CEO and Co-Founder, RIOS

Who We Are

At R-LABS Canada Limited Partnership ("R-LABS"), we build purpose-driven companies to solve major problems in real estate and housing. RIOS, one of our partner companies, is ready for its next growth stage, seeking an innovative Co-founder to lead as CEO. RIOS aims to resolve challenges in Canada’s development industry by building a data and workflow platform that aggregates purchaser, project, and financing information into a trusted decision layer.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a CEO and Co-Founder to elevate RIOS. This unique opportunity involves partnering with a venture builder to guide a company through critical funding and commercialization stages. As CEO, you will co-lead the company with your CTO, shaping and executing business strategy, securing customers and investment, and assembling a high-performing team. You will collaborate closely with R-LABS, leveraging their network of investors, industry experts, and real estate professionals. Initially, during the venture validation phase, the CEO & Co-Founder will operate as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR), not an R-LABS employee. This is an existing vacancy, a hybrid role primarily based in Toronto with regular collaboration at the R-LABS downtown office.

Who You Are

You are an accomplished, strategic leader and experienced entrepreneur with a proven track record of successfully building and exiting a startup. You have a history of raising capital, securing investors and customers, and building partnerships, demonstrating the ability to scale a business from concept to profitability. As a founder, you excel in making strategic decisions that drive growth and innovation, articulating a vision, motivating teams, and fostering collaborative environments. Your approach combines meticulous planning with effective execution to meet goals. Ideally, you possess subject matter expertise in new development workflows and project financing, along with a strong network among developers, lenders, warranty providers, regulatory bodies, and leading real estate data/software providers. Above all, you are passionate about building Canada’s development industry information and workflow utility, excited to solve industry-wide challenges with a transformative solution.

What’s In It For You

• Purpose and Impact: Lead a pilot-stage startup in an industry ripe for disruption. RIOS leverages real estate, financial, and data science expertise to build a trusted information layer for Canada’s new development market, enabling better risk management, stronger projects, and clearer homeownership paths.
• Equity and Compensation: As a Co-Founder, you will receive equity ownership through founders’ shares. Following incorporation, CEO compensation will align with market norms, determined by the company and its board.
• Support and Stability: You will not build alone. Benefit from the backing of R-LABS, an established venture-building team specializing in real estate innovation, and access strategic resources.

As CEO and Co-Founder, You Will:

• Validate and scale the business, leading market validation, refining the business model, and driving customer and investor acquisition.
• Secure capital for growth by developing and executing a fundraising strategy with R-LABS' MD, Capital and Corporate Development, establishing investor relationships, and ensuring financial positioning for success.
• Build a high-performing team, recruiting top talent including software engineers, sales professionals, and strategic partners to bring the platform to market.
• Develop and strengthen industry partnerships with developers, lenders, and warranty providers, ensuring RIOS leads new development innovation.
• Drive market expansion, shaping RIOS’s growth, securing customers, and ensuring effective scaling.
• Be the public face of the company, representing RIOS at industry events, investor meetings, and strategic discussions to build credibility and visibility.

Join Us

We embrace diversity and welcome candidates from all backgrounds, including women, persons with disabilities, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC), the LGBTQ2SIA+ community, and other equity-seeking groups. If you meet 70% of the qualifications, we encourage you to express your interest. For accommodation or assistance during the application process, please email stacy.piluk@rlabs.ca.

Interview Process

• A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor, recorded using BrightHire, an AI-powered video interview tool.
• An in-person interview with the Managing Director from R-LABS to provide insight into the team and vision.
• Two assessments: Clifton Strengths for natural talents and Kolbe for applying strengths in action.
• A final in-person interview with the CEO and Founder of R-LABS to address remaining questions.

About RIOS

RIOS is a data and workflow platform for Canada’s development industry, serving both new development and resale markets. It aggregates purchaser, project, and financing information into a trusted decision layer, supporting better-informed decisions for developers, lenders, warranty providers, and regulators. Backed by R-LABS and industry experts, RIOS is building an information and workflow utility to strengthen how development activity is evaluated, financed, and delivered across the housing ecosystem. Learn more at onrios.com.

About R-LABS

R-LABS is a partnership of innovative corporations and entrepreneurs focused on real estate and housing problems. Through its venture-building platform, R-LABS co-creates and cultivates companies with new business models to positively impact the community and build value. R-LABS = Return on Society + Return on Investment. As the only venture builder of its kind for the real estate industry, R-LABS centers innovation, launching and supporting fast-moving companies with expertise, networks, funding, and leadership. They draw on granular insights and deep knowledge to address complex, interrelated industry problems and drive transformative change. For more information, visit the R-LABS website.

Key skills/competency

• Startup Leadership
• Venture Capital Fundraising
• Business Strategy
• Real Estate Development
• Data Platform Development
• Customer Acquisition
• Team Building
• Partnership Development
• Market Expansion
• Financial Modeling