Espresso Capital
Venture debtInactiveToronto · Seed–Late Stage · 37 people tracked
Also known as ESPRESSO CAPITAL ADVISORS INC.
This fund appears to be inactive.
It is unlikely to be making new investments — this profile is kept for reference and historical accuracy.
Investment thesis
Espresso Capital specializes in modern venture debt lending, offering flexible, non-dilutive financing structured around the growth of a company's business. The firm positions itself as founder-friendly, working closely with founders, senior lenders, and equity sponsors to design credit facilities tailored to each company's specific needs. It emphasizes a transparent, efficient process and a deep understanding of what it takes to scale technology companies. Venture debt from Espresso allows companies to smooth capital planning and postpone dilutive equity raises. Since 2009 it has partnered with more than 300 companies backed by leading equity sponsors.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 2, 2026.
Team · 37 people
from the firm's websiteAlkarim Jivraj has more than 25 years of experience across technology investment banking, venture capital, and venture debt. Prior to Espresso Capital, which he joined in 2013, he founded and ran the Intrepid Business Acceleration Fund and led the corporate finance advisory firm Intrepid Equity Finance. He started his career at Yorkton Securities, heading software investment banking and co-managing two in-house investment funds. He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School of Business and a BA in History from the University of Toronto.
Gordon Henderson is Managing Director, Portfolio Management at Espresso Capital, which he joined in 2020, and has more than 20 years of experience in finance. He started as an investment banker at HSBC working on corporate finance and M&A before moving into asset management, where he managed long/short, alternative credit, and derivative strategies across multiple sectors and geographies. He holds an MA from the University of St Andrews and an MBA from the University of Toronto, and has served on several public and private company boards.
Jyotin Handa is a Managing Director at Espresso Capital, where he oversees strategic and corporate finance activities such as institutional equity and debt capital raising, fund management and structuring, and financial management. Before joining the firm in 2016, he worked in corporate finance and investor relations at Maple Leaf Foods and was a Manager at Ernst & Young LLP. He holds a B.Comm in Finance and Economics from the University of Toronto and is a CPA.
Mark Gilbert is a Managing Director on Espresso Capital's Originations team, where he sources new clients seeking growth capital. He has more than 20 years of sales and underwriting experience in financial institutions, including a role as Regional Market Leader in the Technology practice at BMO and an earlier position at Chubb Insurance serving the energy and resources sector. He holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University and a BComm from the Smith School of Business at Queen's University.
Marcel Réthoré is a Director on the underwriting team at Espresso Capital, handling due diligence and loan monitoring operations since joining in 2022. Before Espresso, he worked in KPMG's Deal Advisory group, providing corporate restructuring, corporate finance, and valuation advisory services to companies across various industries. He holds a Bachelor of Management and Organization Studies from the University of Western Ontario and is a CPA, CA.
Mark Presacco is a Director on the credit team at Espresso Capital, where he leads due diligence for new loans, monitors ongoing operations, and manages a portfolio of equity fund investments. He previously worked as a Manager in KPMG's Financial Institutions Audit Practice. He holds a BBA from the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University and is a CPA.
Enio Lazzer is a banking executive with more than 25 years of experience across finance, investment banking, capital markets, operations, and technology. Prior to joining Espresso Capital in 2014, he held senior roles at CIBC World Markets, including divisional CFO, COO, and Head of Prime Brokerage, and served as VP and CFO of The Northern Trust Company, Canada. He holds a BBA in Accounting and Finance from the Schulich School of Business at York University and is a CPA, CA.
Will Hutchins leads Espresso Capital's Originations team and brings over 20 years of corporate finance experience, having joined the firm in 2015. He was previously Director of Investment Banking at TD Securities, where he advised technology, media, and communications clients on debt and equity financing, M&A, and corporate strategy, and earlier practiced corporate finance and M&A law at Stikeman Elliott in Toronto and Paul, Weiss in New York. He holds an LLB and MBA from the University of Ottawa and a BA in History from Queen's University.
Will Jin leads the credit team at Espresso Capital, where he joined in 2017, and has worked in corporate finance and venture capital investing for over 25 years. Before Espresso, he was a senior member of the investment team at Covington Capital, overseeing more than 50 venture capital investments, and earlier worked at The Hathaway Corporation, a Toronto M&A advisory and corporate finance firm. He holds an MBA and HBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University and is a CFA charterholder.
Investments · 10 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathFrequently asked questions
- What stage does Espresso Capital invest at?
- Espresso Capital invests at the Seed, Growth, Late Stage stages.
- What is Espresso Capital's typical check size?
- Espresso Capital typically writes checks of $3.6M – $18.3M.
- What sectors does Espresso Capital focus on?
- Espresso Capital focuses on Biotech, Consumer, Data & Infrastructure, E-commerce, Enterprise Software, Media & Entertainment, New Materials, SaaS.
- Where is Espresso Capital located?
- Espresso Capital is headquartered in Toronto, CA.
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