Portfolio company ActiveState names a new CEO
ActiveState, bought by Vertu in 2023, appointed Abby Kearns as CEO (headline from Vertu news page).
Growth & Venture Capital
Toronto growth private equity firm investing in Canadian enterprise software and software-enabled companies.
Vertu Capital is a Toronto growth private equity firm founded in 2017 by Lisa Melchior, formerly head of OMERS Private Equity's North American technology group. It makes control and growth investments in mid-sized B2B software and software-enabled companies, mostly Canadian, from Vertu Partners Fund I, which closed with more than $300M in commitments in 2023. Recent platform investments include LumiQ in Toronto and Amilia, its first Quebec deal. It is a small team (partners, vice presidents, associates and a Québec managing director) supported by operating advisors.
0 open roles3 deals5 people19 sources
Growth capital, buyouts and other investments in mid-sized, profitable B2B software and software-enabled businesses, mainly Canadian.
Works with portfolio management teams on organic, M&A-driven and AI-driven growth, e.g. PathFactory's stock-for-stock acquisition of Uberflip.
Bench of former operators who advise the deal team and portfolio companies on technology, markets and operations.
Official Contact page gives a single Toronto mailing address. The team includes a Managing Director, Québec, but no Quebec office is published, so the list may be incomplete. This list may be incomplete.
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Reasons that work in interviews
3 reasons for Vertu Capital
Venture interviews test sourcing and judgement rather than technicals. Bring a company they have not invested in and explain why you would back it, then name a portfolio company of theirs you find interesting and why. That does more than any structural reason.
Canadian enterprise software specifically, which is a narrower and clearer mandate than most Canadian growth funds.
Founded by an operator rather than a career investor, which shapes how the firm engages with companies.
Small team, so an analyst is on diligence rather than pipeline admin.
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How juniors get in
Hires associates after a few years of investment banking, transaction advisory or investing; there are no analyst seats and no published internship or new-graduate route, so start in banking first.
Green: evidence it does. Struck through: evidence it doesn’t. Dashed: no public evidence either way.
Programs
Founder & Managing Partner
Investment
Founded Vertu after leading the North American Technology Group at OMERS Private Equity; she began her career at CIBC World Markets. She says she has invested nearly C$1.5B in more than 20 companies through growth deals, buyouts and take-privates. Schulich MBA; Western BA (Economics).
Chief Operating Officer & Partner
Operations
Joined Vertu in 2019 as Partner and COO, covering fund finance, operations, compliance, investor relations and tax. She was previously CFO and then Chief Compliance Officer at TorQuest Partners, which she joined in 2005 after starting in M&A tax and fund formation at Deloitte. CPA; York B.Com.
Partner
Investment
Joined Vertu as Partner in 2019 after eight years at CPP Investments, where he was a Senior Principal leading the technology vertical of the Direct Private Equity group. Earlier he worked at Chicago mid-market firm Lake Capital and at Bain & Company. Kellogg MBA; Western engineering and Ivey HBA.
Partner
Investment
Joined Vertu in July 2018 as its second employee and was promoted to Partner in April 2025; he sits on Amilia's board. He previously worked at Facebook, was VP Corporate Development at Sysomos, worked with Lisa Melchior at OMERS Private Equity and started in M&A at Scotiabank. McMaster B.Com.
Managing Director, Québec
Investment (Québec)
Former CEO of Logibec (now LGI Healthcare Solutions), which he grew to over $90M of revenue over 11 years, after six years as its CFO. He started his post-MBA career with eight years in investment banking at Merrill Lynch Canada, and now works with Quebec technology companies for Vertu. Queen's MBA; McGill MSc and BSc.
Professional information only, drawn from official biographies and published reporting. BSO never lists private contact details.
Apr 1, 2025
Eric KafkaPromotion
Partner
— → Vertu Capital
Vertu promoted Eric Kafka, its second employee, to Partner with immediate effect.
May 8, 2025
Amilia
Lead investor (growth equity) · Recreation and membership management software / payments
Buyer Vertu Capital (Vertu Partners Fund I)
A $30.5M growth investment in Quebec-based Amilia, whose software runs registration, memberships and payments for more than 6,600 recreation facilities. It was Fund I's fifth platform deal and Vertu's first in Quebec; Eric Kafka joined Amilia's board.
Sep 24, 2024
LumiQ Inc.
Investor (platform investment) · Corporate education / professional development software
Buyer Vertu Capital (Vertu Partners Fund I)
Strategic investment in Toronto-based LumiQ, an accredited professional-development platform for accounting and finance professionals delivered through podcasts. It was Fund I's fourth platform investment.
Jul 15, 2024
Uberflip
Investor in acquirer (PathFactory is a Vertu Fund I portfolio company) · B2B marketing technology
Buyer PathFactory
Vertu portfolio company PathFactory acquired Toronto content-experience platform Uberflip in a stock-for-stock deal, creating a combined B2B content intelligence business.
ActiveState, bought by Vertu in 2023, appointed Abby Kearns as CEO (headline from Vertu news page).
Vertu's first Quebec investment, made from its inaugural fund.
Internal promotion of the firm's second hire.
Fourth Fund I platform investment.
Oversubscribed close above the hard cap; LPs included NY State Common Retirement Fund, BDC Capital, BMO, CIBC, EDC and Manulife.
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Vertu Capital · May 8, 2025 · vertupartners.com
Vertu Capital · Apr 1, 2025 · vertupartners.com
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Vertu Capital (reposted PathFactory release) · Jul 15, 2024 · vertupartners.com
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Bay Street Oracle · Oct 8, 2026 · intelligence.baystreetoracle.ca
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Get your planCo-op / Off-cycle intern · Canada
Growth funds post intern terms on their own boards, summer and off-cycle alike, and terms are often longer than four months. BSO has not confirmed a timetable for Vertu Capital on an official page: this records that the intake exists and what the category's cycle looks like, not a published date. Confirm with the firm before you plan around it.
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