HELLO THERE
We are a group of ambitious investors, advisors and founders who reflect Canada's diverse population.
Who We Are
Capital M’s mission is to redefine what it means to be an entrepreneur and startup founder in Canada. We believe that Canada’s diversity is our collective strength… and a competitive advantage that when utilized to its fullest potential, will further position us as a global hub for innovation, for everyone’s economic and social benefit.
Team
Melissa Allen
Founding Partner
With an award-winning career in wealth management at Desjardins, Melissa Allen, Capital M’s Founding Partner, began her professional career as a digital marketing expert, working with major technology brands, such as Torstar Digital and Google.
Combining her passions for tech and finance, Melissa entered the Venture Capital space in 2018, graduating from the Female Funder’s Angel Academy accelerator program. After becoming a first-time VC investor and Limited Partner in 2019, Melissa began lending her expertise as an advisor to startups and investment firms such as Bay Mills Investment Group before joining the Founder Institute VC Lab cohort #4 and charting her own path in venture capital.
Randall Craig
Venture Partner
Fresh from a ‘big-four’ consulting firm in the early 1990s, he has advised major market newspapers, international financial institutions, professional service firms, associations, and many, many entrepreneurs.
Randall is a serial entrepreneur, coaches CEOs on scaling their business, and leads the Braintrust Professional Institute. He shares his unique perspective – and questions conventional wisdom – through his eight books (one a best seller), 600+ articles, podcasts, keynote speeches, virtual presentations, and advisory relationships.
Randall has taught at numerous executive education programs, serves on both corporate and not-for-profit boards, and frequently appears as an expert in the media. He has earned anFCMC, CFA, MBA, CSP, and a Black Belt in Karate. Randall has also been inducted into the Canadian Speaking Hall of Fame.
Bryan Duarte
Venture Partner
Bryan is a Social Venturist, Impact Investor, Entrepreneur and, a licensed Professional Engineer with over 30 years of experience in the Energy Industry. He is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at BlackTech Capital and the Founder & CEO of Enliten. His experience reflects expertise in creating, developing and growing companies in the Energy, CleanTech and Sustainability sectors with a focus on underrepresented founders.
BlackTech Capital was selected, by the World Economic Forum, as one of the most innovative investment funds which invest in people and planet-focused entrepreneurs.
Helping to develop and grow early-stage companies and their founders is Bryan's passion. He firmly believes that underrepresented founders have an advantage shaped by grit and that their experiences give them unique perspectives on the big challenges facing society.
Bryan also serves as a CleanTech/Sustainability Executive-in-Residence (EIR), Mentor/Advisor for: Foresight Canada (Canada's Largest Cleantech Accelerator), Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University - #1 World University Accelerator), the Canadian Black Chamber of Commerce (Cleantech and Sustainability Program), University of Toronto’s Black Founders Network, Haltech Regional Innovation Centre, TechStars (Tulsa and Global) and Founder Institute.