The Pyfera Capital team is comprised of investors, operators and proven entrepreneurs.
We draw from extensive capital markets experience to provide our portfolio
companies with clear, calculated and actionable advice.
Brad Aelicks, B.Sc
Co-Founder & Director
Brad Aelicks, B.Sc
Co-Founder & Director
Mr. Aelicks has extensive finance experience, and has served as Board Member and Senior Officer in 12+ public and private companies. He has managed companies and their subsidiaries in North America, South America, Africa, and Asia. Additionally, he founded Napier Environmental Technologies, an International Manufacturing and Distribution company with global sales. In 2004 Brad founded a company, B&D Capital Partners, and through Private Equity, Public Funding, Off-Take Agreements, and Development Partnerships, Brad helped B&D clients raise in excess of $600 Million.
Sandeep Gupta B.ASc
Co-Founder & Director
Over the past twenty-five years, Sandeep has founded and successfully exited at over $100M multiple semiconductor, software, and systems technology companies. Additionally, Sandeep has held Division General Manager and Business Unit Director roles at large multi-national semiconductor firms, operating offices in North America and Asia, and conducting business in Europe and Asia Pacific. Sandeep has led the acquisition of seven companies ranging from $800k to $720M, and led due diligence for multiple firms. Sandeep holds an Electronics Engineering degree from University of British Columbia and now resides in Vancouver.
James Gu, MBA, CFA
Director
James specializes in cross-border equity investment and strategic partnership. He has over fifteen years of business consulting and investment management experience in China and Canada. Over the years, James has helped dozens of North American SMEs in equity financing and JV partnerships, with combined value north of $500 million. Before moving to Vancouver, James was VP in Shanghai York Investment Management, overseeing $120 Million in real estate, and venture capital investments. Prior to that, he was asset manager in Shanghai Guosheng Group and participated in multi-billion dollar NPL transactions. James is a CFA charter holder, and has a finance MBA form UBC.
Praveen Varshney, FCPA, FCA
Director
Mr. Varshney is a driving force in the Vancouver business world. After obtaining his B.Comm at UBC, Praveen joined KPMG from 1987 to 1991 where he obtained his C.A. designation in 1990. He is a long time member and past President of the Vancouver chapter of The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and a founding director of the Vancouver chapter of The IndUS Entrepreneurs (TiE). Mr. Varshney was a 12 year member of the Sauder School of Business Faculty Advisory Board, a former Director of The Vancouver Board of Trade, and a past recipient of Business in Vancouver’s 40 Under 40 Awards. He is also a director of the Varshney Family Charitable Foundation, a SVP Vancouver Partner, and a Director of OneProsper.org. and a Founding Member of instrumentbeyondborders.org. He’s also on the Advisory boards of Room to Read – Vancouver, Heart & Stroke Foundation – BC Yukon and The Thomas Edison Innovation Foundation in New Jersey, USA.
Rahim Lakha
Compliance
Mr. Lakha brings 15+ years of U.S. and Canadian capital markets experience, possessing a multidisciplinary skill set derived from research, sales, trading and banking. Leading up to the founding of Blue Sail Capital Inc., Rahim held senior level positions at bank and non-bank brokerage firms. During his extensive career, he aided in structuring and funding over US$5bn in capital for private and public companies. Most recently he was a Managing Director at a boutique brokerage firm in Toronto serving over 300 clients.
Robert Kang, CPA, CA
Compliance
Mr. Kang is a results-driven Leader with comprehensive Canadian Securities market and business background. He has a combined 27 years of public practice and company management advising corporations and their executives on financing, mergers and acquisitions, going public transactions, continuous disclosure obligations, and corporate governance. Mr. Kang brings 20+ years experience as the former Director of TSX Venture, Listed Issuer Services.