Finance and Investing

Ray Fitzpatrick's dual perspective as a Venture Capitalist and startup CEO makes him a sought-after expert in the entrepreneurial landscape. With extensive experience in due diligence, investor meetings, and investment direction, he offers invaluable insights into what investors seek in promising ventures. Fitzpatrick's mentorship empowers entrepreneurs to excel in team-building, product development, and market navigation, making him the go-to resource for achieving funding and growth objectives in the competitive world of startups and venture capital.

As Product Manager, Chris is responsible for lifecycle programs that deliver customer and revenue growth and build brand loyalty in the highly competitive credit card landscape. He works to achieve business goals and ensure TD customers have a great credit card experience.

Chris has extensive marketing, product strategy, and business development experience from a variety of companies in tech and payments. 

Within the community, Chris is an active Ally with Women @ TD (formerly Women in Leadership) and serves on the board of a local NGO in Niagara supporting affordable housing for low-income families.

Chris earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Toronto Metropolitan University and is a certified Scrum Product Owner. When not in the big city, he lives in Napa-on-the-lake with his wife and children.

As a seasoned finance and operations leader, I specialize in building robust finance teams that propel startups into successful scaleups. I am obsessed with simplifying processes and removing barriers to efficiency. My career has been marked by transformative experiences, including guiding companies through the intricate process of going public and the pursuit of solving complexes challenges. Currently, in my role at Promise Robotics, I partner with my peers to make informed financial decisions and contribute to the strategic execution of our innovative factory-as-a-service offering which aims to bring the most innovative robotic system to the construction industry.

A senior finance executive and leader with 20 years’ experience with large publicly traded companies, owner managed and the Big 4 public accounting firms. Currently the Vice President, Corporate Controller for Wajax (TSX: WJX) one of Canada’s longest standing and most diversified industrial products Company. 

An experienced finance leader and business partner with a proven track record in roles that impact and drive organizational growth, excellence, and change while being a collaborative and transformational leader with the ability to develop and drive high performing teams. I aim to lead through mentorship and empathy while challenging my teams to maximize their potential through their strengths and supporting them in their development. I believe that if we treat people with empathy, while listening to understand, that will have a ripple effect on their lives, our communities and the legacy we leave. 

Personally, I enjoy spending time with family and friends and enjoy the simple things; a walk by the lake/ocean, a hike through a local park or lunch on a patio. I enjoy leading a healthy lifestyle and try to be mindful of my physical and mental health. Work-life balance to me includes starting my day off with a CrossFit Class and disconnecting from work in the evening with a walk by the lake with my dog and an audio book or podcast. I try to lead my life with purpose and in a positive manner; by trying to show kindness and empathy to all in my circle both personally and professionally.

A dedicated professional that values contributing to a purpose driven innovative organization. I have had the pleasure of working in various position with Mitacs to bring innovation into reach for more people in more places. I leverage my expertise and skills in finance and strategy to propel Mitacs vision forward. 

Gloria is a seasoned leader currently at the helm of Mydoh's Growth team (an RBCx Venture) driving transformative change in Canada's youth fintech landscape. Mydoh is a family finance app and smart cash card to help kids and teens learn about money in a safe environment. Under her leadership, the team won a 2022 Canadian Marketing Award (CMA) in its launch year, a testament to her commitment to excellence and effective collaboration.

With a proven track record working across diverse industries such as FI, CPG, Tech, Media, Entertainment, and Sports, she thrives on challenging the status quo and creative problem solving by cross-pollinating best practices across different industries. Her expertise lies in identifying and leveraging organizational gaps to foster collaboration, driving cultural change, and redefining success benchmarks.

What sets Gloria apart is her people-first mindset. This results in high performing teams that are anchored in a culture of excellence. She is in a relentless pursuit to deliver on Mydoh’s brand promise: “Empower the next generation to live the life they want” - outside of work, you can find her surfing in warm climates or being a professional aunt to her nieces and nephews.

Rainee Mistry is an Analyst with the Seed Venture Fund and the IT Venture Fund at BDC Capital’s Toronto Office. In this role, she conducts due diligence on investment opportunities, supports investment monitoring and portfolio management operations, and assists in special projects and value-add initiatives for portfolio companies.

Prior to this, Rainee completed internships in venture capital with the IT Venture Fund at BDC, in product management at CIBC, and in corporate development at Snapcommerce (now Super) — a Toronto-based startup building mobile products at the intersection of travel, e-commerce and fintech.

Rainee graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree in Finance and a minor in Economics from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Aaron is the Founder and Principal of Stoic Advisory Inc., which was formed in 2016. Stoic acted as Financial Advisor on more than $2.3 billion of transactions, and has been the leading non-bank cannabis M&A Advisor since inception. Aaron was also Acting CFO of Tokyo Smoke from early 2016 through 2018, before its ultimate exit to Canopy Growth. He was also the co-founder of Trichome Financial, a first of its kind cannabis specialty lender, which was sold to IM Cannabis in March 2021.

Prior to founding Stoic, Aaron was an Investment Analyst at Interward Asset Management, a specialist investment firm based in Toronto. While there he played an active role in capital allocation, including investments in the cannabis sector.

Prior to Interward, Aaron spent over four years at Dundee Capital Markets (now Eight Capital), starting as a Research Associate before moving on as an Analyst covering medical and recreational cannabis companies. Aaron pioneered research coverage of the cannabis sector, becoming the first Analyst to cover all public Licensed Producers as well a US-based operator. He has been frequently quoted in the press, including the Financial Post, Bloomberg, Reuters, and Financial Times, and is a regular speaker at industry events.

Aaron holds a CFA designation and obtained his Honors Business Administration (HBA) degree from the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, graduating with distinction.

Ismail leads the Plug and Play Toronto office. He is currently focused on building Plug and Play in Toronto with an emphasis on establishing its first Fintech location in Canada. Prior to his role in Toronto, Ismail helped launch Plug and Play in Alberta as one of the early founding employees. 

Ismail’s diverse background encompasses extensive experience across all stages of the startup lifecycle, from early-stage ventures to soon-to-be unicorns. Ismail has also contributed to late-stage venture capital funds. Recently, he served as a VC fellow at Blitzscaling Ventures, a prestigious late-stage VC fund in Palo Alto led by Jeff Abbott, Chris Yeh, and Scott Johnson, advised by Reid Hoffman, the Co-Founder of LinkedIn.

Ismail's entrepreneurial spirit thrives on the challenge of going from 0 to 1. As a serial entrepreneur, he has had numerous successes, including a retail tech venture built in France in 2016, and in 2018 he pioneered Canada's first food delivery startup tailored to college students called StudentsEAT. The startup went on to partner with Aramark and launch across Canadian institutions. In 2021, whilst collaborating with his brother, he also launched ReadyCAR, a health tech startup revolutionizing pharmacy workflow and reducing patient interaction times at retail pharmacies across the country. 

Active and deeply embedded in the tech ecosystem, Ismail's network spans outside of Canada — across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and APAC, particularly within the innovation and tech sector.  

In addition to leading Plug and Play's Toronto launch, Ismail is passionately involved in supporting establish Plug and Play in Pakistan, a cause close to his heart, deeply rooted in his origins as a first generation Pakistani-Canadian. 

I am a Principal Economist at the Bank of Canada in the Financial Stability Department, responsible for policy advice regarding the analysis of the distribution of wealth and debt. My ongoing academic projects cover household savings, the heterogeneous effects of job transitions and the determinants of successful entrepreneurship. I hold PhD in Economics from University College London, focused on wealth inequality and entrepreneurship, and have previous economic consultancy experience.

At the Bank of Canada, I am Chair of the Bank of Canada Governor’s challenge, bringing undergraduate students across Canada to the Bank in order to increase their understanding of monetary policy and expose them to the environment of a prominent central bank.

I am a passionate entrepreneur with an unshakable drive to succeed in the world of real estate. I take immense pride in being the co-owner behind LCH Developments, a company dedicated to shaping vibrant and sustainable communities. I'm incredibly proud of the dedicated and talented team that works alongside me, as together, we're making a positive impact on the communities we serve.

Beyond business, I believe in maximizing life experiences. I see every venture as an opportunity for personal and professional growth. Exploring uncharted territories, pushing boundaries, and nurturing meaningful relationships are all part of the adventure.

Together, we can build a brighter future, one project at a time.

I currently work as an Associate with the CIBC Innovation Banking group in Toronto. Our core focus is to provide debt capital to software & life sciences businesses across North America & Europe. Outside of my day job, I also help run FoundersBoost Toronto.

Adrienne Macdonald is a Vice President of investment Banking Equity Capital Markets at National Bank Financial (NBF), a Member of the Board of Directors at the Toronto Humane Society (THS), and an advocate for diversity in finance and animal welfare in our community. 

Adrienne grew up in Kamloops, BC, before earning an International Business and Finance degree from Carleton University. She spent several years as a major gift fundraiser for the Liberal Party of Canada before earning a Master of Financial Economics from the University of Toronto and joining the National Bank’s Investment Banking group in 2018. In her current role as a Vice President in Equity Capital Markets, Adrienne advises public and soon-to-be-public companies on equity product structuring, deal execution and syndication, and capital management. 

Adrienne believes in giving back to her community and holds several leadership roles that support her passions. In 2023, she was elected to the THS’ Board of Directors and is now the Chair of the Animal Welfare Committee and a member of the Audit & Finance and Development Committees. Adrienne has been a Cabinet Member of NBF’s United Way campaign since 2021, helping to raise nearly $5 million for community causes. Adrienne is also a Business Line Ambassador for NBF’s Women in Corporate and Investment Banking Committee and is a mentor for NBF’s Diversity Scholarship Program. She has actively participated in Women in Capital Markets for many years, including as a part of the WCM Elevate 2022 cohort, as a panelist, and in the mentorship program.

Max is the CEO and Co-Founder of Blossom, a social network and portfolio tracking tool for investors that boosts over 100,000 users and consistently charts as one of the Top 50 finance apps in Canada. Blossom’s members have logged over 8M sessions and 300,000 hours on the platform with the app empowering and inspiring thousands to take investing seriously.

Max has raised over $2.5M from high-profile investors like LOI Venture, Goodwater, and Pareto Holdings to fuel Blossom’s growth and advance its mission to build an inclusive community for everyone to take control of their finances and achieve financial freedom together.

Prior to Blossom, Max worked at the prestigious consulting firm McKinsey, where he was the youngest recipient of the McKinsey Inspirational Leadership Award. Max graduated from the University of Victoria where he was awarded the UVic Jubilee medal for graduating with the highest GPA of his faculty.

Max grew up in the small town of Grand Forks, BC, where he got his start in entrepreneurship, selling cupcakes at the local farmers market and was known as the ‘cupcake kid.’ Now, Max lives in Vancouver and has fully adopted the YVR lifestyle, with a love of running, skiing, and rock climbing and Lululemon/Arc’teryx making up the majority of his wardrobe.

Chris is currently a Managing Partner at Gambit Partners which is a follow-on fund focused on capitalizing Canadian businesses at the pre-seed and seed stage. 

Outside of his responsibilities at Gambit, Chris recently held the position of VP Strategic Finance at VTS, a commercial real estate technology company valued at $2.5B. During his time at VTS he led a $125M equity raise, the structuring of a $150M syndicated credit facility, among other board level financial initiatives. Before VTS, Chris was the CFO at Lane Technologies. In his time at Lane, Chris oversaw multiple fundraises at various growth stages, a few acquisitions, multi-office expansion and as a member of the executive team stewarded the business to over 100 employees throughout North America. His time at Lane culminated in leading the sale of the business to NYC based VTS for $210M back in 2021. 

Earlier in his career Chris joined Connected, a software development consultancy, as the company’s Chief of Staff and later as Director of Strategy. Chris laid the operational and financial infrastructure to grow the business from 20 to 200 employees. Connected’s growth trajectory concluded with an acquisition by Thoughtworks [NASDAQ: TWKS].

As a Principal at Northwood Family Office, Brad acts as a trusted advisor to many of Canada’s ultra-wealthy families. Working in one of Canada’s largest multi-family offices, Brad leads the way in assisting families through complex investment and tax landscapes, navigating through wealth-amplified family dynamics, and bolstering impactful philanthropic initiatives, including in the realm of social impact investing. 

Brad is a guest lecturer at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. He also spearheads JW Developments, a real estate development group he co-founded in 2018. Their focus on the "missing middle" enhances neighbourhood density across Canada, crafting distinctive multi-unit projects to pave the way for more affordable, denser cities. Brad immerses himself in real estate development, gaining firsthand insights into the challenges fueling Canada's housing crisis.

While actively engaged in various personal causes, Brad presently serves as Co-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights. The organization champions the right to adequate, accessible, and affordable housing for all Canadians. He sees the housing affordability crisis as a significant threat to Canada’s future success and aims to contribute towards resolving it. 

In recognition of his exceptional contributions, Brad was honoured with CPA Ontario’s Emerging Leader Award in 2023. This prestigious award celebrates the professional and philanthropic endeavours of Ontario’s young CPAs under the age of 35, who have exhibited innovative thinking and outstanding contributions to their profession and community early in their careers.

In my fourth year of university, I wrote my thesis paper on Innovation and the "secret sauce" behind Israel's high-flying start-up sector. After 8 months of research, both on the ground and in the library, I knew the startup world was where I wanted to be. 

Flash forward 5 years, and I'm working in the innovation economy as a tech banker at CIBC Innovation. We provide banking and financing solutions for startups and public tech companies alike. Outside of the office, I work as a program leader and mentor at FoundersBoost - first in Toronto and now in Vancouver. Twice a year, I run a pre-accelerator for founders looking to break into the ecosystem. More generally, I'm also a mentor at several tech-focused incubators. Simply put, I love startups and supporting the people behind them.

A third-generation broker, Adam took over the family business in 2008 and despite having no experience in insurance and little business experience, has taken Mitch from a two-person operation with $2.5 million in gross written premiums to an InsurTech leader that now regularly sees nearly 40% year-over-year organic growth. With Adam as CEO, our company has won numerous awards including Brokerage of the Year and Innovator of the Year from the Insurance Brokers Association Of Ontario (IBAO) and has been named one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies by Report on Business magazine. Adam and the rest of our leadership team are working to scale our organization as part of our most ambitious initiative to date – transforming Mitch into a top-20 national brokerage with $1 billion in gross written premiums by 2030.

Liam Sauro is responsible for financing, development and acquisitions across the company’s growing portfolio. In addition, he oversees the company’s expansion into new markets and partnerships. Liam brings a methodical and intentional approach to investment decisions and agile decision-making when new opportunities arise. Previously, Liam worked at Ashlar Urban and, most recently, at Cushman & Wakefield as a Vice President in the National Capital Markets Group.  Liam has led over $1B in acquisitions and financing and currently oversees a growing portfolio of approximately $300M in assets.

Simon is the Vice President at Relay Ventures. As a member of the Investment team, Simon spends a large portion of his time focused on Relay's Sports, Media, and Entertainment vertical. 

Simon is a Board Director of Train Fitness and a Board Observer of Woveo, HomeTeam Live, Alt Sports Data, and Sherpa. Prior to joining Relay Ventures, Simon worked on the Investment Banking team at Citibank with a focus on cross-border mergers & acquisitions. Previously, Simon held internships at both a portfolio company and with the fund.

Simon holds an Honors Business Administration from the Ivey Business School at Western University. He was involved in the finance and asset management clubs at Ivey while he co-founded a charity aimed at raising funds and awareness for Alzheimer’s. Simon is based in our Toronto office.

Sarah is a seasoned professional renowned for her unwavering commitment to driving innovation and achieving impactful results within the startup ecosystem. Currently serving as the Head of Operations at Startup in Residence, she is at the forefront of strategic initiatives. Sarah's notable accomplishments include crafting a highly successful startup accelerator playbook from the ground up, optimizing team productivity, and scaling Startup in Residence’s operations, effectively doubling the number of startups supported yearly. 

Throughout her career, Sarah has honed a diverse skill set that sets her apart. From her early career at CGI and Workleap, mastering tech support, customer success, and project management, to her role at Real Ventures, managing operations for the FounderFuel acceleration program where she had a hand in all aspects of program management – from recruitment to orchestrating the largest demo day in Canada. 

Sarah’s passion for operations and my unrelenting drive to make a positive impact on people's lives are central to her work. Whether it's through mentorship, coaching, or simply rolling up her sleeves, she is dedicated to empowering those around her to achieve their full potential.

Melissa is a Principal at Whitecap Venture Partners, an early-stage VC firm focused on software and healthcare investments in Canada. Prior to joining Whitecap in 2020, Melissa worked in business operations at Ritual, product management at BMO, and management consulting at Oliver Wyman. Melissa holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management and an HBA from Ivey Business School.

Laviva is a Principal at Luge Capital, an early-stage fintech-focused venture capital firm with over $150M under management. Since joining Luge Capital at its foundation in 2018, Laviva has played a crucial role in shaping its success. Her responsibilities span-new fintech investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, executing transactions, supporting portfolio companies, collaborating with strategic LPs, and contributing to the development of the firm’s investment theses.

Prior to that, she was an Investor at Ferst Capital Partners (FCP), a fintech startup foundry and VC firm. She helped build portfolio companies and supported their operations and fundraising processes.

Laviva was selected on the 2020 and 2017 Women in FinTech Powerlists by Innovate Finance and on Canada’s 2019 Top 50 Women in Fintech by Digital Finance Institute.

Born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Laviva moved to Canada to complete her BCom degree with double majors in Economics and Finance from McGill University. She completed CFA Level 1.

Johnnie is a caring, strategic and inspiring leader. At RBC Royal Bank, he is currently a Lead Advisor Enablement Coach for the GTR Diversified Commercial Banking team, where he acts as the strategic advisor to the Regional Vice President of Commercial Banking to enable, embed and sustain regional and national strategic initiatives. Johnnie joined personal and commercial banking over a decade ago and has held multiple sales and senior leadership roles. Prior to joining personal and commercial banking, Johnnie worked in wealth management at RBC Dominion Securities, where he supported various portfolio managers in equity research, trading and operations. He also worked at a Fortune 100 company in Corporate Development, Mergers & Acquisitions and Treasury services. 

Johnnie is an active member of his community and held various board positions for not for profits, charities and student unions. Currently, he is a Board Member of the Greater Toronto Region Scouts Foundation, the largest foundation supporting Scouts Canada. He is also the Director of the Sponsorship and Member Engagement at Ascend Canada. A strong advocate for youth, he champions RBC Future Launch, a $500 million investment to helping Canadian youth gain relevant skills, work experience and networks. He also is a mentor of the Ryerson University Sales Management Program and the Urban Land Institute. Enrolled in the Canadian Forces as a Lieutenant Navy, he is the Deputy Commanding Officer at RCACC 709 Signals, where he leads a team of officers who implement and teach programs to develop the leadership capabilities and military knowledge of many Canadian youth. Johnnie was recognized with an RBC Global Citizen Award, Royal Canadian Legion Medal of Excellence, Canadian Forces Decoration Medal, two times MVP Volunteer of the Year for Ascend, and Distinguished Young Citizen Award for his significant contributions to the community. 

Johnnie holds an MBA and a Certificate in Social Responsible Leadership from Queens University, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Marketing from the John Molson School of Business. He also completed Ascend’s Executive Insight Series and RBC’s Social Impact Leadership Program. In his spare time, he enjoys fundraising for charities, mentoring youth and venturing new restaurants.

I envision a world where innovations in technology empower individuals and organizations to build better economic futures for themselves and their communities. I have worked in the public and nonprofit sector for over a decade, and hold a Masters in Human Geography from the University of Toronto. Today, my work centers around bridging the gap between the nonprofit/community sector and the social purpose tech sector towards a shared goal of systems change. As the co-founder of the not-for-profit Innovate Financial Health Lab by Fintech Cadence, I have spent the last 5 years supporting the development of tech-based solutions to issues of financial inclusion and financial resilience for Canadian consumers. 

Since 2019, I’ve worked with dozens of impact-driven startups and their founders and led the development of our organization’s Financial Health portfolio through program design, strategy, and partnerships. In addition, I sit on the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada’s Research Committee on Financial Literacy and am the Coordinator for the Financial Services Taskforce for Economic Justice led by the Canadian Centre for Women’s Empowerment. 

A childhood spent immersed in the grassroots women’s rights and queer community organizing of 1990s Toronto fostered a deep appreciation for the importance of centring community and lived experience in systems change. A firm believer in the importance of collaboration when dealing with complex problems and systemic change, I work to bring together stakeholders across financial services, tech, and social services through events such as the 2023 FinTech For Good Showcase and the CCFWE Financial Futures Summit.

Joshua Olawale stands at the intersection of finance and technology, leading with a vision to infuse the sector with innovation and diversity. As a deal originations lead in CIBC’s Innovation Banking division, Joshua has played a pivotal role in the origination and execution of ~20 significant credit investments in emerging software companies over the past 2+ years, ranging from $1MM to $100MM+. His strategic investments include companies on the Globe and Mail’s list of fastest-growing companies of 2023, such as DealMaker, Ada, Noibu, Bridgit, ConnectCA, and more, showcasing his knack for supporting high-potential startups.

In his commitment to diversity and social impact, Joshua co-founded and now serves as a Board Director for BLCK VC Canada, a testament to his dedication to fostering inclusivity in venture capital. His contributions in his role as a board observer for a capital-raising software platform further highlight his commitment to creating alternative funding sources for entrepreneurs. Joshua recently joined the board of Young Canadians in Finance, underscoring his commitment to fostering a vibrant community of young finance professionals and shaping the future of the industry through collaboration and mentorship.

Joshua’s leadership philosophy is rooted in inclusivity and collaboration, ensuring every team member’s voice is heard and valued. Driven by a passion for continuous improvement and a desire to make a tangible difference, Joshua is committed to excelling and supporting software startups. He focuses on partnering with entrepreneurs to help them surpass their goals, contributing to a more innovative, inclusive, and impactful financial landscape.

Chris leads a portfolio of development projects at Capital Developments, from feasibility and design through delivery and has over 10 years of experience working in the urban development industry in the GTA. Since joining Capital Developments in 2018, Chris has led the rezoning of over 4 million square feet of mixed-use projects in Toronto and has led other community-building projects, such as the delivery of new public parks. Prior to joining Capital Developments, Chris worked at Minto Communities and contributed to numerous high-rise and low-rise projects in the GTA and Ottawa. Chris is a former member of BILD’s Young Builders’ Committee and the Yonge + St. Clair BIA. Chris has a B.Com with a major in Real Estate and Housing from the University of Guelph, where he’s recently guest-lectured the graduating class, sharing his insights on high-rise development in Ontario.

As a Vice President at Ironbridge Equity Partners, a mid-market private equity fund, Muhammad is deeply involved in the succession and transition of small to mid-sized Canadian businesses – an important segment of the economy employing two-thirds of the labour force. He works with companies where owners are either looking to transition out with an unclear succession plan or looking for a partner to guide their next chapter of growth. 

Muhammad’s involvement begins with detailed diligence of companies and investment opportunities. Once invested, he works with management teams to create and execute growth strategies and to implement robust operational and financial reporting capabilities. This process typically takes 5-7 years, after which he helps to exit Ironbridge’s investment in the business, as the company goes on the partner with a larger financial or corporate partner for their next phase of growth. 

Muhammad has lived in five different countries and immigrated to Canada to study at the University of Toronto, where he earned an Honours Bachelor of Science in Economics and Mathematics. As an immigrant, Muhammad is passionate about helping people build networks and currently serves as Co-Chair of the Young Professionals Committee (YPC) of the CVCA. The YPC regularly organizes a variety of events to provide up-and-comers in the PE, VC, and related industries a platform to build meaningful and lasting connections. 

Having made Toronto his home, Muhammad can be found giving strong opinions on the state of the Toronto Raptors.