In this week’s Canada Now episode, we sit down with Tom Rossiter, Co-Founder and CEO of RESAAS — a Vancouver-based real estate-tech platform that’s quietly expanded its reach to more than 160 countries.
But this isn’t a “realtor show” — this is a story about Canadian ambition, bold capital-market moves, and global scale. Tom candidly walks us through how he turned a modest prototype into a publicly traded, globe-spanning business — and why doing so from Canada changed everything.
TUNE IN! ▶ YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | + more
🔎 What We Dig Into (and why it matters)
An unconventional IPO path — RESAAS went public pre-product. Tom explains why this was only possible in Canada’s unique capital markets ecosystem, and what it reveals about opportunity here.
Running two “companies” at once — The dual challenge of scaling the business while running a public company. The result? Tough tradeoffs, real sacrifices… but also long-term advantage.
Global scale from Vancouver — How RESAAS built a presence in 160+ countries, from a base on Canada’s west coast. What it takes to compete globally from a non-US HQ.
Real estate + data intelligence ≠ just for agents anymore — A peek into how RESAAS is building a data-driven infrastructure for the real estate industry — and what that means for global housing, market cycles, and the future of property markets.
Leadership under pressure — What Tom learned scaling through raised expectations, shifting markets, and constant uncertainty. One of the most candid founder conversations we’ve recorded.
In Canada, there's a lot more of a venture mindset when it comes to public companies.
🔓 The Real Unlock
Many proptech conversations stay inside the industry. This one doesn’t.
Tom’s story opens a window into how Canada actually builds — and scales — technology on the world stage.
You’ll hear insights on:
Canadian innovation potential
Going global from Vancouver
Taking a company public as a strategic early step
Leading through uncertainty and pressure
Why data is reshaping legacy industries faster than headlines suggest
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, an investor, an industry insider, or just curious about what’s possible — there’s something here for you.
💬 Bonus B-Roll
Stick around near the end of the episode for a bonus conversation on real estate markets. Tom and I riff on global housing trends, what the data is signalling about the next cycle, and why Canadian homeowners are uniquely positioned compared to their American counterparts.
🎧 Tune In to the Full Episode
How Tom Rossiter Took a Canadian Tech Company Public Pre-Product — and Scaled RESAAS to 160 Countries
🍁 Final Thought
If there’s one takeaway from this conversation, it’s this: Canadian companies can build globally — but it requires curiosity, discipline, and the courage to challenge old assumptions.
Whether you’re leading a startup, scaling a team, or shaping strategy inside an established organization, the playbook is shifting. Innovation isn’t about moving fast blindly — it’s about asking better questions, removing unnecessary barriers, and saying yes to the right opportunities.
If this episode sparked something for you, share it with a founder or leader looking toward 2026. The more we champion Canadian ambition, the stronger our ecosystem becomes.
👤 About the Guest
Tom Rossiter is the President & CEO of RESAAS, a Vancouver-based publicly traded proptech company operating worldwide. A recognized leader in real estate technology and data innovation, Tom has spent more than a decade shaping how the global industry collaborates, shares intelligence, and scales digital infrastructure.
Before RESAAS, Tom led digital strategy for major global brands — including Nike, Sony, Adobe, Nokia, and Samsung — work that informs his product mindset and global approach to building technology with real-world impact.
Tom has been named one of Business in Vancouver’s Top 40 Under 40, is a mentor with the REACH Canada real estate accelerator, and is widely regarded as a thought leader in international real estate, data-driven strategy, and emerging technology.
Learn more:
Tom Rossiter on LinkedIn
RESAAS Website | In The Media | Company Info: TSX-V: RSS / OTCQB: RSASF
✏ Episode Show Notes
📌 What is SR&ED (“SHRED”)?
SR&ED is Canada’s Scientific Research & Experimental Development program — the country’s largest R&D tax-incentive system. It rewards companies for investing in innovation through a mix of refundable and non-refundable tax credits, depending on company type and eligibility.
RESAAS Press Release — SR&ED Policy Change for Public Tech Companies
RESAAS welcomes the 2025 update allowing public companies to access refundable R&D credits.Canada Revenue Agency — SR&ED Program Overview
Official federal guide to the Scientific Research & Experimental Development program.Government of British Columbia — Provincial SR&ED Tax Credit
BC’s complementary R&D credit for eligible corporations.
In the episode, Tom references recent federal policy changes that now allow publicly traded companies to access refundable SR&ED credits.
🎥 Episode Chapters
(Jump straight to the parts you care about.)
⏰ Timestamps
00:00 – Cold Open – Taking RESAAS public pre-product
00:31 – Canada Now intro & show framing
00:43 – Who is Tom Rossiter? (RESAAS, global proptech, 160+ countries)
02:01 – How Ashley and Tom know each other
02:35 – Tom’s origin story – from motorsports to London agency life
03:51 – Moving to Vancouver & the idea that became RESAAS
05:19 – What RESAAS is today – global network, 700k agents, 160 countries
07:18 – White-label / private-label platform for major brands
08:50 – Why RESAAS went public so early – the Canadian “venture” mindset
11:17 – Public vs private – liquidity, everyday investors & access to capital
15:10 – Running the business vs running 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 from Canada to very different markets
25:23 – Product market fit, feedback loops & using data/AI to decide what to build
29:59 – Where AI actually fits – picking lanes, committing, and quality-checking output
33:47 – “We were early” – industry readiness, breakout year & commercial real estate
35:55 – Saying no (and yes) – how RESAAS found new growth in commercial
40:32 – Why Canada is a powerful base for tech (SR&ED/“SHRED”, talent, incentives)
44:05 – Making RESAAS stock accessible globally – the investor side of scaling
47:14 – Strategy in uncertain times – removing barriers instead of rigid 5-year plans
49:57 – Bonus real estate segment – what RESAAS data reveals about trends
53:17 – Commercial data exchange, reciprocity & institutional insights
56:58 – Does the market really “suck”? Rethinking headlines and agent opportunity
01:01:01 – Elite agents, coaching, and staying disciplined through tough cycles
01:04:05 – The AI era, innovation in downturns & why Ashley created Canada Now
01:04:55 – Closing thoughts & outro
Be sure to subscribe on your preferred podcast platform so you don’t miss the episodes to come. And if you like what you hear, sharing the show with a friend goes a long way in helping us grow.
We’re writing the next chapter in Canada — and it starts now. 🍁
If you’re a fan of Canadian innovation and curated Canadian content, check out some of my other favourite newsletters on Beehiiv! 🐝👇
— Ashley Smith (@ashleysmithnow)