JUSTIN R. MELVILLE
PRODUCT & MARKET LEADER
OPEN TO OPPORTUNITIES
I lead companies, products & brands through the “why” that becomes the “how” that defines “what” they will become.
15 years building and transforming marketplace and platform businesses across FinTech, PropTech, Real Estate, and Media. Founder mindset. Systems-level thinking. Design-centric.
Three ideas that shape how I work
Change leadership
The best opportunities come when the old playbook stops working. I've led transformations where business models were failing and markets were shifting — and found the path forward.
Founder mindset
Not a corporate operator. I've built companies from scratch, raised capital, made payroll, and sold a business. I move fast, own outcomes, and understand what success requires.
Systems thinking
My design background means I see connections others miss — how brand, product, pricing, and experience interact. I don't optimise in silos; I redesign systems to work together.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
3X
REVENUE GROWTH
$83M+
FUNDRAISING SUPPORT
$50M
PLATFORM VOLUME/YR
1
FOUNDER EXIT
REW
VP, Brand
2020–2024
Transformed a dying business model into 3x revenue growth
Western Canada's largest real estate marketplace was trapped in a commodity spiral. I led the complete transformation — repositioning the brand, redesigning the product, and building go-to-market for a new membership model.
Leading real estate brand · 30%+ ARR growth
Lodestar Media
VP, Brand
2024–2025
Unified 15+ legacy media titles into one digital-first brand
BC's largest community media group was a collection of declining print titles. I led the rebrand and developed a portfolio framework that aligned teams around a shared digital future.
Yoco
Principal Designer
2020
Contributed to Africa's largest fintech Series C
Worked directly with founders on product narrative, brand refresh, and experience design during a critical fundraising period.
$83M Series C closed
Ekaya / reOS
Founder & CPO
2013–2020
Built and sold South Africa's first rental marketplace
Founded Ekaya from zero, took it through Dragon's Den SA, and achieved acquisition. Post-acquisition, led product for a payments platform processing $50M annually.
Successful founder exit · $50M APV
I have tilted at windmills to connect creators with their true fans.
Pioneered the concept of peer-to-peer patronage and viral music distribution. Successfully seed-funded and established a global music distribution and membership platform, operating in 168 countries. Delivered a TEDx Talk on ‘Rethinking the Music Industry’ in 2012.
Micro-subscription ・ Global distribution
I’ve designed & built countless brand identities for people who care about how they show up in the world.
I helped great minds visualize and commercialize the impact of a generational scientific breakthrough.
Served as the creative director in the formative stages of the global digital health company known as LifeQ. Worked with world-leading computation systems biologists to help communicate their radical vision to the world.
Conceptual product development ・ Fundraising support