Ownright is a digital-first legal technology platform that helps simplify the legal side of real estate transactions in Ontario, Canada. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Ownright co-founder and CEO Robert Saunders to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Robert Saunders’ Background
Could you tell me about your background? Saunders said:
“I grew up in Toronto and have spent my whole life here. My fascination with technology started in high school, thanks to a unique engineering class that introduced me to the world of building and problem-solving. I began teaching myself to code and eventually launched a few apps. One was for my high school to help students stay organized, and another to support my own fitness journey.”
“That curiosity led me to study Computer Engineering at Queen’s University, and after graduating, I joined Shopify as a software engineer. I worked on the platform team and later on the Shop app, where I got to build tools used by millions of people. But at my core, I’ve always been a builder. I love the process of turning an idea into something real that can make a difference in someone’s life. That, coupled with my own personal frustration, is what ultimately inspired me to start Ownright.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for Ownright come together? Saunders shared:
“The idea for Ownright came from my own home-buying experience. When I bought my first condo, I was surprised to learn I needed a real estate lawyer. I’d never worked with a lawyer before, so I just went with the one my real estate agent recommended. What should’ve been one of the most exciting moments of my life turned into a stressful, confusing process. I was buried in email threads, unsure of what was happening or what I was supposed to do next.”
“As an engineer, I kept thinking, ‘there has to be a better way.’ That experience stuck with me. I realized how outdated and confusing the closing process was, especially for people going through it for the first time. That’s what led me to start Ownright with the goal of making real estate transactions faster, clearer, and more consumer-friendly.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory building Ownright so far? Saunders reflected:
“There have been a lot of memorable moments, but a few really stand out. Closing our first real estate transaction was a big one; it was the moment this idea turned into something real, and we got to help someone navigate a major life milestone. Getting our first office was another special moment. Until then, we were working out of a shared space, so having a place that was truly ours made everything feel more permanent and gave us a home base to grow from.”
“Earlier this year, we celebrated our rebrand to Ownright and the close of our $4.5 million seed round. That was a proud moment, not just because of the funding, but because it felt like a vote of confidence in the team, the vision, and everything we’ve built so far. It’s hard to choose just one favourite, but the throughline has been getting to build something meaningful alongside people I really believe in.”
Core Products
What are Ownright’s core products and features? Saunders explained:
“Ownright offers a modern, digital-first legal experience for residential real estate transactions.”
“Our core products include:
- Property Closings: We help home buyers and sellers navigate the legal side of closing with clarity and confidence. Our platform offers a step-by-step digital experience where clients can track progress in real time, message legal experts directly, and move through the process without the usual stress and confusion.
- Mortgage Refinancing: For homeowners looking to refinance, we make the legal side simple. With transparent pricing, responsive support, and faster turnaround times, we help clients refinance quickly and with peace of mind.
- Status Certificate Reviews: For condo buyers, we offer fast and thorough reviews of status certificates with expert legal insights so buyers understand what they’re signing up for.
Whether someone is buying, selling, or refinancing, our goal is to make the legal side of real estate feel modern, transparent, and human.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have you faced building Ownright in such a heavily regulated industry? Saunders acknowledged:
“Legal tech is one of the tougher industries to innovate in, and for good reason, real estate is one of the biggest financial decisions people make, so the regulations are strict by design. From the beginning, we knew we had to strike a delicate balance: delivering a seamless, digital-first experience while fully respecting the legal and regulatory framework that governs the industry.”
“Navigating licensing requirements, structuring partnerships with lawyers, and earning consumer trust were all steep learning curves. But those challenges pushed us to build a more thoughtful, resilient business. In a space where change is often slow, we’ve learned how to move quickly without cutting corners, and that’s become one of our strengths.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Saunders noted:
“Since launching, our technology has come a long way. With the support of new funding, we’ve built more automation into our workflows, strengthened our identity verification protocols, introduced real-time communication features, and launched integrations with key partners like lenders and title insurers. Behind the scenes, we’ve also been continuously improving our client application to make the experience faster, clearer, and more intuitive for our clients.”
“In July, we launched Canada’s first digital Status Certificate Review, a tool designed to protect buyers from hidden risks buried in legal documents during condo purchases. Traditionally, status certificate reviews have been static PDFs or confusing verbal summaries from lawyers. Now, Ownright makes them transparent, accessible, and easy to understand, helping buyers spot red flags like low reserve funds, lawsuits, or pending special assessments before they close.”
“One of the biggest evolutions to date was our rebrand from Doormat to Ownright, which we announced in March. Doormat helped us establish ourselves as a leading proptech in Ontario, but as the company matured, we knew we needed a brand that better reflected our values and our mission. Ownright represents a fresh chapter—one focused on helping Canadians feel informed, empowered, and confident as they move through life’s biggest financial transactions.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Saunders cited:
“Since launching in 2023, we’ve:
- Facilitated 1500+ transactions
- Processed over $1B in transaction value
- Grown from 3 founders to a team of 25+ people, quadrupling transaction volume annually
- Completed a successful rebrand from Doormat to Ownright in March
- Raised $4.5 million CAD seed round led by Alate and Relay Ventures”
- In April, launched Canada’s first digital Status Certificate Review product
- In May, Ownright was selected as a Royal LePage preferred supplier of choice
- In June, we launched the Ownright Developer Platform, a suite of APIs and tools that allows proptech companies to embed legal closing services directly into their platforms.
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from other legal services providers in Ontario? Saunders affirmed:
“What sets us apart is our focus on the consumer. Traditional law firms often feel intimidating or impersonal, and they aren’t built with the modern homebuyer in mind. We’ve taken a ‘friendly neighbor’ approach to legal services, clear communication, transparent pricing, flexible digital tools, and a support team that truly cares. We’re not just digitizing legal processes, we’re rethinking the entire experience so it fits today’s expectations of quick, seamless service.”
Future Of Ownright
What do you envision for the future of Ownright? What direction is the company headed in? Saunders concluded:
“Our vision is to be the go-to legal platform for any major property decision Canadians make, from buying and selling to refinancing and more. In the short term, we’re focused on expanding our footprint in Ontario, building out our tech even further, and growing our referral network. In the long term, we see opportunities to scale nationally. Our goal is simple: make real estate transactions simple.”
