Sometimes, a company doesn’t start with a well-crafted business plan, but with a friendship, a shared drive, and a bold vision. That was certainly the case for Jasper and Andreja, the founders of OMRT.
“He had no friends, I had plenty,” jokes Jasper. “Well, that’s what he says,” Andreja fires back with a laugh. The two met while studying Architecture at TU Delft and found themselves increasingly in the same circles through mutual friends. The real connection was formed when, without much introduction, Andreja invited Jasper on a trip to Serbia.
“There’s hospitality, and then there’s extreme hospitality,” Jasper recalls. “And this was almost scary.” Despite the unusual invitation, Jasper went along. That trip became the foundation of a strong friendship. Not only did they discover they shared the same birthday—August 24, 1991—but also the same ambition to build something meaningful.
From a Smart Mailbox to a Tech Company
Even during his studies, Jasper was constantly coming up with innovative ideas. One of his first concepts? A mailbox that allowed packages to be delivered directly inside the house.
“Amazon eventually built it, so it wasn’t such a crazy idea after all,” he says with a grin. But that was just the beginning.
The real turning point came when Andreja secured a spot in the People House accelerator program. “The idea was that you’d get paid to build your own business,” he explains. “In reality, it mostly meant being outsourced.” But it sparked something: the realisation that there was real potential in a previous idea, which he immediately pitched to Jasper. Working together, they quickly saw how outdated the engineering industry was.
“Everything was still being done in 2D, without intelligent software,” says Jasper. “It was so inefficient. We knew there had to be a better way.” Andreja had already developed a script that significantly sped up complex calculations, but when he presented it at the engineering firm they worked at, it was dismissed. “They simply didn’t believe it was possible,” he says.
The First Step Toward OMRT
Working in a traditional engineering environment started to feel like swimming against the tide.
“We were faster than the rest, but that wasn’t appreciated,” Jasper explains. “In an hours-based business model, efficiency isn’t rewarded. The less time something takes, the less you get paid.”
Eventually, it became clear Andreja and Jasper had to break out on their own.
Luckily, support came from an unexpected place. The Director of their engineering firm saw potential in them, calling them “bold young punks” and investing in their idea. That gave them just enough financial breathing room to start their company. “We could barely pay ourselves an intern’s salary and had a Volkswagen Up! to drive around,” laughs Andreja. “We racked up 45,000 km in the first year.”
The real breakthrough came when they connected with VORM, a major real estate developer. The CEO immediately recognized the potential of their technology. “He wanted more, and in the end, VORM invested in a minority stake in our company.” Jasper says. That moment changed everything. They could now fully focus on their product and set up their first office.
From Startup to Scale-Up
At the start of 2020, things moved fast. “We hired ten to twelve people in a short time,” says Andreja. “We were all set…” And then COVID hit.
Despite the challenges, OMRT kept growing. “We were young and flexible,” says Jasper. “But commercially, it was an adjustment.” Still, their core mission remained intact: combining innovation with practical usability.
“Innovation is great, but it has to be digestible,” explains Andreja. “You need to introduce changes step by step so they don’t scare people off.” Today, OMRT has established itself as the go-to partner for parametric design and project management in real estate.
The Story Behind the Name OMRT
The name OMRT started as an inside joke. “At the engineering firm, we called our project Omerta, a mafia term for a code of silence,” explains Andreja. “We even used it jokingly among friends, calling vacations Omerta trips.”
When they started their company, they kept it simple: OMRT. “We figured we’d change it later if needed,” says Jasper. “But now, everyone knows us as OMRT, so it stays.” Officially, it stands for Office for Metropolitan Realtime Technology, but as Andreja admits with a laugh: “Maybe three or four people actually know that.”
Building a Company Together: Clashes and Camaraderie
Starting a business with your best friend? “I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy,” Jasper jokes. Andreja, on the other hand? “I have no issues at all,” he says, teasing Jasper.
Early on, they had to learn to communicate directly. “We can clash hard, but we know there are no lasting consequences,” says Andreja. Still, their intense discussions sometimes worry their team. “People think, ‘Oh no, is this going wrong?’ But half an hour later, we’re hugging it out,” Jasper says. “It just happens out of sight.”
OMRT in Five Years: The Future of Real Estate Development
Where will OMRT be in five years? Simple: as the global standard for applied parametric design in real estate development.
“At least two extra locations besides Amsterdam,” says Andreja. “And twenty key clients in the Netherlands, with international offices following the same model.” But growth isn’t just about expansion. “OMRT will be the go-to provider for parametric software and project management platforms,” Jasper adds. “Developers worldwide will use our system as the foundation for their entire process.” The vision extends beyond software. “The dream is to connect various industry experts—architects, consultants, developers—all through our platform, centered around a 3D model with the flexibility we still miss in today’s conversations,” explains Andreja.
The key to achieving this? Gradual innovation. “The market can’t absorb everything at once,” says Jasper. “Sometimes you have to start small—like integrating an Excel connection—before making bigger leaps.” OMRT is already ten years ahead in technology but introduces innovation at a pace the industry can understand and adopt.
“First, build a solid foundation, then expand globally,” Andreja concludes. “Innovation is our core, but real impact happens when you bring the client along for the ride.”