How Tom Rossiter Took a Canadian Tech Company Public Pre-Product — and Scaled RESAAS to 160 Countries

How does a Canadian tech company go public before it has a finished product — and then scale to more than 160 countries?

In this episode, Tom Rossiter, Co-Founder and CEO of RESAAS, shares the remarkable story behind building a global technology platform from Vancouver and navigating the uniquely Canadian path to going public pre-product.

Ashley and Tom dive into:
- The unconventional route RESAAS took to become a public company before revenue
- Why this was possible only in Canada — and what that reveals about our innovation ecosystem
- The reality of running two companies at once: the business and the public market entity
- How RESAAS scaled its reach to 160+ countries
- What global data patterns reveal about real estate before headlines catch up
- The mindset required to build (and survive) as a Canadian founder
- Leadership lessons from scaling through multiple market cycles
- What Canada must do next to compete globally in technology and innovation

Tom brings clarity, candor, and a uniquely global perspective on what it really takes to lead a Canadian tech company from prototype to public markets — and to build a platform used around the world.

Near the end of the episode — Tom and Ashley dive into some real estate market banter, exploring where the industry is heading, how data is reshaping decision-making, and what realtors, agents, brokers, and consumers should expect from the next cycle. It’s a fun add-on for listeners curious about proptech, global housing trends, or the intersection of real estate and innovation.

A must-listen for founders, innovators, investors, and anyone curious about Canada’s place in the global tech landscape.

Check the show notes for a full breakdown and guest info:
canadanow.beehiiv.com 👈

00:43 – Who is Tom Rossiter? (RESAAS, global proptech)
05:19 – What RESAAS is today – global network, 700k agents
07:18 – Private-label platform
08:50 – Why RESAAS went public early – the Canadian “venture” mindset
11:17 – Public vs private – liquidity, everyday investors & access to capital
15:10 – Running the business vs the public company
17:31 – Hiring, talent & advisory: building the team in Vancouver
20:21 – Remote work, productivity and early AI efficiency gains
22:00 – Going global – scaling to very different markets
25:23 – Product market fit, feedback loops & using data/AI to decide what to build
29:59 – Where AI fits – picking lanes, committing, and quality-checks
33:47 – Industry readiness, breakout year & commercial real estate
35:55 – Saying no (and yes) – how RESAAS found new growth
40:32 – Why Canada is a powerful base for tech... SR&ED/SHRED, talent, incentives
44:05 – Making Canadian stock globally accessible
47:14 – Strategy in uncertain times – removing barriers 
49:57 – Bonus real estate segment – what RESAAS data reveals about trends
1:04:05 – The AI era, innovation in downturns & why Ashley created Canad

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