Finding a place to live should be an exciting milestone, but for many in Malta, the property hunt has long been a disjointed process. For Joe Ellul-Turner, founder and CEO of Darscover, this challenge became personal – and ultimately the spark that led to launching one of Malta’s most promising proptech startups.

“I had been working remotely and travelling, and when I was in Portugal, I was amazed at how easy it was to find a place to rent,” Mr Ellul-Turner recalled. “Everything was straightforward. But when I came back to Malta, the experience was the complete opposite. It was extremely difficult, with multiple problems and a real nightmare to navigate. That’s when I thought... this needs fixing. I wanted to be the one to fix it.”

With a background in software development, Mr Ellul-Turner set out to transform Malta’s property search experience. A year later, Darscover was born.

The Maltese property market is definitely fast-moving, but the digital experience hasn’t always kept pace. Many portals are cluttered, outdated, and not designed for the way people search today, which is why Mr Ellul-Turner spotted a clear opportunity.

“Over 80% of traffic comes from mobile, but most of the existing sites here in Malta simply aren’t designed with mobile users in mind,” he explained. “Darscover has been built mobile-first, as an app, with the depth and functionality that modern users expect.”

That depth includes advanced filters that go beyond the basics. Users can refine searches by preferred housing, amenities, disabled access, pet-friendly listings, or even searches for shared rooms. Visual tools such as site maps, 3D renders, and interactive galleries give a richer view of each property.

For international users, language is no barrier. “We made sure the platform works in 14 different languages,” Mr Ellul-Turner noted, highlighting Darscover’s ambition to appeal not only to locals but also to the growing expat and investor community.

Perhaps most exciting is the AI-powered search feature which reduces reliance on manual filters. “Instead of clicking through endless drop-down menus, users can just describe what they’re looking for, and the platform will intelligently find matching properties,” said Mr Ellul-Turner.

While existing portals often feel like digital noticeboards, Darscover aims to be something bigger – a central hub for property in Malta and Gozo.

“Our vision for the next three to five years is to become the main source of traffic for anyone looking to rent or buy property in Malta,” Mr Ellul-Turner said. “We want to eliminate the frustration of duplicated listings and the need to jump from one site to another. Darscover should be the place you go, whether you’re browsing casually or making a serious decision.”

Beyond discovery, the platform also seeks to improve lead generation for agents and landlords, providing higher-quality connections and reducing wasted time.

The name Darscover itself reflects this balance between technology and tradition. Combining ‘Dar’, the Maltese word for home, with ‘discover,’ it captures both the local focus and the platform’s mission of helping people find their ideal property.

“Our mission is really about making the process smarter, more transparent, and enjoyable for both agents, through Darscover’s Malta real estate agency directory, and people looking to buy their dream home,” Mr Ellul-Turner explained. “We want people to feel empowered by real-time market insights, transparent pricing trends, and the confidence that they’re seeing accurate, up-to-date listings.”

Features like interactive maps and price analysis tools give users a sense of the market that goes beyond a simple list of properties. “It’s about simplifying complex searches while also giving people the information they need to make informed decisions,” he added.

Malta’s property market is fuelled by both local demand and international interest. However, with growth has come fragmentation. For many, searching for a property means juggling multiple sites, conflicting information, and the constant worry of missing out on opportunities. Darscover is betting that by offering a seamless, transparent, and mobile-first experience, it can become the trusted go-to platform.

“Property is one of the biggest decisions people make in their lives. It shouldn’t feel like a headache,” Mr Ellul-Turner emphasised. “With Darscover, we’re trying to bring joy back into the process of finding a home.”

As the platform grows, Mr Ellul-Turner envisions not just incremental improvements but a rethinking of how property discovery works in Malta. The aim is a smarter ecosystem that benefits both users and agents.

“I know how stressful it can be,” Mr Ellul-Turner reflected. “That’s why I’m committed to building something better - not just for me, but for anyone searching for a home in Malta.”