CEO (Founder) - Insurtech Startup (Databraid)

Full-Time, Hybrid
Toronto (Hybrid) or Canada-wide with periodic in-person sessions
The Opportunity
Koru’s venture studio has incubated a next-generation InsurTech startup with a mission to transform the insurance industry. Through open data sharing and seamless connectivity, we’re tackling long-standing inefficiencies in an industry constrained by siloed systems and limited innovation.
We’ve launched a modern infrastructure platform that radically improves access to insurance data. Our goal: empower the entire insurance ecosystem to build more personalized products and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
We’re seeking a Founder & CEO to join the company’s Co-Founder & CTO and lead this venture through its next phase of growth. You’ll inherit a strong foundation — a first product version in-market with a lead customer, a healthy sales pipeline, and a team of Koru experts across product, technology, design, operations, and go-to-market.
**Please note**: This is not a Koru employee role. It’s an opportunity to become CEO/Founder of a new, independent company created through our venture studio model.
About Koru
About DataBraid
Our platform is inspired by infrastructure-as-code leaders like Shopify, Plaid, and Stripe — but tailored to the specific needs of insurers. We see a future where insurance is proactively chosen, not passively accepted. If you’re ready to reshape an entire industry from the ground up, this is your moment.
**Your Role**:
You are a product-oriented, entrepreneurial leader who thrives in ambiguity and is passionate about building from first principles. You will drive the business across multiple fronts — strategy, execution, customer growth, team building, and capital raising.
Your Core ResponsibilitiesStrategic & Operational Leadership
- Lead with a founder’s mindset: balance vision with hands-on execution.
- Own the business P&L and financial operations (supported by 3rd-party providers).
- Make high-stakes decisions that balance speed, scale, and strategic direction.

Revenue & Partnerships
- Lead customer acquisition and revenue growth, including direct sales and pipeline management.
- Build strategic partnerships with insurers, associations, and technology players.
- Guide customer pilots and implementations with the product and engineering teams.

Team & Culture Building
- Recruit and inspire early team members.Champion a values-driven, inclusive, and high-accountability culture.

Product & Brand Strategy
- Shape the product roadmap with the CTO, balancing time-to-market and technical scalability.
- Establish a compelling brand and marketing presence, with an initial focus on Canada and eyes toward global expansion.

Fundraising
- Lead the Seed round fundraising effort in early 2026, with strategic support from Koru.

**You Bring**:

- A founder’s mindset and readiness to co-create something truly novel.
- Experience as a founder or early team member (within the first 5 hires) of a startup.
- A proven track record of leadership in a B2B SaaS or software venture.
- Ability to inspire and focus teams through early-stage ambiguity and growth.
- Customer-first instincts, grounded in validated learning and product iteration.
- Strong communication and storytelling capabilities — to engage stakeholders, team members, and investors.
- Willingness and ability to be onsite regularly for working sessions and customer interactions.

**Bonus Points For**:

- Experience building partnerships with enterprise clients or regulated industries.
- Founding and successfully exiting a venture-backed company.
- Background in product management or experience launching technical products.
- InsurTech or FinTech exposure; existing relationships within Canada’s insurance ecosystem.

**What You’ll Get**:

- A founder position with significant equity.
- Day-one salary and benefits to support you until Seed funding is secured.
- Ongoing strategic and operational support from Koru’s venture team.
- A hybrid-first culture with flexibility, purpose, and impact.The chance to change an industry that matters.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
We believe that diverse teams drive better outcomes and more innovative thinking. We are committed to building a company where individuals of all backgrounds, abilities, and identities feel welcome, supported, and empowered.
Accommodations are available throughout the recruitment and selection process. Please inform us of any needs and we’ll ensure a fair and inclusive experience.
Location
We acknowledge that our work takes place on the traditional territories of Indigenous Peoples. Koru’s HQ is located on land that is the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples. We are committed to reconciliation and respectful engagement with the communities on whose land we operate.