Best Private Equity Firms in Canada

Canada Private Equity Firms & Investors

Toronto’s financial towers, Montreal’s entrepreneurial resurgence, Vancouver’s technology corridor, and Calgary’s energy-rooted capital markets collectively shape a uniquely Canadian private equity landscape. Across provinces, private equity firms are not just funding companies — they are influencing governance standards, strengthening regional economies, and guiding founder-led businesses through disciplined, sustainable growth. Canada’s market may be smaller than its southern neighbour’s, but it is deeply relationship-driven, operationally rigorous, and increasingly sector-specialised across technology, consumer, industrial, and infrastructure verticals.

At Digital Reference, we look beyond capital commitments. We examine who is leading the firm, how they support management teams, and whether their operating philosophy reflects transparency and long-term alignment. That’s why this curated list highlights Canadian private equity firms operating with outsourced, part-time, fractional, and virtual engagement models — firms that bring hands-on guidance without unnecessary bureaucracy.

If you’ve explored our coverage of Best Accounting Firms in Canada, Best Fractional CFO Services in Canada, or Best Risk Management Consulting Services in Canada, you know we value radical authenticity. The same lens applies here. We research leadership credibility, investment discipline, sector focus, governance standards, and how firms communicate with founders.

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🦌 Our Methodology: How We Selected These Canadian Private Equity Firms

This is not a ranking. It is not a sponsored placement. And it is not an aggregated directory scrape.

Each firm was evaluated through:

🧠 Leadership credibility and founder involvement
📊 Demonstrated track record in Canadian mid-market growth
🔍 Clear investment theses and sector specialisation
🤝 Hands-on operational or fractional advisory support
🌎 Commitment to regional economic development
🗣 Transparent communication and governance standards

We reviewed firm websites, public statements, portfolio strategies, and LinkedIn leadership profiles to ensure specificity and credibility. The firms below reflect Canada’s modern private equity model: disciplined capital paired with meaningful management partnership.

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🌟 Featured Canada Private Equity Firms & Investors

Maverix Private Equity

What they do:
Maverix Private Equity invests in high-growth Canadian technology and innovation-driven businesses, focusing on companies positioned to scale globally.

Who they work with:
Founder-led tech companies seeking structured growth capital and operational guidance.

Operating model:
Founder-led private equity firm combining growth capital with strategic advisory.

💡 Why they stand out:
🚀 Deep technology ecosystem expertise
🌍 Global scaling mindset
🧠 Strong operator-investor leadership
🤝 Founder-aligned capital deployment

John Ruffolo — Founder & Managing Partner

John Ruffolo is one of Canada’s most recognisable technology investors. With decades of experience scaling innovation-led companies, he brings a global perspective to Canadian growth equity. His leadership reflects conviction investing, disciplined governance, and a belief that Canadian technology companies can compete internationally when supported with strategic capital and operational mentorship.

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Caloah Private Equity

What they do:
Caloah Private Equity focuses on investing in lower middle-market Canadian businesses, emphasizing operational improvement and scalable systems.

Who they work with:
Entrepreneur-led companies seeking structured growth and governance enhancement.

Operating model:
Managing partner–led investment firm offering hands-on operational support.

💡 Why they stand out:
⚙️ Operational transformation focus
📈 Growth through structured governance
🤝 Strong management alignment

Aleem Ahamed — Founder & Managing Partner

Aleem Ahamed brings an execution-driven mindset to Caloah Private Equity. Known for working closely with management teams, he prioritizes sustainable operational upgrades over short-term financial engineering. His leadership emphasizes partnership, transparency, and disciplined capital stewardship.

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Phoenix Partners

What they do:
Phoenix Partners specializes in supporting growing Canadian businesses through active investment and strategic guidance.

Who they work with:
Ambitious founder-led companies navigating scale or succession.

Operating model:
Managing partner–driven private equity with high engagement levels.

💡 Why they stand out:
🔥 Strategic repositioning expertise
📊 Structured performance metrics
🤝 Close founder collaboration

François Fauteux — Founder & Managing Partner

François Fauteux is known for disciplined investment oversight and hands-on partnership. He works closely with portfolio leadership teams to professionalize operations and clarify growth trajectories. His approach blends analytical rigour with long-term relationship building.

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Serruya Private Equity (SPE)

What they do:
Serruya Private Equity invests in consumer and franchise-driven businesses with strong brand potential.

Who they work with:
Management teams scaling food, retail, and consumer brands.

Operating model:
Managing director–led firm combining brand strategy with operational growth.

💡 Why they stand out:
🍦 Consumer and franchise expertise
📈 Brand-focused scaling
🌍 International growth strategies

Michael Serruya & Simon Serruya — Managing Directors

Michael and Simon Serruya bring deep consumer brand-building experience to private equity investing. With backgrounds rooted in scaling recognizable consumer brands, they emphasize operational excellence, international market expansion, and disciplined brand stewardship. Their leadership blends entrepreneurial instinct with structured growth capital.

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VADA Capital

What they do:
VADA Capital invests in Canadian small- and mid-sized businesses with a strong operational improvement thesis.

Who they work with:
Founder-owned companies seeking growth capital and strategic alignment.

Operating model:
President-led private equity firm emphasizing disciplined governance.

💡 Why they stand out:
⚙️ Hands-on operational focus
📊 Financial discipline
🤝 Transparent board collaboration

Jeff Robson — President & CEO

Jeff Robson leads VADA Capital with an emphasis on governance and measurable performance outcomes. His leadership prioritizes structured capital deployment, operational clarity, and transparent management communication. He is known for building strong executive partnerships across portfolio companies.

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TCap Private Equity

What they do:
TCap Private Equity partners with Canadian businesses across multiple industries, focusing on sustainable expansion.

Who they work with:
Entrepreneur-led mid-market firms seeking structured capital support.

Operating model:
CEO-led private equity with active board-level involvement.

💡 Why they stand out:
📈 Growth-focused investment strategy
🤝 Founder alignment
🧠 Structured financial oversight

Cameron Sobolik — CEO

Cameron Sobolik brings strategic leadership and governance experience to TCap’s portfolio. His approach centers on disciplined financial planning and clear growth roadmaps. He works collaboratively with founders to align capital deployment with long-term business health.

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Capficiency Private Equity

What they do:
Capficiency focuses on technology-enabled services and digital transformation investments.

Who they work with:
Mid-market companies modernizing operational infrastructure.

Operating model:
Managing partner–driven technology-focused private equity platform.

💡 Why they stand out:
💻 Digital transformation expertise
📊 Systems modernization
🚀 Scalable operational frameworks

Michael Diep — Managing Partner

Michael Diep brings technology-forward thinking to Capficiency’s investment thesis. His background emphasizes digital scalability, enterprise system alignment, and data-driven governance. He is recognized for pairing technical modernization with financial discipline.

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Canam Private Equity

What they do:
Canam Private Equity invests in growth-oriented Canadian businesses across diverse industries.

Who they work with:
Mid-market companies seeking operational refinement and structured capital.

Operating model:
President-led investment firm with strong management alignment.

💡 Why they stand out:
📈 Structured growth planning
🤝 Founder partnerships
⚙️ Operational oversight

Aaron Smith — President

Aaron Smith emphasizes disciplined governance and scalable operational systems at Canam Private Equity. He works directly with management teams to strengthen internal reporting, strategic clarity, and performance benchmarks.

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SeaFort Capital Inc.

What they do:
SeaFort Capital focuses on control investments in Canadian mid-market companies.

Who they work with:
Established businesses seeking long-term capital partners.

Operating model:
Managing partner–led private equity firm with active operational oversight.

💡 Why they stand out:
🌊 Long-term value creation focus
📊 Strong financial governance
🤝 Close executive collaboration

Rob Normandeau — President & Managing Partner

Rob Normandeau brings disciplined capital management and hands-on portfolio support to SeaFort Capital. His leadership emphasizes accountability, governance, and steady value creation rather than short-term returns.

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Ironbridge Equity Partners

What they do:
Ironbridge Equity Partners invests in Canadian mid-market companies across industrial and service sectors.

Who they work with:
Management teams seeking strategic capital and board-level guidance.

Operating model:
Executive chair–led private equity firm emphasizing governance rigor.

💡 Why they stand out:
🏗 Industrial sector expertise
📈 Long-term capital discipline
🤝 Transparent board engagement

Alan G. Sellery — Executive Chair & Managing Partner

Alan Sellery is a seasoned private equity leader with extensive experience guiding industrial and service businesses through structured expansion. His leadership at Ironbridge reflects disciplined governance, strategic oversight, and commitment to sustainable enterprise value.

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Final Thoughts

Canadian private equity is defined by relationship-driven capital, disciplined governance, and regional economic impact. These firms are not simply deploying funds — they are shaping leadership teams, modernizing operational systems, and strengthening Canada’s mid-market backbone.

At Digital Reference, we believe trust should be visible. Through verified professional reference collection and modern video resume infrastructure, we help investors, founders, and operators build credibility grounded in transparency.

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