Rob Richards

Rob Richards is a seasoned high-tech operations leader with more than 25 years of senior management expertise in various industries including IT, telecom, aerospace, and enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS).

As the former Chief Operating Officer of a pioneering SaaS company, he played a crucial role in establishing the software subscription model and successfully guided the company through its NASDAQ IPO.

Apart from his tenure in established companies, Rob has been actively involved in the startup ecosystem, offering strategic advice and serving as an interim CEO for multiple startups, overseeing private placements and fostering growth initiatives.

Currently, Rob serves as a Co-founder and General Partner at Plaza Ventures, an early-growth stage venture capital firm with investments in diverse sectors like proptech, intelligent transportation, IoT, marketplaces, ad tech, and enterprise SaaS.

His dedication to leveraging technology for societal and economic progress is evident through his board memberships in various companies and his passion for how technology influences social and economic development.

Within Plazacorp, Rob spearheaded the development of Key, a visionary initiative focusing on utilizing digital innovation to simplify the condo ownership process and enable millennials to transition from renting to property ownership, facilitating wealth creation and urban living.

Rob holds a Hons. B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Waterloo and boasts an impressive career trajectory that includes leadership roles at prominent organizations like Key, Plaza Ventures, and Workstream, as well as advisory positions and investments through Richards Associates.

His extensive experience spans from being a COO, EVP at Workstream to serving as a General Partner at Plaza Ventures and holding various management positions at companies like Nortel and Bell Northern Research.