‘It’s about building something that actually makes people’s lives easier’ – Joe Ellul-Turner

When you speak with Joe Ellul-Turner, it quickly becomes clear that his journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t a straight line – it was built from experiences, curiosity, and an instinct for spotting gaps where others see obstacles.

As the Founder and CEO of Darscover, Malta’s modern property portal, Mr Ellul-Turner is shaping the future of how people find their next home across Malta and Gozo.

His story begins in the UK, where he dove straight into the world of startups after leaving university. “I started working in a fast-paced startup environment after finishing my studies,” he recalls. “I was renting with a friend, working remotely, and travelling. That’s when I met a lot of like-minded people who were also starting businesses and experimenting with new ways of working.”

That exposure planted the seeds for what would later become Darscover. The inspiration, however, came when he returned to Malta. “When I was abroad, living for a short period of time in Portugal, finding a place to rent wasn’t too difficult. There were tools and platforms that made it manageable. But in Malta, it was a completely different story. There was this obvious gap in the market. There just weren’t the tools to make the property search efficient or user-friendly.”

As a software developer by trade, Mr Ellul-Turner didn’t just complain about the problem; he started building a solution. “I thought, why not use my skills to create something that actually solves this issue? That’s how Darscover was born.”

At its core, Darscover is designed to be the central hub for property seekers and agencies. “Our long-term vision is to become the number one property platform in Malta,” he explains. “We want to be the place where the majority of traffic, whether private listings or agency listings, comes. If you’re looking to buy or rent, we want Darscover to be your first stop.”

But Mr Ellul-Turner’s ambitions don’t stop at Malta’s shores. “If we succeed here, there’s no reason why we can’t expand into other countries facing similar challenges. There are places with outdated technology and fragmented property markets, just like Malta. Darscover can make a real difference there too.”

When asked about his leadership style, Mr Ellul-Turner describes it as hands-on and agile. “I’ve definitely adopted more of a Silicon Valley approach,” he says. “It’s about building quickly, getting features out there, and then adapting. We’re constantly rolling out new tools like AI-driven search, interactive maps, and advanced filters. The goal is to listen to what users want and deliver it fast.”

However, speed doesn’t mean cutting corners. For Mr Ellul-Turner, quality is non-negotiable. “We’re very focused on the production side. Everything we build needs to work smoothly and actually improve the experience. It’s not just about adding features for the sake of it; it’s about making property search simpler, faster, and better for everyone.”

Darscover’s name itself, combining Dar (home in Maltese) with discover, reflects its mission to bridge modern technology with the cultural fabric of Malta. The platform offers a wide range of innovative features: interactive maps, real-time price analysis, and photo-rich property showcases. However, what sets it apart is its deep understanding of the local market.

“Malta’s property scene is unique,” Mr Ellul-Turner points out. “We’re not just copying models from abroad. We’re building something that really fits the needs of people here, whether they’re locals buying their first home or expats trying to find a rental.”

The Maltese property market is both dynamic and challenging, and Mr Ellul-Turner believes Darscover has only scratched the surface of its potential. “In the next few years, we’ll keep refining the platform. We’re looking at smarter filters, more personalisation, and even deeper integration with agencies. We want to make the property journey as seamless as possible, from search to decision-making.”

When asked what keeps him motivated as a CEO, his answer is simple but telling: impact. “It’s about building something that actually makes people’s lives easier. Property hunting is stressful; it’s one of the biggest decisions people make. If Darscover can take away some of that stress and make the process enjoyable, that’s success for me.”

Entrepreneurship often comes with its share of risk and uncertainty, but Mr Ellul-Turner sees it as part of the adventure. “I think my background, working in startups, travelling, seeing different ways of doing things, has helped me embrace that uncertainty. You just have to keep moving, keep building, and keep adapting.”

As Darscover grows, Mr Ellul-Turner remains focused on the bigger picture: making Malta’s property search modern, transparent, and efficient. And if his journey so far is anything to go by, this is just the beginning.