Role at AppFolio, Inc.
Klaus Schauser co-founded AppFolio in 2006 after a distinguished career in software engineering and technology entrepreneurship, previously co-founding GoToMyPC and ExpertCity (acquired by Citrix).
AppFolio, Inc.
Real Estate TechnologyFounded 2006- HQ today: Santa Barbara, California, United States
Reviewed by Swet Parvadiya
Company data updated: October 2026
Founders
Who Founded AppFolio?
Klaus Schauser, Jon Walker · Founded 2006 · HQ today: Santa Barbara, California, United States
Who founded AppFolio?
AppFolio was founded by Klaus Schauser, Jon Walker in 2006 in Santa Barbara, California. It is now led by Shane Trigg.
- Founders
- Klaus Schauser, Jon Walker
- Founded
- 2006
- Headquarters
- Santa Barbara, California, United States
- Number of founders
- 2
- Current CEO
- Shane Trigg
- Where was AppFolio founded?
- AppFolio was founded in Santa Barbara, California in 2006. appfolio.com
- When was AppFolio founded?
- AppFolio was founded in 2006.
- Who started AppFolio?
- AppFolio was founded by Klaus Schauser and Jon Walker.
- How old is AppFolio?
- AppFolio is 20 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
AppFolio was founded in 2006 by software veterans Klaus Schauser and Jon Walker in Santa Barbara, California. Recognizing that property managers were weighed down by cumbersome desktop software and manual bookkeeping, the founders engineered a modern, browser-based cloud platform designed to streamline every facet of property operations.
What each AppFolio founder did
| Founder | Role at founding | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Klaus Schauser | Co-Founder & Former Chief Strategist | — |
| Jon Walker | Co-Founder & Former CTO | — |
Role at AppFolio, Inc.
Jon Walker co-founded AppFolio bringing deep expertise in scalable cloud architecture and software engineering, playing a pivotal role in designing AppFolio's core property management SaaS platform.
AppFolio, Inc.: CEO & Leadership History
Full timeline →Shane Trigg
Chief Executive Officer
Ilya Kirnos
Chief Technology Officer
Stephen Bradley
Chief Financial Officer
Natasha Royer Carr
Chief People Officer
Jonathan Bolivar
Chief Legal Officer & Secretary
Keep researching AppFolio
Who Founded AppFolio? FAQ
Who were the original founders of AppFolio?
AppFolio was founded in 2006 by visionary industry leaders who identified significant structural inefficiencies in existing marketplace offerings and set out to create a more efficient, customer-focused enterprise.
What inspired the founding of AppFolio?
The founders were inspired by the realization that customers in Real Estate Technology and Property Management Cloud Software lacked access to transparent, technologically advanced, and cost-effective services, prompting them to develop a superior operational alternative.
What challenges did the founders face in the company's early years?
In its foundational era, AppFolio confronted skepticism from traditional incumbents, constrained initial startup capital, and the complex challenge of establishing brand trust and regulatory standing from scratch.
How does the founders' original philosophy influence AppFolio today?
The founding ethos of customer dedication, technical innovation, and conservative financial management remains deeply embedded in AppFolio's corporate DNA and operational decision-making today.
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