We’re in it with you.

We are entrepreneurs. We know what the daily rollercoaster feels like because we live it ourselves every day.

We’ll be the email or call when you need it most, the mentor & guide, the coach behind the bench cheering you on.

The Team

Cherif-Habib - Formentera Capital

Cherif Habib

I’ve been an entrepreneur since a young age – and I know what it’s like to walk around with a dream to make a positive impact on the world.

I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, my Master’s in Law & an MBA from Wharton, spending some earlier years at McKinsey as a Senior Consultant. I led EMcision, a medical device company, until its acquisition by Boston Scientific in 2018. I went on to found Dialogue and helped lead it to become Canada’s second-fastest growing companies (4,500+% growth in 2020). Ultimately, I co-founded Formentera Capital not for the financial ROI but for the opportunity to give back to the thing I respect most: entrepreneurs who leverage technology to build their dreams into a reality.

I need to believe in products, in progressive companies trying to make an impact on the world, in founders who lead with integrity. I want to leave the world a little more positive than I found it – and supporting up-and-coming entrepreneurs with brilliant ideas to change the way the world works is my way of doing so.

Vicken Kanadjian - Formentera Capital

Vicken Kanadjian

I know what it feels like to build a company from the ground-up against all odds. In 2003, I co-founded Cesium Telecom in a basement after earning my Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering. Today, Cesium is one of Canada’s fastest-growing tech-enabled consumer goods companies.

I’ve been a passionate supporter of Canadian entrepreneurship for many years. I served as President of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) Montreal chapter & was a Finalist for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year. I’m passionate about systems & structure – and I share my knowledge of process-driven growth with every entrepreneur I invest in.

From my perspective, venture capital is not about capital injection and spreadsheets; it’s about advisory, mentorship, (real) relationships – and the security of knowing a team of seasoned entrepreneurs has your back no matter what the world throws at you. I believe the venture capital model of the future is about entrepreneurs investing in entrepreneurs – because we just get it.

Jean-Nicolas - Formentera Capital

Jean-Nicolas Guillemette

I am an entrepreneur who knows what failure looks like. I started my career in consulting and earned my MBA from INSEAD, Paris – but I was always a disruptor at heart. After a few entrepreneurial ventures, I found myself in a tough situation: minimal success, high debt, a wife and a newborn, and I hadn’t paid myself a dollar in years. I was at a crossroads.

I took a flyer on a disruptive startup: in early 2013 I joined Uber as the 350th employee, serving as General Manager for Quebec (by the time I left Uber, we had grown to over 27,000). I went on to join Dialogue, Canada’s #2 fastest-growing company, as COO.

I’ve seen real failure – long before I ever saw success. I know what entrepreneurs live every day – and I am committed to helping entrepreneurs who demonstrate tons of grit, resilience and raw passion. If you’re an underdog like me, you’ll know that we engineer our own luck.

Sanjay Bakshani

At age 21, I co-founded Cesium Telecom while earning my Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science. I went on to earn my MBA from McGill University.

I also co-founded Instagrad, a platform for education funding and savings, which above all, taught me a lot about having the right people with the right guidance.

Over the years, I’ve remained deeply passionate about leading Cesium’s sales, marketing, e-commerce & IT initiatives to new heights. I’ve been a Finalist for the EY Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and have continued to support entrepreneurial communities across the globe. When I’m away from the office, I spend lots of time on the ice playing hockey.

I co-founded Formentera Capital for one simple reason: I believe in smart entrepreneurs and I want to empower their growth.