The All-in-One Answer to an Industry-Wide Problem: Cristina Axford on Building 360Gurus from the Ground Up

The All-in-One Answer to an Industry-Wide Problem: Cristina Axford on Building 360gurus.io from the Ground Up

Truro, UK – In a rapidly evolving property market, technology that empowers real estate professionals is no longer a luxury, it's an absolute necessity. Yet, for every step forward, industry veterans know that persistent inefficiencies can still slow a business down. It was this exact challenge that motivated Cristina Axford, a seasoned entrepreneur and the founder of Search Property Group Ltd and Funky Media Ltd, to develop a solution that would not only address her own needs but transform the landscape for estate agents nationwide.

Cristina’s journey from running her own estate agency, www.searchhomes.co.uk, to founding a cutting-edge property technology firm is a testament to the power of a single, well-defined problem. "My team and I were working closely with our CRM provider, and while we were successfully integrating our portal feeds for Rightmove and Zoopla, we realised there was a significant gap in the market," she explains. "We needed a comprehensive marketing platform that could seamlessly connect with our CRM, and that's when the idea for 360 Gurus was born."

What began as a personal mission to streamline an in-house workflow quickly evolved into a powerful, multi-faceted platform. At its core, 360 Gurus is a bespoke solution that unifies several critical services into one streamlined workflow. The platform offers a suite of advanced tools designed to save estate agents time and enhance the quality of their listings, including:

• Immersive 360 Property Walkthrough Tours: To provide potential buyers with a dynamic, engaging, and comprehensive virtual viewing experience. The platform is also partnering with RICOH 360 Cameras, a top brand for one-shot cameras used in virtual tours.

• Automated Video Creation: A tool that automatically transforms property photos into professional-quality video tours, ready for social media and property portals.

• AI Assistants for Social Media: Leo, an innovative assistant that crafts compelling social media posts, generates content ideas to boost engagement, and schedules posts across all social media platforms. Ella our Executive AI assistant crafts email replies, filter out junk emails, manage your calendar.

• EPC search & download: A streamlined feature for sourcing and downloading Energy Performance Certificates for UK properties.

The true innovation lies in the platform's upcoming integration with Alto, a development that will allow agents to pull property data directly from their CRM and automatically push completed tour links back onto listings. This creates an end-to-end, automated process that eliminates manual data transfers and allows agents to focus on what they do best: selling properties.

The pioneering approach of 360 Walkthrough has already been recognised by key organisations within the regional innovation ecosystem. The company has been accepted onto the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Hub and has had positive discussions with the STRIDE programme and Professor Christopher Goldolphin of The Innovation Experts. Furthermore, its commitment to nurturing new talent is evidenced by its participation in the Unlocking Potential 'New Recruit' scheme.

This venture also marks a continuation of a family legacy in technology and innovation. Cristina’s business is the latest in a third generation of technology-focused enterprises. Her grandfather, Dr. A. J. Axford, was a key figure in the British film industry, serving as the joint managing director of Ilford Ltd., Britain's sole film maker, in 1969.1 His public-facing professional life was deeply rooted in the world of photography and film. A letter from Associated Television Limited from 1960 confirms he was invited to appear on a Sunday afternoon TV programme.1 Another letter from October 1969, addressed to him and his wife, Maureen Axford, from United States Lines, further highlights their connection to the era of space exploration, noting they enjoyed an evening with Captain James Lovell and Dr. John McMullen.1 Lovell was a celebrated Apollo astronaut who flew on Apollo 8 and later commanded the Apollo 13 mission.2 Dr. McMullen was a prominent figure in naval architecture and aerospace.4 Ilford Ltd. was sold to the Swiss company CIBA for £11.5 million, a significant event in the industry at the time, and Dr. Axford was appointed to take over as the company's managing director following the acquisition.

As a new venture, 360 Gurus is in its early stages of building a customer base, but it is doing so with a clear vision. "Our all-in-one platform is designed to empower estate agents to modernise their marketing, stand out in a competitive market, and ultimately drive sales more effectively," says Cristina. "We've built a solution that we know works, because we built it for ourselves. Now, we are ready to share it with the wider industry."

This expansion includes an international component. As a native of Spain, Cristina has an existing client base there, which provides a natural launchpad for the company's next phase of growth. The 360 Gurus team in Spain, led by Matt Jones, is set up and ready to launch the service in Spanish.

Email Cristina: cristina@360gurus.io