Sanabil Studio is a venture builder that blends industry expertise, technology, and startup know-how to turn bold ideas into real businesses. We take concepts from zero to launch, and when a venture proves its potential, we back it with seed funding and hands-on support to help it scale.
We believe the Saudi auto-parts trade is held back by a liquidity gap: garages struggle to get the right parts fast and on fair terms, while suppliers won't carry the payment risk. Whoever closes that gap wins the market. We are a B2B marketplace that supplies large garages in Riyadh with spare parts from vetted wholesalers, owning the ordering, delivery, and, critically, the payments. We give garages workable terms and pay suppliers, carrying the collection risk no one else will. We are the founding team building this venture from concept to a licensed, scaling business, starting with a Riyadh pilot.
We are looking for a Co-Founder & Chief Commercial Officer to lead the venture. You will own the two-sided network, supply (wholesalers) and demand (garages), the commercial strategy, and the overall P&L, and you will build and lead the founding team. You will report to the venture's board and the Sanabil Studio Investment Committee.
THE ROLE: What you'll own here.
- Own the overall P&L and go-to-market: take the Riyadh marketplace from pilot to a licensed, scaling business.
- Build and own the supply side: negotiate discounts, terms, and reliable availability with wholesalers and suppliers.
- Build and own the demand side: sign, onboard, and grow a base of large garages, and own B2B field sales.
- Own pricing and margin strategy across both sides (buy-side discount and wholesale-to-retail spread).
- Build and lead the founding team and the key relationships: wholesalers, garage chains, insurers, and the studio / IC.
THE PROFILE: You're probably a fit if…
- You have 8-12+ years in commercial, GM, or founder roles in the auto aftermarket, B2B distribution/trading, or industrial supply, ideally in KSA/GCC.
- You have personally signed both suppliers and customers and grown a two-sided or distribution business (a verifiable track record, not just "exposure to").
- You deeply understand how the Saudi auto-parts trade actually buys, prices, and pays, and you already have a Riyadh wholesaler/garage/insurer network.
- You have led a P&L and built and run a team.
- You communicate clearly with suppliers, garages, insurers, and the studio/board.
- You are fluent in Arabic and English and based in Riyadh.
Bonus: existing relationships with large chains (e.g., Petromin), insurers (e.g., Tawuniya, Najm) or major wholesalers; familiarity with CR / ZATCA / licensing.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE: Within the first 12 months, you'll...
- Have signed a working base of suppliers and garages and taken the marketplace live at a target monthly order volume.
- Have delivered validated unit economics and ≥80% on-time collection across live orders.
- Have hired the core team and established a clear operating cadence.
- Have a credible path to a licensed, scaling business and the next funding milestone.
- Be recognised as a decisive leader who aligns the team, partners, and the studio.
WHAT THE VENTURE PROVIDES
- * Validated thesis, financial model and market sizing: a de-risked concept with the commercial playbook.
- Pre-seed capital to build and prove the model, with follow-on support when it works.
- Operational backbone: legal, finance, hiring, and governance.
- Hands-on studio support: a venture team working alongside you from day one.
