About us

Reimagine to simplify the rental process to make everyone feels welcomed, valued and fair

We believe that securing a home should be accessible to everyone, regardless of background or credit history. That’s why we created a rental guarantee solution that acts as a bridge between renters and property managers, providing financial security for both.

“Making the first step toward finding a home easier, with secure rental support that removes traditional barriers.”

“Opening first door for newcomers and international students to secure housing with ease and confidence.”

I grew up in Myanmar, where overcoming complex challenges was a daily reality. As an entrepreneur, I co-founded platforms to address critical gaps in healthcare and technology, often building solutions from the ground up due to scarce resources. After moving to the U.S., I faced a new challenge as a recent immigrant—being rejected twice for housing despite financial stability due to a lack of local credit and rental history. This echoed the systemic barriers I had seen back home.

With a background in product development and a commitment to fair access, I founded FirstDoor to remove obstacles for newcomers and international students. Our mission is to empower renters by bridging the gap with property managers, eliminating excessive deposits and credit hurdles, and creating an inclusive path to securing a home. At FirstDoor, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to start fresh and build a stable foundation from day one.

At FirstDoor, we believe everyone deserves the chance to start fresh and build a stable foundation from day one—whether they’re arriving from across the world or just beginning their journey in a new place.

Dr. Yar Zar Minn Htoo

Founder, CEO

As an international student and recent immigrant, I faced significant challenges when trying to rent a place in the U.S. Without a local credit score or rental history, and unable to meet high deposit requirements, I found myself repeatedly turned down. As a result, I had to rely on staying with friends and family. During this time, although I was paying rent, I couldn’t build my own credit or rental history—two essential steps for establishing independence and stability in a new country.

This experience opened my eyes to the barriers many newcomers face. I realized that countless others—students, immigrants, and anyone starting fresh—encounter the same obstacles, regardless of their financial stability or qualifications. This understanding sparked a mission in me to create a solution that would make it easier for newcomers to rent a home, build credit, and establish themselves without unnecessary hurdles.

When Yar Zar shared his vision for addressing these challenges, it deeply resonated with me. I immediately knew that I wanted to be part of this mission, as it aligned perfectly with my own experiences and goals. I decided to join him as a co-founder and Chief Product Officer, bringing my product management expertise to make this vision a reality. Together, we created FirstDoor to support newcomers, offering rent guarantees and credit education to help them secure housing and build a strong foundation from day one. Through FirstDoor, we’re breaking down barriers and empowering newcomers to thrive in their new home.

Ms. Thiri Yadana Kyaw

Co-founder, Chief Product Officer

“Everyone deserves the chance to build credit and rental history from day one”

“Everyone should get a fair chance at a good place to live, no matter where they are from and how long they have lived in their current area”

I have lived in other countries and I know how hard it is to gain the trust of local landlords when you are trying to find a rental, especially when you are new to the area. There is a deeply seeded belief among many landlords that someone from another country, or an international student, will not be a trustworthy renter because of their lack of credentials and references. However, this begs the question, how can someone get references if they are never given an opportunity to rent their first home?

I have been a real estate agent in Colorado for 3 years now, and my life's work is to help people achieve the dream of homeownership, but we must all start somewhere, which in almost all cases is renting. I truly believe in the goal and vision of this platform because it will give everyone a fair chance to start their journey.

Michael Todd

Realtor, Business Development Manager

About us