Canadian entrepreneurs are amongst the best in the world at starting companies. But we are not as renowned for scaling them into global leaders. For many Canadian firms, a lack of patient minority capital and experienced guidance has seen them sell too early — and give up control — because this growth capital gap has limited their options. The newly-created Canadian Business Growth Fund (CBGF) is bridging that gap and giving Canadian entrepreneurs a better opportunity to scale up, keep control, and win on the global stage.
Join Canadian Club Toronto on June 25 when CBGF’s CEO, George Rossolatos, will share the story of the Fund’s emergence, its early success, and describe the critical role we all play in helping Canadian entrepreneurs to “think bigger.”
George Rossolatos has over 20 years’ experience as an investor, entrepreneur, and leader. At CBGF, he is responsible for the strategic direction and management of the Fund.
George joined the CBGF as its founding CEO in 2018, bringing a passion to help entrepreneurs across Canada grow their companies and ‘think bigger’. Before joining the Fund, George was CEO of Avante Logixx Inc. (TSXV:XX) from 2010 -2017. As an investor and operator at Avante, his mandate was to determine the company’s strategic direction and vision and execute the go forward plan which included an operational turnaround.
Prior to Avante, George worked in the private equity industry for 10 years. He was a partner and co-founder of TorQuest Partners Inc. a mid-market Canadian private equity fund from its inception in early 2002 until 2010. George’s previous roles included experience as an investment principal at Harrowston Inc., a publicly traded merchant bank, and five years with Ernst & Young LLP managing a group focused on middle market companies.
As a Chartered Public Accountant (CPA – Ontario), George holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and a B.Com. (Honours) from Queen’s University. He was recognized in 2007 as one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 and is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.
