Meet our private capital &
M&A advisory team.
The FirePower Capital team understands what keeps you up at night and what gets you up in the morning.
We’re entrepreneurs, like you, and we feel the same fire inside each and every day.
We have the creativity, experience, and commitment to help you conclude deals that simply change the course of your business.
Partners
Ilan Jacobson is the Founding Partner & CEO of FirePower Capital, and has transformed the firm from a small 4-person family office into a 40+ strong M&A advisory and private capital powerhouse. Ilan leads FirePower Capital in all its endeavours, setting its strategic direction, providing top-level guidance on key transactions undertaken by the M&A division, and assessing new direct investments for FirePower’s Private Capital funds. Under his leadership, FirePower invests in Canada’s entrepreneurs by financing their growth directly with venture debt or private equity, and helps them complete their most critical transactions.
Ilan is sought after for his expertise on topics related to entrepreneurship, private capital, and M&A, and has appeared at numerous events as a speaker, moderator, and workshop leader. Previously, Ilan was a Portfolio Manager at a leading venture capital firm in Toronto, where he sat on numerous boards. He received his MBA from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University, and has an Honours Degree in Science with a specialization in genetics from the University of Western Ontario.
Sebastien Douville drives the implementation of all FirePower Capital’s strategic initiatives while managing the company’s day-to-day operations. He is the driving force behind the firm’s developing its proprietary deal platforms and advancing its technology partnerships. Most recently, Sebastien headed corporate development and finance at Real Time Medical. Prior to that, he consulted for manufacturing, transport and energy companies at Oliver Wyman, where, among other assignments, he facilitated the $15 billion merger of two utilities. Sebastien received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and the Schulich School of Business, and holds a BSE in Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University.
Jared Kalish leads FirePower's Private Capital division, is a co-founder of FirePower Asset Management, providing leadership to FirePower’s Private Debt and Private Equity businesses and is responsible for managing Firepower's limited partnerships.
Passionate about building companies, Jared brings creative thinking to the FirePower portfolio of businesses, always with the goal of optimizing strategic direction and supporting financial structuring, underwriting and M&A.
Starting in 2016, Jared built FirePower's Private Debt division from the ground up, transforming it into a thriving business. Currently, he provides high-level leadership to the Private Debt team and contributes underwriting and structuring expertise.
Prior to FirePower, Jared was responsible for Structured Finance and Strategic Equity for Investec (£5bn market cap) in Canada. He was appointed as a division head for Investec in South Africa at the age of 27, where he led the Equity Structuring team to realize substantial growth in profitability. Jared holds a BSc in Actuarial Science and an MSc in Risk and Stochastics from the London School of Economics where he was ranked first overall in his class.
Anthony Lipschitz leads FirePower Capital’s Private Equity division. Anthony is a passionate business builder and leader. Most recently he was the Chief Strategy Officer at Thinking Capital, a PE-backed fintech lender. Previously, he was Canada Country Manager at StubHub, eBay's ticketing marketplace, more than doubling the business in two years. While CEO at iStopOver, a short-term vacation rental marketplace he co-founded, Anthony led the company’s VC fundraising, growth and eventual acquisition. Prior to that, he was a VP at Brightspark Ventures, a venture capital firm widely regarded as Canada's startup experts. He holds a BA in Media Arts from Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York.
Alan Chettiar leads FirePower’s M&A Advisory team in all its engagements and sets its strategic direction. As a former Principal at a boutique investment management firm, Alan brings over a decade of experience in venture capital (debt and equity) and private equity. Alan has worked directly with dozens of entrepreneurs, providing guidance on growth initiatives and strategic direction, and he leverages this deep hands-on experience to maximize results for our clients. Alan holds an MBA from the Ted Rogers School of Management, an LLB from Dalhousie University, and a Bachelor of Commerce from St. Mary’s University.
M&A Advisory
Kenan Dizdarevic leads the execution of FirePower's M&A and corporate finance advisory transactions. Kenan brings more than 11 years of experience in M&A advisory with fast growing international banking platforms both in the United States and in challenging emerging markets. Embarking on his career in Central Europe, he worked with Deloitte Corporate Finance and KBC Securities with a primary focus on cross-border M&A. Kenan subsequently moved to the US, joining Macquarie Capital in New York, where he advised financial sponsors and M&A clients in the industrials space. After Macquarie, Kenan joined Mizuho Bank, focusing on strategic corporate finance advisory and capital raising, primarily for large US corporates and financial sponsors. Kenan holds an MBA from Duke University and is a CFA Charterholder.
Somant Maraj supports FirePower Capital’s M&A mandates, with a specific focus on M&A. Before joining FirePower, Somant worked in wealth management in the Private Client Group at BMO Nesbitt Burns. Somant holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Ryerson University. He is a sports enthusiast and has represented Trinidad & Tobago in cricket at a regional and international youth level.
Philippe Theroux Ha executes on FirePower Capital’s M&A mandates and leads the firm’s business development activities in Quebec. Philippe started his career at FirePower as an Origination Analyst and returned after a 2-year stint in the Corporate Finance division of Enerkem Inc., a VC-backed renewable fuels company based in Montreal. While at Enerkem, Philippe helped conclude approx. $200m in private equity and debt financings, as well as analyze over $1b in infrastructure projects. Philippe holds a Bachelors of Business Administration from HEC Montreal.
Jonathan Lehun supports FirePower Capital’s M&A mandates. Prior to joining FirePower, Jonathan facilitated the transition of IA portfolios in the range of $50 to $150 million at RBC Dominion Securities. Before embarking on his career in corporate finance, Jonathan was a professional hockey player from 2004 to 2008, having been selected in the 2003 NHL entry draft by the St. Louis Blues. Jonathan holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University.
Ryan Balsam works in FirePower Capital’s M&A Advisory group, after a short stint in our Private Capital division. Prior to joining FirePower, Ryan was an analyst at a boutique private equity firm focused on the lower middle-market. In doing so, he received comprehensive experience researching and evaluating target companies through financial modeling while structuring and executing transactions. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Economics and Political Science from McMaster University. He is currently pursuing his CFA designation.
Andrew Doucet-McDonald works in FirePower Capital’s M&A Advisory group. Prior to joining FirePower, Andrew held internships in the private equity team at Caisse de Dépot et Placement du Québec (CDPQ), where he focused on valuation of private businesses and gained relevant experience through several transactions. Andrew holds a Master of Science in Finance from HEC Montreal, graduating in June 2018. He also holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Sherbrooke University, Canada.
Evan Gravenor works in FirePower Capital’s M&A Advisory group. Prior to joining FirePower, Evan was a Senior Auditor at the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario, where he focused on financial reporting and operational efficiency audits of Crown Corporations and government agencies. He received a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours in Accounting from York University, and played on the York Lions Varsity Men’s Hockey team. Evan is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
Jasmine works in FirePower Capital’s M&A Advisory group. Prior to joining FirePower, Jasmine was a Senior Accountant at KPMG in Vancouver, providing services focused in the financial institutions and real estate practice. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours from the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia. Jasmine is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and is currently pursuing her Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Harpreet Singh works in FirePower Capital’s M&A Advisory Group. Prior to joining FirePower, Harpreet worked for a boutique investment advisory and facilitation firm, where he was responsible for building relationships and identifying investment opportunities in North America, the Middle East and Asia. Harpreet began his career as an entrepreneur, cofounding LAB B, a coworking space and hub for early-stage startups. Harpreet earned his undergraduate degree at Western University, where he studied sociology and economics.
Mellisa Ramkissoon works with FirePower Capital’s M&A Advisory group. Prior to joining FirePower, Mellisa was a Quantitative Research Analyst Intern with Blue Sky Asset Management, where she supported the team in conducting industry research, reporting, and backtesting. Mellisa recently graduated from the Schulich School of Business with an International Bachelor of Business Administration.
Brendan Cunneen is a special advisor to FirePower’s M&A Advisory team. Previously, he oversaw all credit underwriting activities within FirePower’s Private Capital’s Gap Debt fund. Brendan has over 30 years of lending, management consulting and human resources development experience in the lower-mid market segment. Having held various position of increasing responsibility throughout Canada with BDC since 1970, he was part of the group that started BDC’s subordinated financing program and led BDC’s consulting practice. In 2011, Brendan sold his tax credit underwriting practice to Ernst & Young and thereafter joined E&Y’s national practice. Brendan holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University College Cork, Ireland.
Private Capital
Trevor Simpson leads FirePower Capital’s Private Capital division in client engagement and credit underwriting. Trevor brings extensive experience in structuring cash flow transactions and providing patient capital to clients utilizing senior term, subordinated debt and mezzanine financing. Previously, Trevor worked at Roynat Capital where he managed and grew a portfolio of clients, tailoring long-term capital solutions for mid-sized companies. Trevor received a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from McMaster University, an MBA from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
Stella Millis was most recently a Vice-President and Licensed Insolvency Trustee in BDO’s Financial Recovery Services practice, specializing in insolvency and restructuring of distressed companies.
Stella thinks outside the box to achieve positive results for companies and its key stakeholders. Engagements include viability assessments, liquidations and turnaround plans on behalf of lenders and debtors. These engagements cover various industries, most notably in manufacturing, construction, telecommunications, hospitality, real estate and health care.
Stella is currently serving on the Board of the Ontario Association of Restructuring Professionals. Stella holds a BEng from Ryerson University and is a Chartered Insolvency and Restructuring Practitioner.
Bryan Lehman is an Associate in FirePower’s Private Capital division, supporting the evaluation and underwriting of lending and private equity opportunities. Prior to joining FirePower, Bryan worked with KPMG’s Deal Advisory group, providing financial due diligence services for private equity and corporate clients across diversified industries. Previously, Bryan worked in KPMG’s Assurance practice, with a focus on the financial services sector. Bryan is a Chartered Professional Accountant, with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business.
Tunde Agboola works with FirePower Capital’s Private Capital team, supporting the evaluation and underwriting of lending and private equity opportunities. Prior to joining Firepower, Tunde worked for Aon Canada’s Global Risk Consulting practice, providing risk and capital management advisory services to Canadian companies. Tunde holds a B.Math from the University of Waterloo, and an MBA from the Rotman School of Business, where he specialized in investment banking and corporate finance.
Uday Sandhu works with FirePower Capital’s Private Capital team, responsible for evaluating and supporting private debt and equity opportunities. Prior to joining FirePower, Uday worked for IJW & Co.’s merger and acquisition practice, providing support for sell- and buy-side mandates in the Canadian mid-market. Uday holds a Bachelors of Accounting and Financial Management from the University of Waterloo.
Charles Levy works with FirePower’s Private Capital Team, supporting and evaluating private debt and equity opportunities. Prior to joining Firepower, Charles worked for Archer Growth Partners, evaluating and executing private equity opportunities in the North American mid-market. Charles holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from McGill University.
Origination
Cameron Vernest leads FirePower Capital’s Origination and Partnerships team. Cameron is passionate about building businesses and helping business owners achieve their goals. Most recently he was VP of Global Sales and Partnerships at TradeGecko, a Singapore based inventory and order management platform, growing ARR from $2m to over $10m in 3 years. Previously, he was Head of Strategic Partnerships at Shopify and Managing Director of South East Asia at BlackBerry. He holds an MBA in finance and accounting from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.
Bhavin Parmar drives FirePower’s Origination team’s efforts in developing new relationships and sourcing new deals for our firm. Bhavin brings to FirePower Capital his experience as an Investment Analyst at a Toronto-based private equity fund, as well as a key account manager at a digital marketing strategy firm. Bhavin graduated from the Schulich School of Business with a specialization in Finance.
As a member of FirePower’s Origination team, Matt identifies and cultivates relationships and opportunities for the firm’s M&A Advisory and Private Capital groups. Before joining FirePower, Matt was a Sales Associate at NEI Investments, where he was responsible for developing relationships with a network of Investment Advisors. Matt holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).
Michael D’Ercole originates advisory, direct lending, and private equity opportunities for FirePower Capital. Michael focuses on entrepreneurs looking to exit or grow their businesses and brings relatable, practical experience to the business owners he works with. Before joining FirePower Capital, Michael founded, built and successfully exited two Toronto-based companies. Michael holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and an Honours Degree in Psychology from Queen’s University.
Moritz Christ originates M&A Advisory, Private Capital and Private Equity opportunities for FirePower Capital. He brings international experience to FirePower, having previously worked as an Analyst at Citigroup in Ireland. With a passion for football, Moritz played at a Division I level for Washington State University, and subsequently worked as a business development intern for the Washington Redskins. Moritz holds a Master of Science in International Management with a specialization in Finance from Trinity College at the University of Dublin, and an undergraduate degree in Sports Management, Business Administration from Washington State University.
Aaron Davids fuels FirePower Capital’s origination efforts by cultivating relationships and identifying opportunities for the firm’s M&A Advisory and Private Capital businesses. Aaron focuses primarily on the software and technology sectors, where he brings considerable deal experience from his most recent role on Constellation Software’s M&A origination team. Previously, Aaron was a Business Development Associate at Dynamic Funds. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Economics from the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University.
As a member of FirePower’s Origination team, Justin identifies opportunities and cultivates relationships for the firm’s M&A Advisory, Private Capital and Private Equity businesses. Previously, Justin lead the US Corporate Fixed Income back office trade support team within RBC Capital Markets. He holds a Bachelor of Political Science with a concentration on Economics from the University of Waterloo.
Corporate
Oren heads the firm's Value Maximization division, focused on leveraging big data analytics to aggressively drive shareholder value ahead of M&A activity. Most recently, Oren was a senior leader in PwC’s Value Creation group, where he helped investment firms and their portfolio companies realize deal value using advanced analytical techniques. Prior to that, he headed the Investment Analytics group at MRI Software, focusing on long-term forecasting and benchmarking for large real estate portfolios.
Severina Lutaj works closely with Ilan Jacobson on all strategic, business development and leadership initiatives he undertakes. She is a recent iBBA graduate of the Schulich School of Business with a specialization in Finance, and also studied at HEC Paris in France. Before joining FirePower Capital, Severina accrued significant commercial real estate experience at MPI Group, assisting management in new and existing projects. She previously interned at Cushman and Wakefield, where she worked with clients like Burger King and Tim Hortons.
Severina is also a registered Dealing Representative of Belco Private Capital Inc.
Rachel supports the optimization of deal origination and transaction execution by curating sector-focused buy or sell side targets in the mid-market. She is passionate about helping entrepreneurs accelerate growth, and recently worked with businesses in Kenya and India, helping them to scale and raise capital. Previously, Rachel worked with Johnson & Johnson Medical Device Companies, leading the analytical effort in building a sales effectiveness strategy. She started her career at Ernst & Young, where she was part of the Assurance and Advisory Business Services. Rachel received her MBA from Rotman School of Management at University of Toronto. She is an enthusiastic world traveler and has worked and studied cross-culturally in five different countries.
Kimberly Dy manages and supports the daily operations and onboarding process at FirePower. Prior to joining FirePower, Kimberly was an associate consultant specializing in Crown Royalties for a tax advisory firm, where she reviewed client ledgers, provided in-depth analysis reports, and provided general administrative and IT support. Kimberly graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Art in East Asian Language Studies.
Evgeny Soloho leads all our Salesforce development efforts. He is a highly accomplished Salesforce Certified Developer (DEV 401), with a 12+ years track record of advanced full-lifecycle Salesforce implementations for financial, communications and manufacturing companies such as McCarthy Tétrault, Manulife, Mackenzie Investments and BMO. He is a graduate of Vitebsk State Technological University (VSTU) in Belarus. Evgeny heads his growing Salesforce consultancy, WebSolo.ca
Andrew Niedzialek works with FirePower Capital’s Value Maximization group. He is currently completing a Master of Science in Business Analytics at Ivey Business School, as well as a Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering at the University of Toronto. Prior to attending graduate school, he worked at an engineering consulting firm and he previously completed a Bachelor of Engineering Science in Chemical Engineering at Western University.
Jordan is a manager at Future Balance CPAs and provides accounting services to Firepower Capital. Jordan and the team at Future Balance specialize in providing cloud accounting solutions tailored to the specific needs of each client. Before joining Future Balance CPAs Jordan was a senior staff accountant at a premier mid-sized CPA firm, where he obtained his Chartered Professional Accountant designation. Jordan also enjoys teaching accounting courses at various small business centers and accelerator programs across the GTA.
Mandy is a bookkeeper at Future Balance CPAs and provides accounting services to FirePower Capital. Prior to joining Future Balance CPAs, Mandy helped clients in the hospitality industry, including top Toronto restaurants, to improve their financial performance and thrive in the rapidly evolving industry. Mandy holds a BComm (Accounting) from the University of Guelph.