Zown

Yesterday, I was feeling pretty crappy. A nasty cough hit me, and for the first time since we launched Zown two years ago, I went home at around 4 PM. (I’m pretty sure I’ve never been home before 10 PM since we started, maybe just a couple of times haha.) As I lay there, still on a few calls (wouldn’t recommend working when sick, but you know how it goes), I opened an email. It was from one of our homebuyers who closed yesterday. Attached was a photo of them standing in front of their new home with their beautiful daughter holding a sign that said: “Our First Home!” Along with it was a message: “We wouldn’t have done it without you, and we are forever grateful to come across you guys.” That simple message changed everything. Suddenly, I forgot how horrible I was feeling. In fact, I jumped right back into work (again, not recommended, but I couldn’t help it). At that moment, it hit me something I get asked a lot: “How does your entire team work so late? Not just the founders, but everyone at Zown?First in, last out. Working weekends. All in. Every day.” The answer became so clear in that moment: At Zown, we’re not just building another company. We’re not chasing unicorn status. Those goals alone would fade over time. Instead, we’re fundamentally changing people’s life trajectories. We’re helping families make Canada not just a place they live, but a place they can truly call home! And we get to celebrate that excitement every single day! Growing up in Sri Lanka, my family moved houses 4 times. Yet, my fondest memories are from the first place we lived. That home shaped so much of my story. Now, to know that we get to play even a small role in shaping someone else’s story, helping them find stability, hope, and a place to build memories is something that words can never describe. I don’t know if Zown will become a unicorn or not. But one thing I know for sure? We’re going to change the lives of countless Canadians, and we’re going to be remembered. And that’s why we put in the crazy hours. That’s why we keep showing up, day in and day out. Here’s to writing many more Canadian stories and to the families who trust us to be part of theirs. And here’s to the entire Zown team. I wouldn’t want to do it with anyone else. ❤️

With the Bank of Canada's recent rate cut announcement, along with the upcoming updates to mortgage policies, we're seeing a major opportunity for aspiring first-time homeowners to finally make a move and enter the market. Thanks to Jake Pesaruk from insauga for the insightful conversation and coverage on the trends that we're seeing at Zown with these recent developments. As of now, we're seeing a significant increase in inbound calls from people preparing a home purchase. Over the next two or three months, we are likely going to see a 20 to 30 percent increase in first-time home buyers. Read the full story linked in the comments below!

Edit: We've moved the event to January 9th to accommodate the holiday season :) It’s time to experience the next era of Canadian homeownership. Are you ready? 👀 For months, we’ve been building something extraordinary—something designed to transform the Canadian homeownership landscape forever. 🇨🇦 On Thursday, December 12th, we’re launching Zown 2.0, and we’re thrilled to invite you to this exclusive event! Secure your spot now—check out the link in the comments to RSVP! 👇 📍 325 Front St W., 4th Floor (OneEleven). 📆 RSVP by Monday, January 9th, 2024 to claim your spot.

Introducing Rishard Rameez, Co-founder and CEO of Zown, a platform transforming the real estate experience in Canada. Inspired by his own challenges as a first-time homeowner, Rishard launched Zown to make buying and selling homes faster, more accessible, and cost-effective through AI and innovative solutions. Join us at TechBeat Summit 2024 to hear his incredible journey of resilience and innovation in real estate. Join us at TechBeat Summit 2024 to hear his incredible entrepreneurial journey and lessons on creating impact through technology. Register here: bit.ly/3ChdtiN 📅 Date: Dec 11, 2024 📍 Location: The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto #TechBeatSummit #TechLeadersToronto #TechAwardsToronto 

Every transaction we handle isn’t just a number; it’s a chance to help someone buy their first home and be a part of their story, enabling them to begin their journey sooner. As we raise awareness for National Housing Day today, I am excited to share my Q&A with Authority Magazine on how Zown is expanding access to homeownership, starting in Ontario and aiming to reach communities across the country in the future. Despite increasing costs and barriers to homeownership, Canadians continue to dream of owning a home, and they need tailored support to turn that dream into a reality. Zown remains dedicated to building pathways to homeownership that empower Canadians from all walks of life. Dive into the full Q&A in the comments below!

We are actively #hiring! Know anyone who might be interested?

While millions of Canadians are set to face higher payments when their mortgages come up for renewal next year, we're seeing that first-time homeowners are already feeling the pinch, with many looking to sell their property before the end of the year. Thanks BNN Bloomberg and andrew bell for having me on the show to discuss how first-time homeowners are set to face higher payments in the coming years, and how Zown is helping them boost their savings with down payment assistance and lower mortgage rates. Link to the full segment in the comments!

🌟 Watch Live Today! 🌟 Our very own Rishard Rameez from Zown will be live on BNN Bloomberg at 4:30 PM today. Tune in to catch a glimpse of Zown’s impact on the world. This is a moment you won’t want to miss! 📊💡 👉 Watch here: https://lnkd.in/ge6t5-y4

From Toronto to San Francisco’s tech scene, we teamed up with Canada’s fastest-growing companies as part of the 2024 C100 Fellows Program! 🇨🇦➡️🌉 Learning alongside visionary leaders and building invaluable connections throughout the program truly highlighted the power of innovation and community. 💡 We’re energized to bring these insights back home as we continue driving the future of real estate in Canada. Big things are on the horizon! 🚀 #RealEstate #CanadianTech #SanFrancisco #CanadianEntrepreneurs

“Do you ever stop talking?” For years, I’ve heard that from friends, family, and coworkers, usually followed by, “You should be in sales.” I always shrugged it off, never really taking it seriously...until a few months ago. When I started at Zown, I decided to handle at least 10 client calls in that first month. This wasn’t about selling yet—it was about following the holy grail of start-up advice: 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀. What did I learn? 1. I finally understood why Zown feels so disruptive. We’re not just another real estate service; we’re moving the industry from an agent-led business model to a product-led one. (I’ll dive into that in another post).   2. I might have enjoyed those calls a little too much. There’s something really energizing about talking to people and seeing how we can help. Before I knew it, I was getting frustrated when my calendar wasn’t packed with inbound leads.   I barely had my bearings before the CEO threw the most interesting curveball my way: we came up with the idea to expand our offering from B2C to B2B.   𝗡𝗼𝘄, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗕𝟮𝗕 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲?   Well, like most B2B offerings, it's about scale. By partnering with organizations, we can lower our cost of acquisition, which allows us to provide even higher benefits to our partners and their employees. It's a win-win-win. Today, we launched our first B2B partnership with Jarvis Consulting Group. Instead of offering our standard (up to) 1.5% advanced cash back, we're offering their employees and former employees (up to) 2%.   In addition to giving 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝟴𝟬% of our commission revenue back to their employees, we hope to add even more perks to these relationships in the future. This move not only benefits our partners but also aligns with our mission to make homeownership more accessible   Has it been a wild few months? Absolutely. I'm never sure where this roller coaster is going to end – or the next one may begin. And honestly, reconnecting with old friends and colleagues along the way has been an unexpected bonus. Lately, I’ve been offering coffee in exchange for ‘friendly test pitches’ to sharpen my skills, and it’s been a lot of fun. If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading! I can’t wait to share more of the Zown journey, one start-up story at a time. And hey, if you want to bring Zown perks to your office, feel free to reach out. Who knows, I might even buy you a coffee first. 😉