SUPERCHARGEd CAPITAL

Jim brings 30 years of experience leading growth, operations, and strategic execution across startups and large enterprises. He currently leads operations and expansion at Mint Smartwash, Canada’s largest express car wash brand, where he has scaled teams, improved quality KPIs, and driven multi-province growth. Previously, Jim held national leadership roles at Martin-Brower, a division of Reyes Holdings—the sixth most valuable privately held company in North America—where he oversaw quality, safety, sustainability, and innovation across the McDonald’s supply chain. He also helped build Blackline Safety from an early-stage Calgary startup to a publicly traded global tech firm. At 1864 Ventures, Jim focuses on investments where operational excellence, aligned governance, and hands-on support can create lasting value. He holds an MBA from Queen’s University and brings a founder-focused, execution-driven mindset to every deal. Jim is Gwich’in, First Nations and a proud Calgarian, with a deep belief in community, integrity, and building for the long term. Outside of work, he’s a husband, father of three, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu enthusiast, and lifelong reader.

With nearly two decades of leadership across private equity, industrial operations, and executive advisory roles, Mike brings a pragmatic, founder-focused mindset to every investment. In addition to 1864, Mike is an executive in the North American mining and commodities sector. He is also the founder of Whitford Consulting, a boutique advisory firm supporting CEOs, boards, and founders through growth, restructuring, and strategic inflection points. Throughout his career, Mike has led large commercial operations, corporate turnarounds, and capital structuring across sectors including energy, infrastructure, and industrials. He is known for combining hands-on execution with long-term strategic thinking, especially in underappreciated or transitional environments. At 1864 Ventures, Mike focuses on identifying opportunities where deep operational support, collaborative governance, and patient capital can create sustainable outcomes for both investors and operators. A proud Métis entrepreneur and Calgary resident, Mike holds a graduate degree from Queen’s University. Outside of work, he’s a dedicated father of 2, golf and hockey enthusiast, and always scouting the next underdog success story.

With over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, Patrick specialize in creating impactful solutions across various industries. His background in Industrial Design empowers him to develop user-friendly products that resonate with consumers. As a co-founder of a publicly traded company recognized as a leader in its market, He's honed his skills in strategic growth and innovation. His diverse experience spans starting, managing, and advising businesses, giving him a comprehensive understanding of commerce from grassroots initiatives to large-scale operations. His work has garnered attention from notable outlets including CNBC, G4TV, Engadget, and Wired, reflecting his commitment to excellence and innovation in every venture. He is passionate about leveraging technology and design to solve complex problems and is always open to connecting with like-minded professionals.

Emily brings over 15 years of experience in strategic leadership, policy development, and stakeholder engagement across the public, nonprofit, and health sectors. Her expertise includes building and scaling organizations, leading cross-functional teams, crafting compelling advocacy strategies, and navigating complex government and regulatory landscapes. Emily helps support a purpose driven consultancy that merges strategic insight with deep sectoral knowledge. She is focused on driving meaningful change by aligning innovative thinking with practical execution. She enjoys travelling with her family and supporting her community.

Paisley brings over a decade of experience at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic development. She has worked with hundreds of startups, scale-ups, and support organizations across Canada, helping them navigate funding, commercialization, and product strategy. As a consultant, she has advised more than 20 companies on grant writing and business planning, helping unlock millions in non-dilutive capital. Over the course of her career, Paisley has helped launch more than 30 web and mobile applications, bringing a practical understanding of how digital products move from idea to execution. Building on this experience, she founded The Tech Translator, a company dedicated to bridging the gap between business and technology. Her work focuses on helping non-technical founders and business leaders understand the software development process, make better product decisions, and avoid costly missteps. When she’s not working with founders, she’s probably on the mats training jiu-jitsu or spoiling her two dogs.

Caleb is the Co-founder of Hook + Ladder, a full service digital brand and performance marketing agency where today he serves as the Chief Partnership Officer. He has over a decade of experience in digital marketing, sales, team leadership and strategic partnership development across multiple B2C and B2B industries. As a service partner at 1864 Ventures, Caleb focuses on accelerating the growth of portfolio businesses by ensuring clear market positioning and supporting on marketing strategies designed to solidify market presence and drive growth. Outside of work, Caleb is passionate about spending time with his wife and two young girls while finding as much extra time as possible to watch and play sports!

Marc is an acquisition entrepreneur based with a passion for growing small businesses and creating long-term value. He began his career in software sales, where he built a strong foundation in sales and business development—skills that continue to serve him well in evaluating and scaling businesses today. In 2021, Marc acquired ABL Imaging, a large-format print and sign shop with over 40 years of history. Since then, he has continued to pursue new acquisition opportunities while also consulting individuals on how to successfully navigate the process of buying a business themselves. Outside of work, he enjoys playing and watching basketball, spending quality time with his wife and kids, and perfecting the art of cooking steaks.

Don is forward-thinking, influential executive with extensive experience driving organizational transformation and business growth through management consulting expertise and efficient technology integrations. He leverages a strong entrepreneurial mindset and analytical skills to craft holistic solutions for diverse client needs and complex operational challenges. Don has buildt long-term client relationships and strategic partnerships, enabling business opportunity and growth while establishing a reputation as an expert across multiple industries. He has been committed to advancing innovative and strategic business management solutions that propel organizations toward greater heights and continued success within the highly competitive global landscape.

Darren was born and raised in Calgary by a family of entrepreneurs. He currently resides there with his wife and their two young children. He has a passion for business, trading stocks, sports (hockey and golf in particular), travelling, and spending time with his family. Prior to founding Cerro Verde Advisory in 2017, Darren spent the first chapter of his career in banking with CIBC, Roynat Capital and RBC. He transitioned to consulting roles with Stawowski McGill (Fractional CFO) and later Welsh Valuation (Business Valuation) before joining OGEN, a cannabis start-up as President. These experiences provided him with foundational knowledge and best practices in strategy, finance, operations, and change management, as well as an entrepreneurial mindset to ‘get things done’. Darren is committed to a lifelong learning. He received his Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurship from Royal Roads University. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA), has completed the Chartered Business Valuator (CBV) coursework, and holds certificates in Strategic Change Management and Brand Building from Northwestern University. He is currently completing the Private Equity and Venture Capital Program from Columbia University.

David brings over 25 years of exceptional leadership credentials and deep financial markets expertise, combining CEO/COO experience, strategic transformation and M&A capabilities, and proven track record in driving organizational growth and operational excellence. A seasoned executive from RBC with comprehensive experience in the capital markets and financial services eco-systems, David now consults executive teams in large and small businesses on maximizing strategic performance outcomes. As a Chartered Professional Accountant, he brings deep analytic thinking with strategic vision to identify opportunities in all environments. He has governance experience and is currently enrolled in the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) program. Outside of work, you can find David enjoying being active in cycling, skiing, or hiking in the mountains, or exploring recipes in the kitchen with his 5 kids.

Justin is a dynamic and results-driven entrepreneur with a proven track record of building and scaling successful ventures across construction, health care, and real estate. With over 20 years of experience, Justin has built a reputation for innovation, integrity, and strategic execution in highly competitive industries. Starting in the health care sector Justin expanded into the industry by acquiring Motion Specialties, a company focused on providing accessible, patient-centered care solutions. Justin continues to bridge gaps in care and improve community health outcomes. Expanding into the construction sector, Justin currently owns Davco Power Systems , a firm known for delivering high-quality residential and commercial projects. Leveraging a hands-on approach and deep industry knowledge, Justin has grown the company into a trusted name recognized for excellence. In real estate, Justin has successfully developed and managed a portfolio of properties that include, multi-family housing, and commercial spaces. With a keen eye for market trends and a passion for revitalizing neighborhoods, Justin creates long-term value for investors, tenants, and communities alike. Driven by a commitment to impact and a vision for growth, Justin continues to explore new ventures and partnerships that align with emerging trends and societal needs. Whether breaking ground on a new project or launching a disruptive service, Justin brings entrepreneurial energy and purpose to every endeavor. Justin Holds an MBA from Queens University.

John brings over 30 years of experience in technology leadership, digital transformation, and venture scaling across ecommerce, AI technology, and mobile platforms. John's expertise includes building companies from concept to acquisition, scaling high-performance engineering teams, and driving AI-powered innovation strategies. John has served as CTO for multiple ventures, serving organizations from 10 to 100+ staff, and leading startup and scaleup companies through successful acquisitions. He has co-founded global technology platforms, built engineering cultures from the ground up, and guided teams through rapid growth phases. As a fractional CTO and technical advisor, John helps startups and scale-ups navigate complex technical challenges, implement data-first strategies, and develop high-performing engineering organizations. His hands-on leadership approach combines deep technical expertise with strategic vision to transform both teams and technology.

Sean is a partner in MLT Aikins mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital and transportation groups. His practice focuses mainly on mergers and acquisitions, financings, fund formation and general business law. Sean has extensive experience leading mid-market merger and acquisition transactions in the range of $5 million to $250 million, working with both buyers and sellers. He also supports venture capital firms, co-investors and other investors with evaluating and completing investments across all industries, particularly in the area of innovation and emerging growth.

John M. Davidson (JD) is a partner at MLT Aikins. JD obtained his LLB from the University of Western Ontario in 2007 and was called to the bar in Alberta in 2008. He maintains a broad-based corporate finance, corporate/commercial and M&A practice, serving as a trusted adviser to many Alberta-based startups, entrepreneurs and mid-market clients.