‘Gozo expansion has always been on the cards’ – Darscover CEO

When Joe Ellul-Turner, a software developer by trade, first arrived in Malta after working abroad, he discovered that the island had a problem. He wanted an apartment to rent, but all he found were outdated property-listing sites with limited data. Some properties had no location or images at all, making it extremely difficult for someone searching from abroad. “It was a problem that needed solving, and so I thought I’d start there,” Mr Ellul-Turner says.

What began as a solution to his own problem quickly grew into one of Malta’s most forward-thinking property management platforms. Today, Darscover manages a diverse portfolio of short- and long-term rentals across the island, combining modern technology with local expertise.

Since 2024, the Founder and CEO has used his background in software development to build a data-driven system that simplifies how people discover, book, and manage rentals. Now, the platform is available in 14 different languages, features an interactive map, and even an AI-powered search tool akin to ChatGPT. “Clients can now search in their native language conversationally, making the process even more efficient and comfortable for the user,” Mr Ellul-Turner proudly explains.

Part of that progress revolves around Darscover’s focus on mobile, which accounts for 80 per cent of traffic for local property management sites, according to the Darscover Founder. These mobile property hunters were once greeted with archaic sites made for desktop computers, but building Darscover as a mobile-first offering has secured a lot of that traffic. Property hunters can now refine searches by pet-friendly, shared rooms, or even disabled access, all from their smartphones.

Despite all the progress made in Malta, Mr Ellul-Turner is determined not to rest on his laurels, recently shifting his sights to the north. Although speaking with a clear English accent, the businessman is quick to note that he has a Maltese passport, and he has always seen Gozo as a vital part of the country from which his family derives. As such, he claims launching his platform on that sister island had “always been on the cards.”

While catering his platform to a whole new territory might seem challenging, Mr Ellul-Turner claims the technical foundation he built from the ground-up made it seamless. Of course, he acknowledges there are differences in Gozo. Primarily, Gozo clients are more interested in buying, whereas Malta has a larger combination between renting and purchasing. The international demographic remains the same though, with buyers from all around the world hoping to secure their own slice of paradise among the green hills and sandy beaches of Gozo.

Just like he did in Malta, the Darscover CEO wants his platform to bridge the gap between these buyers and the Gozitan properties they’re seeking. “When I began development of Darscover in 2024, there seemed to be a playbook in place by the local Maltese agencies,” he explains. “Because of a lack of exclusivity, agencies wanted to sell any listing they could while preventing other firms from getting hold of a listing’s rights.”

Mr Ellul-Turner claims this is what led to a lack of transparency. If listings had images, they were few and far between, description was limited, and there was no option to filter properties. “We aimed to improve those listing standards and can proudly say we did that with our algorithm,” he asserts. “Now, we can keep that momentum in Gozo as we get more and more agencies on board and become, hopefully, the leader in the field.”

Ultimately, Mr Ellul-Turner envisions Darscover as more than just a property platform – he sees it as a catalyst for change in the real estate sectors of Malta and Gozo. But at the same time, Mr Ellul-Turner is intent not to tread on any toes, aware of the long history of property management in Malta as well as the various powerful players in the space. “We want to stand out from the rest, but we also don’t want to upset anyone along the way,” he states.  

As for the future, the Chief Executive believes he now has the solution to Malta’s prior property management problems, it is just a case of perfecting that recipe. He says: “At the moment, it’s all about trying to create the best user experience we can for all sides – the seekers, the clients, and the agencies.” This, he believes, will hopefully make his company the main source of traffic for anyone looking to buy or rent in Malta or Gozo within the next three to five years. For Darscover, Gozo represents the natural next step in a journey defined by raising the standard. The company now turns its attention to the north with the same ambition that birthed its platform: to simplify, modernise, and elevate how people find and manage homes.