Donato Sferra is a Toronto-based investor and business executive with an extensive background in the financial services industry.
Donato Sferra's Bio:
Donato Sferra is a Toronto-based investor and business executive with an extensive background in the financial services industry. Donato currently serves as Principal and Managing Partner at Hillcrest Merchant Partners, an angel investment firm focused on a number of industries, including cannabis, electric metals, blockchain, mining, gaming and tech. Donato, who has specialized in corporate cannabis deals, says he is always looking to meet “great management teams with great ideas.”
Donato is also a serial entrepreneur who co-founded Above Food Corp., a plant-based foods company. At Above Food, Donato is also Chief Corporate Development Officer and Executive Vice President.
Prior to establishing Hillcrest Merchant Partners, Donato Sferra was the Managing Director of Investment Banking at Eight Capital, where he led the company’s cannabis investment banking team.
Donato also spent five years at Dundee Capital Markets, serving first as Director of Institutional Sales from 2011 to 2013, then as Managing Director of Investment Banking from 2013 to 2016. It was while at Dundee Capital Markets that Donato began his specialization in cannabis, electric metals, mining, gaming and tech.
Before Dundee Capital Markets, Donato spent two years at Toronto’s Macquarie Group as Director of Institutional Sales. He also served as Vice President of Investments at Pinetree Capital Ltd., a small, cap-focused, buy-side firm and angel investor focusing on mining, energy and tech investments. Donato served as a member of the executive management team at Pinetree Capital, where he was involved in the evaluation and management of the company’s investment portfolio.
Prior to Pinetree Capital, Donato served as an equity research analyst at TD Securities, specializing in auto parts, solar and automation. Donato also practised as a chartered accountant and senior auditor at Arthur Andersen for four years.
Donato Sferra studied accounting at the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto. He is a chartered accountant and holds the chartered accountant (CA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designations.
Donato Sferra's Experience:
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Managing Partner at Hillcrest Merchant Partners Inc.
September 2017 - Present | Toronto, OntarioAngel Investor: Cannabis, Electric Metals, Blockchain, Mining, Gaming, Tech and Special Sits. Always looking to meet great management teams with great ideas.
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Co-founder, Executive VP and Chief Corporate Development Officer at Above Food Corp.
2016 - Present | Toronto, Ontario -
Managing Director Investment Banking at Eight Capital
2016 - 2017 | Toronto, OntarioCannabis, Electric Metals, Mining, Gaming and Tech.
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Director Institutional Sales at DUNDEE CAPITAL MARKETS,
2011 - 2013 | Toronto, OntarioCanadian Equities to North American Institutions.
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Managing Director Investment Banking at Dundee Capital Markets
2009 - 2011 | Toronto, OntarioCannabis, Electric Metals, Mining, Gaming and Tech.
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Director Institutional Sales at Macquarie Group
2009 - 2011 | Toronto, OntarioCanadian Equities to North American Institutions.
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Vice President Investments at Pinetree Capital Ltd.
2006 - 2008 | Toronto, OntarioAngel Investing focussed on Mining, Energy and Tech.
Donato Sferra's Education:
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Schulich School of Business - York University
1994 – 1998Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA, Accounting