The Whitecap Team

Carey Diamond

Partner

Carey co-founded Whitecap in the early 1990s, originally as the venture capital division of Whitecastle. Carey has spent over three decades with the firm leading investments and providing strategic support to Whitecap portfolio companies. He is actively involved in public healthcare, currently serving as Vice Chair of the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Foundation and past Vice Chair of Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. Carey holds a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and a BA (Economics) from Western University.

Blaine Hobson

Chair of Investment Committee

Blaine co-founded Whitecap in the early ‘90s and has been investing and providing strategic support to Whitecap portfolio companies for three decades. Blaine has experience as a founder and CEO in a variety of industries including automotive, healthcare, telecom, and food tech. Blaine is active in the community, including involvement with Cornerstone and South Lake Hospital. Blaine holds an HBA degree from the Ivey School of Business.

Shayn Diamond

Partner

Shayn is a Partner at Whitecap and joined the firm in 2015. Prior to joining Whitecap, Shayn was a lawyer at the corporate law firm Wildeboer Dellelce LLP. Shayn is active in the community, including involvement with Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Sick Kids Hospital. Shayn holds a JD and an MBA from Queens University and a BA (Philosophy) from Western University.

Russell Samuels

Partner

Russell is a Partner at Whitecap and joined the firm in 2015. Prior to joining, Russell worked in corporate and business development at FreshBooks, venture capital at Mantella Venture Partners, and in the private investments group at Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Russell holds an HBA from the Ivey School of Business and a JD from Western University.

Melissa Belbeck

Principal

Melissa is a Principal at Whitecap and joined the firm in 2020. Prior to joining, Melissa worked in business operations and strategy at Ritual, product management at BMO, and management consulting at Oliver Wyman. Melissa holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Business (Northwestern) and an HBA from the Ivey School of Business.

Sarah Hartkorn

Senior Associate

Sarah is a Senior Associate at Whitecap and joined the firm in 2021. Prior to joining, Sarah co-founded Primped, a wellness and personal care marketplace start-up, and worked in investment banking at TD Securities. Sarah holds an MBA from McMaster University and a BA (Business) from Western University.

Jacob Topatigh

Associate

Jacob is an Associate at Whitecap and joined the firm in 2022. Prior to joining, Jacob worked in strategic finance at Top Hat, and in investment banking at Raymond James. Jacob holds an HBA from the Ivey School of Business.

Kim Coote

CFO

Kim is the CFO at Whitecap. Kim joined Whitecap in 1997 and has managed accounting, reporting, and finances for Whitecap for over two decades. Kim is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) and holds an Honors BA (Economics) from York University.

Swetha Thommandram

Controller

Swetha is a Controller at Whitecap and joined the firm in 2020. Prior to joining, Swetha worked in investor operations at Northleaf Capital Partners. Swetha is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) and holds a Bcom degree from the University of Toronto.

Nadia Weigert

Executive Assistant

Nadia is an Executive Assistant at Whitecap and joined the firm in 2022. Nadia has over 10 years of Executive Assistant experience, including roles at companies such as Altum Health, Fidelity, CGI, and MEDCAN. Nadia holds a Bachelor's degree from OCAD University.