence at venture firm Greylock, five months after leaving the real estate company.

Kelman, who led Redfin for nearly 20 years, stepped down in January following its $1.75 billion acquisition by Rocket Companies.

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At Greylock, Kelman will advise founders on leadership, scaling challenges, and go-to-market strategies. The Silicon Valley firm announced the move Tuesday, framing it as a chance for Kelman to engage with the next generation of startups. His responsibilities will include addressing the subtle, often unspoken difficulties of company building—areas that Greylock describes as the “hard parts of scaling that don’t fit neatly into a board deck.”

He confirmed by email that the role aligns with his plan to explore new mission-driven projects outside real estate. “I’m still looking to start some kind of new mission-driven enterprise,” he wrote, adding that the process involves “exploring ideas that are never going to work and howling at the moon.” He also noted that his days now occasionally include more mundane but personally meaningful tasks, like doing his children’s laundry in the middle of the day.

Founded in 1965, Greylock has backed major tech companies like LinkedIn, Facebook, Airbnb, and Workday. Kelman said the position gives him broader exposure to trends beyond Seattle, where he plans to stay indefinitely. The firm’s portfolio and network offer him a window into emerging innovations and leadership challenges across industries, from enterprise software to consumer platforms.

“The people, trees, mountains, lakes and islands here” keep him rooted in the city, he said. The advising role, he added, complements his own entrepreneurial ambitions: “You learn a lot from other people.” His commitment to Seattle reflects both personal attachment and a belief in the city’s ongoing role as a hub for technology and innovation, even as he explores opportunities further afield.

Under Kelman, Redfin went public in 2017 with a valuation near $1.73 billion.

The company now operates under Rocket Companies, retaining its name and Seattle headquarters. Varun Krishna, Rocket’s CEO, has led Redfin since Kelman’s exit. The transition has maintained continuity for Redfin’s operations, with its brand identity and local presence preserved as it integrates into Rocket’s broader ecosystem.