09/05/2026
I love this!
Marcel LeBrun made millions building software. Then he decided another expensive house for himself wasn't what he wanted his money to become.
After co-founding Radian6, LeBrun watched Salesforce acquire the social-media software company in 2011 for approximately $326 million. Years later, he turned his attention toward a completely different problem: homelessness in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
He spent years studying poverty and housing models before creating the nonprofit 12 Neighbours.
The idea went beyond simply putting roofs over people's heads.
On a large property in Fredericton, the organization built 96 tiny homes, each with a kitchen, bathroom, living space, storage and private outdoor space. Residents pay affordable rent tied to their income.
By April 2024, all 96 homes had been completed.
LeBrun and his wife personally poured roughly $4.5 million into the project, while government funding helped expand what they could build.
But housing was only part of the plan.
12 Neighbours also developed employment and training opportunities, including a café, retail operations and construction work, designed to help residents rebuild stability and independence.
LeBrun built his first company around software. His next project was built around giving 96 people somewhere to call home.
Source
Salesforce; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC); Maclean's; Global News.
Disclaimer
The $326 million figure refers to Salesforce's acquisition of Radian6, not the amount Marcel LeBrun personally received. Maclean's reported that LeBrun and his wife had invested roughly $4.5 million of their own money in 12 Neighbours by early 2024, while the project also received substantial government support. The completed Fredericton community contains 96 homes, despite some earlier reports describing plans for 99.
