Co-Founder × PropTech × E-commerce

Sanabil Investments; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 400,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative investment firm is seeking a Co-Founder to lead a new venture focused on international fashion brand expansion in the Middle East. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience in fashion or retail and a strong entrepreneurial mindset. Responsibilities include leading the venture from launch to scaling, fostering brand partnerships, securing retail locations, and driving revenue. This opportunity is fully in Riyadh and offers a chance to build a category-defining platform in collaboration with dedicated teams.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in fashion, retail, marketplaces, or related industries.
• Experience launching or scaling a business unit or brand.

Responsibilities

• Lead the venture from launch to scale.
• Define venture strategy and operating model.
• Build partnerships with international fashion brands.
• Secure retail locations and scale showroom networks.
• Design and optimize the commercial model.
• Execute go-to-market strategy and drive customer acquisition.
• Build the initial team and establish company culture.
• Own revenue growth and ensure fundraising readiness.
• Lead fundraising efforts in the first 18 months.

Skills

Partnership-building

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

Entrepreneurial mindset

Job description

About Us

Sanabil Venture Studio brings together top-tier talent, experienced founders, and institutional funding to build and scale high‑potential startups.

We generate and validate venture ideas, build MVPs, and provide capital alongside hands‑on support to help ventures launch and grow successfully.

We are currently building a new venture that enables international premium and mid‑tier fashion brands to enter the Middle East through a low‑complexity, asset‑light, commission‑free model.

The venture blends proptech and e‑commerce by combining physical retail infrastructure with a digital platform, giving brands access to new markets without the need to open stores, hire local teams, or manage inventory locally.

The venture is fully funded by the Sanabil Venture Studio Fund and supported by dedicated Product, UX/UI, Tech, and Growth teams to accelerate the journey from prototype to launch and scale.

The Role

We are looking for a Co‑Founder to lead the venture full‑time and build the company from launch through regional expansion.

This is a founder‑level opportunity for an entrepreneurial operator who wants to build and scale a new category‑defining platform for international brand expansion in the Middle East.

You will work closely with Sanabil Studio partners across Product, Growth, and Venture teams to shape the business model, secure brand partnerships, launch showroom locations, and build a scalable, regional platform.

Key Responsibilities

Founding Leadership

• Lead the venture end‑to‑end from launch to scale.

Strategy & Operating Model

• Define the venture strategy, roadmap, and operating model.
• Translate vision into execution.

Partnerships & Supply

• Build and close partnerships with international fashion brands and distributors.
• Develop long‑term strategic relationships.

Retail Expansion

• Secure retail locations.
• Build and scale showroom networks across key cities.

Commercial Model

• Design the brand onboarding journey.
• Develop and optimize the commercial model.

Go‑To‑Market & Growth

• Define and execute go‑to‑market strategy.
• Drive early customer acquisition and traction.

Team Building

• Build the initial team.
• Establish company culture and operating rhythm.

Financial Ownership

• Own revenue growth, unit economics, and performance metrics.
• Ensure fundraising readiness.

Fundraising

• Lead fundraising efforts and raise the next funding rounds within the first 18 months.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience
• 7+ years of experience in fashion, retail, marketplaces, brand partnerships, or related industries.
• Experience launching or scaling a business unit, brand, market, or venture.

Entrepreneurial Mindset

• High ownership and accountability.
• Comfortable with ambiguity.
• Passion for building from zero.

Commercial Strength

• Strong partnership‑building and negotiation skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management capabilities.

Operating Style

• Hands‑on operator.
• Comfortable in fast‑paced, cross‑functional, early‑stage environments.
• Strong relationship builder and deal maker.

Location

• Willing to relocate to Riyadh full‑time.

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with international brands or distributors.
• Experience in retail expansion or franchising.
• Experience in GCC or emerging markets.