Ownly, a Calgary start-up, is hoping to change the way Canadians purchase new homes. Traditionally, buyers hoping to purchase a new home visit burgeoning subdivisions, sauntering between model homes in the hopes of finding their ideal residence. This method turned what was already a stressful process, into a costly and time-consuming one.
Ownly hopes to simplify the entire industry by allowing developers to list and sell their inventory of new homes on its platform. This process benefits both consumers and developers. Consumers can view more options, become better informed about market conditions, and cut down on the search costs of finding a new home. Developers benefit by reaching more customers and cutting down on marketing costs. The company gets its revenue from charging builders a fee for listing their products on the site.
In October of 2022, the company raised $2.55 million CAD in seed funding from Calgary Bluesky Equities, the National Bank of Canada NAventures, and Garage Capital. Ownly is hoping to use the funds to expand its market from its current hub in Alberta to Ontario and several U.S. locations, including Florida, Texas, and Georgia.
The recent downturn in the Canadian housing market could be a double-edged sword for the company. On the one hand, a slowing housing market could mean fewer customers. On the other hand, a slumping market could be ripe for a disruptor looking to shake things up. Either way, 2023 should be an interesting year for Ownly, as the company tries to navigate multiple hurdles in its quest to revolutionize the way Canadians buy homes.
Photo Credit: https://unsplash.com/@brenoassis
Authors
Expertise
Insights
-
Technology
Dreaming of a Good Sleep? Technology Might Help
The “sleep economy” is growing rapidly with more than just sleep masks, weighted blankets and melatonin products on the market selling a good night’s rest. Sleep technology has evolved from tracking… -
Privacy and Data Protection
Canadian Privacy Regulators Publish Findings and Guidance on OpenAI Privacy Compliance
Following a multi-year joint investigation, federal and provincial privacy regulators recently published their findings with respect to OpenAI’s collection and use of personal information to train… -
Technology
Anthropic Prepares for Public Markets
Anthropic, one of the world’s leading AI firms, has confidentially submitted a draft S-1 registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, paving the way for a potential initial… -
Technology
Blast-off: The Race to IPO in the American Technology Landscape
On May 20, 2026, Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (“SpaceX”) filed an S-1 form with the United States’ Securities and Exchange Commission, indicating its intention to launch an initial public… -
Technology
Humans: 0, Robot: 1 – Sony’s Project Ace Robot Beats the Pros
Developed by Sony AI, a new robot named Ace has outperformed elite table tennis players, marking a significant milestone in AI and robotics. While AI systems have previously rivalled or surpassed… -
Technology
TikTok Cleared to Continue Canadian Operations Following National Security Review
The Government of Canada (the “Government”) has concluded its most recent national security review of TikTok, the popular short-form video platform owned by Chinese technology company ByteDance Ltd…